Trump-Linked WLFI $500M UAE Stake Sparks Senate Demand For Probe
US lawmakers intensified scrutiny over a reported foreign stake in a cryptocurrency firm connected to former President Donald Trump. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim have demanded the Treasury's Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS) clarify whether the $500 million deal involving World Liberty Financial (WLFI) poses national security risks.
The transaction, reportedly closed in January 2025, granted an Abu Dhabi-linked investment vehicle a 49% stake in WLFI. This WOULD make the foreign investor the largest outside shareholder with board representation. Concerns center around potential access to sensitive customer data, stablecoin operations, and strategic decision-making.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan has been identified as a key backer of the investment vehicle. The timing of the deal—proximate to the US presidential transition—has drawn particular attention from legislators. Reports indicate portions of the funds flowed to entities linked to WLFI's founders, raising questions about disclosure compliance and foreign investment regulations.
