Trump-Backed World Liberty Financial Secures $100M from UAE Fund

World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a blockchain platform associated with Donald Trump and his sons, announced a $100 million investment from UAE-based Aqua 1 Foundation. The deal, revealed Thursday, gives the Dubai fund a significant stake in WLFI’s governance token, surpassing earlier backers like Justin Sun.

Aqua 1 describes the investment as a strategic move to accelerate development in tokenized assets and stablecoin infrastructure. WLFI plans to build a blockchain-powered ecosystem integrating real-world assets, commercial payment systems, and treasury operations.

“Aligning with Aqua 1 validates our blueprint for global financial innovation, as we have a joint mission to bring digital assets to the masses and strengthen our nation’s standing as a champion and leader of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology,” Zak Folkman, co-founder of WLFI, said.

Aqua 1’s founding partner, Dave Lee, emphasized the goal of merging legacy capital markets with decentralized systems. He said WLFI’s stablecoin ecosystem and real-world asset pipeline represent a multi-trillion-dollar structural pivot in global finance.

Global Expansion and Regional Innovation

Aqua 1 plans to leverage its expertise to help WLFI enter markets across South America, Europe, Asia, and emerging economies. The partnership will also back the launch of Aqua Fund, a UAE-domiciled investment vehicle focused on blockchain, AI, and Web3 infrastructure.

Aqua Fund aims to list on a secondary venue in ADGM, providing investors with tradable exposure to tokenized assets. This demonstrates Aqua 1’s commitment to liquidity, regulatory compliance, and global outreach.

Institutional Tokenization With BlockRock

As part of the deal, WLFI and Aqua 1 will jointly develop BlockRock, a tokenization platform targeting premium traditional assets. The initiative seeks to embed high-value assets into Web3 in compliance with global financial laws.

BlockRock could position WLFI as a major player in the $16 trillion real-world asset (RWA) market, competing with firms like BlackRock’s BUIDL and Franklin Templeton’s tokenized solutions.

Stablecoin Ambitions Under Regulatory Fire

The investment supports WLFI’s USD1 stablecoin push. Aqua 1’s services will help integrate the stablecoin into payment systems and strengthen compliance frameworks. However, the deal arrives amid growing congressional and regulatory scrutiny on stablecoins and foreign investment in political-affiliated crypto ventures.

At a Senate hearing this week, Sen. Jeff Merkley urged the Justice Department to evaluate foreign influence risks tied to blockchain and stablecoins. WLFI’s crypto venture, backed by Trump’s three sons, faces intense scrutiny as lawmakers debate new stablecoin regulation.

Political and Financial Implications

Democrats have raised alarms over WLFI’s funding structure. In May, Eric Trump announced that Abu Dhabi’s MGX Capital would settle a $2 billion Binance investment using WLFI’s stablecoin. Critics argue this creates potential conflicts of interest, given Trump's political influence and major foreign funding.

The $100 million UAE investment now takes center stage in debates about stablecoin governance, election-related crypto activity, and regulatory oversight. 

Heightened Transparency Ahead

Zak Folkman noted that WLFI intends to release its first independent audit report soon and hinted that the governance token may begin trading shortly. Speaking at the Permissionless conference in Brooklyn, he outlined plans for a new WLFI app and upcoming product updates.

The governance token, issued before the 2024 presidential election, has already generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. While it grants token holders governance rights, it is currently not market-tradable—a situation set to change soon, according to the company.

What’s Next for WLFI?

• Aqua Fund Launch: A UAE-based Web3/AI fund backed by WLFI and Aqua 1, listed in ADGM for cross-border investment
• BlockRock Platform: Institutional-grade RWA tokenization for traditional assets on blockchain
• Governance Token Launch: Pending independent audit and regulatory alignment
• U.S. Market Positioning: Efforts to frame WLFI as a transparent, compliant crypto firm backed by audit-ready financials

The investment comes at a time of intense scrutiny in Washington. As Congress and regulators weigh new stablecoin rules, WLFI finds its plans under a microscope. 

Will their audit commitments and global framework satisfy skeptics? Or will political ties overshadow blockchain ambitions? The next few months will reveal whether WLFI can build credibility in the crosswinds of finance and politics.

Worth noting, as of July 27, World LibertyFi holds $180.2 million in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, TRX and more, per Arkham Intelligence.