Trump says he was unaware of UAE’s $500 million investment in World Liberty Financial

US President Donald Trump said he was unaware of a multimillion-dollar investment by a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family in crypto platform World Liberty Financial, distancing himself from a deal that has sparked renewed scrutiny of foreign influence and presidential family business ties.

“I don’t know anything about it,” Trump told reporters Monday when asked about the transaction.

“My sons take care of it – my family takes care of it,” he added. “I guess they get investments from different people.”

UAE Royal agreed to buy 49% stake in World Liberty Financial

The comments followed a Wall Street Journal report that Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a senior member of the UAE royal family, agreed to acquire a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial for $500 million just days before Trump’s inauguration.

The Journal cited company documents and people familiar with the matter.

According to the report, the investment was made through Aryam Investment 1, an entity backed by Sheikh Tahnoon, with an initial payment of $250 million.

Of that amount, $187 million was directed to Trump family entities, while another $31 million went to an entity linked to World Liberty Financial co-founders Zak Folkman and Chase Herro.

If completed as described, the deal would make Aryam the largest shareholder in World Liberty Financial, a U.S.-based crypto firm founded by nine people, including Trump and his sons Donald Trump Jr., Eric and Barron.

That structure has raised questions among lawmakers and commentators about governance and exposure to foreign capital in a company closely associated with the sitting president.

Sheikh Tahnoon maintains close diplomatic relations with Washington and chairs Group 42, an artificial intelligence conglomerate based in Abu Dhabi.

In December, Group 42 won approval from the U.S. Department of Commerce to purchase advanced chips from Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices, underscoring its standing with U.S. regulators.

The reported investment contributed to the broader political debate over Trump’s crypto ties.

In January, Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren urged federal banking regulators to suspend review of World Liberty Financial’s bank charter application until Trump divests his stake.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency later denied that request, saying the request would be subject to the same “rigorous review” as any other and that political ties would not affect the process.

Bitcoin loses 25,000 millionaire addresses despite pro-crypto turn under Trump

As noted, Bitcoin has lost around 25,000 millionaire addresses in the year since Donald Trump returned to the White House, even as US politics has shifted toward a more crypto-friendly stance.

Blockchain data shows that the number of addresses holding at least $1 million in BTC fell about 16% year-over-year, suggesting that regulatory optimism has not translated into sustained growth in on-chain wealth.

The decline was less severe among the largest holders. Addresses holding more than $10 million in Bitcoin declined by about 12.5%, indicating that high-profile investors were better able to withstand price volatility, while portfolios near the millionaire threshold were more exposed to market fluctuations.

Much of the increase in Bitcoin millionaire addresses occurred before Trump took office, spurred by a late 2024 rally fueled by election-related optimism and expectations of deregulation.

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