According to the Wall Street Journal report, Abu Dhabi-based Aryam Investment 1, as a vehicle backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, purchased 49% of the shares of Donald Trump-linked World Liberty Financial (WLFI) for $500 million in January 2025. The deal was signed days before Trump’s return to the White House and was approved by Eric Trump. Half of the total amount was paid upfront; $187 million was transferred to Trump family assets, and tens of millions of dollars went to the founding partners. The deal was kept secret.
Anatomy of the deal. Source: WSJ
How Did Aryam Investment Acquire WLFI Shares?
G42 executives managed Aryam and secured board seats in WLFI. Aryam became the venture’s largest external shareholder. This move strengthens Abu Dhabi’s crypto strategy; the influence of UAE funds is increasing in markets like BTC detailed analysis.
Timing of the Deal Before Trump’s Return
The deal took place just before Trump’s victory. Eric Trump’s signature solidified family control. Most of WLFI token revenues are with the Trump family; this deepens the political-crypto intersection.
Payment Structure and Details of Fund Flows
| Item | Amount | Recipient |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront Payment | 187 Million $ | Trump Family Assets |
| Additional Transfers | Tens of Millions $ | Founding Partners |
| Total Value | 500 Million $ | 49% Share |
The upfront payment provided liquidity; the remainder is performance-based.
MGX’s Investment in Binance with WLFI Stablecoin
MGX, led by Tahnoon, invested $2 billion in Binance using WLFI stablecoin. This demonstrates the institutional use of stablecoins; WLFI’s DeFi tokenomics is integrated with yield farming and governance.
Democrat Senators’ Investigation into Lazarus Group
Elizabeth Warren and Jack Reed called on the Department of Justice to investigate WLFI token purchases by the North Korean Lazarus Group and Russia-Iran addresses. WLFI and the White House denied the allegations; they say Trump is not involved. This increases regulatory risk in the BTC futures market.
Impact of the WLFI Incident on the BTC Market
Political investments could trigger BTC volatility. Projects like WLFI accelerate institutional entry while challenging AML compliance. Investors should monitor BTC detailed analysis.
Source: https://en.coinotag.com/trump-secures-500m-investment-deal-for-wlfi-from-abu-dhabi
