A Trump-linked cryptocurrency company has secured $500 million from investors linked to the United Arab Emirates, raising a new set of conflict of interest questions as President Donald Trump manages relations with Abu Dhabi.
The company, World Liberty Financial, confirmed the deal on Saturday through a spokesperson, after The Wall Street Journal revealed how a UAE-backed investment vehicle had acquired a 49% stake in the company.
The deal was signed by Eric Trump just days before Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, according to the Wall Street Journal, making the Trump family a business partner with capital tied to the UAE even as the administration pursued key bilateral priorities.
A member of the Abu Dhabi royal family backed a secret $500 million investment in Trump’s cryptocurrency company. A few months later, the United Arab Emirates gained access to highly protected American AI chips.
– The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) February 1, 2026
Close entourage of Abu Dhabi royal family joins Trump-linked cryptocurrency company
The new group of investors is linked to Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security adviser and a prominent member of the Abu Dhabi royal family, whose network spans the areas of technology, finance and national security.
Two figures linked to his department have joined World Liberty’s board, increasing oversight of governance and influence.
Asked about the terms and timeline, World Liberty spokesperson David Waxman was quoted as saying, “We entered into the subject transaction because we strongly believe it is best for our business as we continue to grow.” »
Interest has increased because the cryptocurrency partnership comes alongside the UAE’s broader ambitions for artificial intelligence and access to advanced US chips.
White House denies any link between chips and investment in digital currencies
The reports linked timing of the business relationship to management’s chip discussions, although media coverage indicated it found no evidence of an explicit agreement to trade chips for investment in cryptocurrencies.
World Liberty and the White House have denied any connection. “Any assertion that this deal is in any way related to the administration’s actions regarding chips is completely false,” Waxman said.
White House counsel David Warrington also rejected the conflict of interest framework, saying, “The President has nothing to do with business dealings that could affect his constitutional responsibilities,” adding that Trump carries out his duties “in an ethically sound manner.”
However, the bonds of Emirati society extended beyond participation. At a conference in Dubai in May 2025, one of the co-founders said Abu Dhabi-backed MGX had used World Liberty’s dollar-pegged stablecoin to invest $2 billion in Binance, a move that tied the company more closely to the large Gulf-backed capital flows into the cryptocurrency space.
Trump’s financial revelations have also kept the project in the political spotlight, with reports describing it as a significant source of revenue tied to a Trump-controlled entity, as well as revenue-sharing agreements with other partners linked to the administration’s Middle East department.
Democrats have exploited this overlap. Senator Elizabeth Warren described the findings as a matter of national security and called for increased oversight, saying, “This is corruption, pure and simple,” adding, “Congress must be courageous and put an end to Trump’s corruption in digital currencies.” »
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