UAE-based Aqua1 invests $100 million in World Liberty Financial, a DeFi project linked to Donald Trump. The deal sparks regulatory concern amid stablecoin legislation debates.
Author: Tanishq Bodh
June 26, 2025 — UAE-based Web3 fund Aqua1 has made a $100 million investment in World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a cryptocurrency platform co-founded by Donald Trump’s sons and tied to the former U.S. President. The investment involves the purchase of WLFI governance tokens, making Aqua1 the platform’s largest token holder.
The partnership aims to fast-track blockchain development, real-world asset tokenization, and the creation of an institutional-grade asset marketplace. Aqua1 is also launching the Aqua Fund to support Middle East digital economy initiatives, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).
The deal includes plans to scale WLFI’s reach across South America, Europe, and Asia, with Aqua1 also backing a new blockchain venture dubbed BlockRock.
Despite the promise of expanding global DeFi ecosystems, the deal has sparked concern in Washington due to Trump family involvement. Lawmakers worry about foreign influence, particularly as Congress debates stablecoin legislation that could limit political investment in crypto.
WLFI has been under increased spotlight since Donald Trump revealed he earned $57.4 million from the company and personally holds 15.75 billion WLFI tokens.
| Investor / Round | Date | Amount (\$M) | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tron / Justin Sun | November 26, 2024 | 30 | Private | Likely initial investment from Tron founder Justin Sun |
| Unknown | January 27, 2025 | 10 | Private | Investor not disclosed |
| Public Sale (Round 1) | Oct 2024 – Jan 2025 | 300 | Public Sale | 20B tokens sold at $0.015 each |
| Public Sale (Round 2) | March 2025 | 250 | Public Sale | 5B tokens sold at $0.05 each |
| Aqua1 | June 26, 2025 | 100 | Direct Investment | Purchased WLFI governance tokens; now the largest holder |
| Justin Sun (Total) | Various (up to 2025) | 75 | Mixed (Initial + Mkt) | Includes $30M initial + secondary market purchases |
| DWF Labs | April 16, 2025 | 25 | Secondary Market | Acquired WLFI tokens on the market; not a direct funding round |
Total Raised: $715 million
This investment is now the largest in WLFI history, surpassing a previous $30 million stake by Justin Sun. It comes at a time when the intersection of crypto and politics is intensifying, and stablecoin rules like the GENIUS Act are under consideration.
Meanwhile, confusion around a separate $2 billion MGX–Binance deal has added to the public attention, though it’s unrelated to Aqua1’s WLFI acquisition.
Donald Trump’s crypto earnings are no small feat — he disclosed $57.4 million in income from WLFI alone, making him one of the highest-earning political figures in crypto to date.
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