Foreign money from UAE royal reportedly buying Trump influence through WLFI digital dollar

Reports indicate that Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan, or associated investors from the UAE, agreed in January 2025 to invest $500 million for approximately a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial (WLFI), the company behind the USD1 stablecoin. This arrangement has drawn scrutiny because $187 million of the investment allegedly flowed to Trump family entities, raising conflict-of-interest questions, especially as WLFI expands USD1 into institutional settlement. The 49% stake grants significant governance leverage, potentially allowing for 'blocking' power over major corporate actions. The scrutiny is heightened by the intersection of stablecoin issuance, cross-border capital flows, and U.S. policy, with attention also focused on whether this investment is bundled with discussions regarding access to advanced AI chips for the UAE.

(Source：CryptoSlate)