Emirati Sheikh Invests $500 Million in Trump's Crypto Platform

The national security advisor of the United Arab Emirates is investing half a billion US dollars in World Liberty Financial, Donald Trump's crypto platform. Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan acquired 49 percent of the company's shares through an investment firm from Abu Dhabi, according to the Wall Street Journal citing informed sources ^[1].

Of the $500 million, half was paid as an advance payment. Of this amount, $187 million went to companies owned by the Trump family, with the remainder going to firms of co-founders, including US Middle East envoy Steven Witkoff ^[1].

Previously, World Liberty Financial had already benefited from a multi-billion dollar investment in Binance by the state investment fund MGX from Abu Dhabi, which is also headed by Sheikh Tahnoon. The advisory firm G42 will receive several board seats ^[1].

According to the Wall Street Journal, both investments are part of a broader agreement concerning the delivery of cutting-edge AI chips to the Emirates. The Biden administration had blocked these over concerns about technology transfer to China, while the Trump administration gave the green light as early as November ^[1].

The presidential family's wealth has grown by an estimated $1.4 billion through crypto transactions alone since taking office ^[1].