Donald Trump said he had no knowledge of a reported WLFI stake deal involving an Abu Dhabi royal and World Liberty Financial (WLFI).
“I don’t know about it,”
Trump told reporters on Monday when asked about the WLFI stake.
He then said his sons handle the business side, adding that his family receives investments from different people. The comments came after reporting tied the WLFI stake to a $500 million agreement.
Wall Street Journal details $500 million WLFI stake and Aryam Investment 1 payments
The Wall Street Journal reported that Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan agreed to buy a 49% WLFI stake for $500 million. The report said the agreement was signed four days before Trump’s inauguration.
The reporting said a Tahnoon-backed firm, Aryam Investment 1, made an initial $250 million payment.
From that first installment, $187 million went to Trump-family entities, according to the cited documents and people familiar with the deal.
The same reporting said another $31 million went to an entity tied to two WLFI founders, Zak Folkman and Chase Herro. The documents described the stake structure as making Aryam the largest shareholder in WLFI.
Bank charter scrutiny grows as Warren targets WLFI and OCC keeps review moving
The reported WLFI stake and Trump family ties have also intersected with a bank charter debate.
In January, Elizabeth Warren urged regulators to hold off on reviewing WLFI’s bid for a bank charter until Trump divested his interest.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency answered that its process would remain apolitical and apply the same standards used for other applications. The OCC described its review as “rigorous” in a written response.
As the bank charter issue continued, WLFI spokesman David Wachsman told Bloomberg that applying a special fundraising standard to a privately held American company was “ridiculous and un-American.”
Sheikh Tahnoon’s Group 42 profile appears alongside chip export approvals
Sheikh Tahnoon is also linked to Group 42, an Abu Dhabi-based AI group. Coverage has noted his role as chairman while describing his diplomatic and business reach.
Separately, the US Commerce Department said it authorized exports of advanced American semiconductors to G42 in November 2025.
The statement referenced advanced chips and framed the approval as part of US export decisions.
Reporting has also described the UAE’s effort to secure high-end chips from Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices, including discussion of large annual quantities tied to data center expansion.
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Tatevik Avetisyan is an editor at Kriptoworld who covers emerging crypto trends, blockchain innovation, and altcoin developments. She is passionate about breaking down complex stories for a global audience and making digital finance more accessible.
📅 Published: February 3, 2026 • 🕓 Last updated: February 3, 2026
