UAE Firm Acquires 49% Stake in Trump-Linked Crypto Firm for $500M

A United Arab Emirates-backed investment firm acquired a 49 percent stake in World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency company closely tied to President Donald Trump's family, for $500 million just days before Trump's January 2025 inauguration, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest in U.S. foreign policy decisions.

The deal, signed by Eric Trump on behalf of World Liberty Financial, involved Aryam Investment, an entity supported by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's national security adviser and a prominent member of the royal family. Documents indicate that half of the investment, or $250 million, was paid upfront, with $187 million directed to Trump family-controlled entities and $31 million to companies linked to Steve Witkoff, Trump's Middle East envoy and a co-founder of the company. Two lieutenants to Sheikh Tahnoon joined World Liberty's board as part of the agreement, and executives from G42, the UAE's leading artificial intelligence firm chaired by Tahnoon, assisted in managing the investment vehicle.

World Liberty Financial, launched in 2024 with Trump's three sons as co-founders and Trump and Witkoff listed as co-founders emeritus, has...