UAE Royals Take 49% of Trump-Linked WLFI in $500M Deal
To make money in crypto, you need to be early. What better way to be early than a deal between UAE royals and the WLFI team? According to WSJ, just four days before Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025, representatives tied to Abu Dhabi royal Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan quietly signed an agreement to buy a 49% stake in the Trump family’s crypto project, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), for $500 million, according to company documents and people linked to the project.
The buyers paid half the amount upfront, directing about $187 million straight to Trump family entities.
Senior UAE royal secretly purchased 49% stake in Trump's World Liberty Financial for $500m pic.twitter.com/xi8ByzJcyf
— db (@tier10k) February 1, 2026
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The Timing and Growing Influence of the UAE in American Politics: $500M WLFI Deal
The timing of the UAE WLFI deal is what people found critical. The agreement came shortly before the U.S. approved the UAE’s access to a large annual allocation of advanced American AI chips, which are subject to strict export controls. Sheikh Tahnoon, who heads UAE national security efforts and oversees major investment funds, backed the purchase through Aryam Investment. Reports note that two of his associates joined the WLFI board following the investment.
President Trump has stated he was not directly involved in the arrangement, but this seems to be his default answer for everything. However, the deal directed substantial proceeds to family members and entities they control, leading to ongoing questions about the separation between personal business and government decisions.
Sheikh Tahnoon oversees more than $1.5 trillion across UAE sovereign funds. He has steadily increased exposure to U.S. tech, AI, and now crypto. This deal links finance, politics, and technology in one bet.
This follows earlier headlines around the UAE stake in Trump crypto, but the WLFI deal goes further by handing over near-control.
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Longstanding Connections Between the UAE and the Trump Family
Connections between the UAE and the Trump family extend beyond this single transaction. Relationships include past real estate dealings, diplomatic interactions, and business partnerships. Steve Witkoff, a longtime Trump associate now serving as a Middle East envoy, helped establish WLFI, linking private projects to official policy roles.
Corruption, plain and simple.
Steve Witkoff, David Sacks, and Howard Lutnick must testify in front of Congress.
And Congress needs to grow a spine and put a stop to Trump’s crypto corruption. pic.twitter.com/1pJ1YfOCgM
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) February 1, 2026
WLFI chart shows a clear long-term downtrend from its early spike, followed by months of consolidation. Price is currently trading near a key horizontal support around $0.12–$0.13, with recent candles showing a weak bounce attempt. The structure suggests lower highs and fading momentum, so sellers still control the trend.
A breakdown below this support could open further downside, while a sustained move above $0.18 would be needed to signal a meaningful trend reversal.
The UAE WLFI deal fits into a broader pattern where foreign entities invest in Trump-related ventures while U.S. policy developments appear to benefit those same parties. This overlap continues to generate debate about transparency and potential conflicts in an administration where family enterprises and national interests intersect closely.
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