UAE‑Backed 49% Buy of Trump Crypto WLFI for $500M Sparks Lawmakers' Anti‑Corruption Outcry

U.S. lawmakers are demanding tighter anti‑corruption safeguards after reports that an Abu Dhabi‑backed investment vehicle bought a nearly half stake in World Liberty Financial Invest (WLFI), the Trump family’s flagship crypto venture.

What happened
– The Wall Street Journal reported that Aryam Investment — a UAE‑backed entity linked to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed and Abu Dhabi’s state investment apparatus — purchased a 49% stake in WLFI for $500 million just days before President Trump’s inauguration.
– Media reporting cited company documents and sources saying roughly half the purchase price was paid upfront. About $187 million reportedly went to entities connected to the Trump family, and at least $31 million went to groups affiliated with Steve Witkoff, a WLFI co‑founder and Trump’s Middle East envoy.

Why it’s drawing fire
– Democratic Senator Chris Murphy called the transaction “brazen, open corruption,” saying the timing and secrecy of the payments broke “decades of national security precedent” and could constitute “the elements of a bribe.”
– Murphy and other critics also pointed to what happened months later: the Trump administration expanded UAE access to advanced U.S.‑made AI chips — a policy shift that the prior administration had resisted over concerns the technology could be diverted to China. Murphy framed the sequence as a troubling exchange of money for preferential national‑security treatment.
– Rep. Greg Landsman labeled the deal “blatant corruption,” arguing that the transaction enriched the president while U.S. policy favored foreign access to sensitive tech.

Responses and context
– President Trump denied involvement at a White House press conference, saying he was not aware of the $500 million deal and that WLFI is run day‑to‑day by his sons. “My family is handling it,” he said.
– The WLFI purchase has renewed scrutiny about potential conflicts of interest tied to the Trump family’s crypto activities. Democrats have repeatedly pressed regulators — including the SEC’s former acting chair and the head of the OCC — for answers.
– In November, U.S. senators asked the Justice Department and Treasury to investigate WLFI over token sales they said could involve illicit actors, arguing the project lacked safeguards to prevent misuse of funds or undue influence over governance.

What this means for crypto and policy
– The episode underscores growing concern in Washington about opaque crypto deals that intersect with national security and foreign investment. Lawmakers are calling for “massive anti‑corruption reforms” to prevent similar transactions and to increase transparency around who owns and benefits from major crypto firms.
– Investigations or further congressional inquiries could follow if authorities decide to probe the deal’s legality or any links between payments and subsequent policy decisions.

The story is developing as lawmakers push for answers and potential reforms while the crypto community watches for regulatory fallout.

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