Middle Eastern money just turbocharged a controversial crypto play. A UAE-based firm snapped up $100 million worth of WLFI tokens—the flagship asset of a Trump-aligned blockchain project. Here’s why it matters.
The Whale Move
No small-time speculation here. This nine-figure buy-in signals institutional-grade confidence (or audacity) in a token tied to political lightning rods. The purchase dwarfs typical crypto OTC deals—think private island money, not retail trader pockets.
Trump Card in Crypto?
The WLFI token’s backers include ex-advisors from the 45th US presidency. Love it or hate it, that connection guarantees headlines—and now, serious capital. Critics whisper about regulatory grenades waiting to explode; backers counter that disruption always draws fire.
Cynic’s Corner
Another day, another nine-digit bet on a ‘utility token’ that somehow always trades like a meme stock. At least this one came with a side of geopolitical flair—because what’s modern finance without a splash of drama?
UAE Firm Aqua1 Becomes Largest WLFI Holder, Overtakes Justin Sun
The announcement positions Aqua1, a self-described Web3-native fund, as a major WLFI stakeholder, surpassing TRON founder Justin Sun, who committed $30 million to the project last November.
“Aqua1 and WLFI will work together to identify and support blockchain projects with transformative potential,” said Dave Lee, founding partner at Aqua1.
He emphasized WLFI’s vision for integrating traditional finance with blockchain protocols, calling it “a trillion-dollar pivot opportunity.”
The investment marks another high-profile link between the Trump family and international crypto dealings.
World Liberty Financial, co-founded by President Trump’s three sons, has already drawn scrutiny from lawmakers.
President TRUMP disclosed $57.4 million in income tied to WLFI and holds 15.75 billion of the platform’s governance tokens, according to recent filings.
Back in May, Eric Trump sparked criticism when he revealed that Abu Dhabi-based MGX planned to use WLFI’s USD1 stablecoin to settle a $2 billion investment in Binance.
That announcement came just as U.S. lawmakers ramped up discussions on new rules governing payment stablecoins.
The overlap between legislative developments and the Trump family’s crypto business has raised red flags among some members of Congress.
During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing this week, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi declined to comment directly when pressed by Senator Jeff Merkley on the president’s involvement with World Liberty Financial.
Merkley warned against foreign influence in American policymaking. “I think it’s important for the leader of the Justice Department of the United States to be very concerned about foreign influence,” he said.
“Americans should make American decisions — not have them bought through crypto coins.”
Trump Continues to Capitalize on Crypto Market Momentum
Meanwhile, Donald Trump continues to capitalize on crypto market momentum.
According to financial disclosures released last Friday, the former president pulled in $58 million from crypto ventures in 2024, primarily through WLFI token sales.
That total trailed only his hospitality income and is expected to climb further in 2025 with an anticipated $390 million token sale and gains from his meme coin, launched in January.
His involvement in Bitcoin mining, tokenized assets, and digital ETFs is raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Critics have pointed out that some of his businesses have seen tailwinds from favorable policy decisions during his time in office.
As reported, the SEC has approved Trump Media and Technology Group’s (TMTG) registration statement tied to a $2.3 billion bitcoin treasury initiative.
