$500 Million UAE Crypto Deal Puts WLFI Under Fire

Crypto News Regulation

$500 Million UAE Crypto Deal Puts World Liberty Financial Under Fire

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: February 05, 2026

Key Takeaways

House Democrats are investigating WLFI after reports of a $500 million investment tied to an Abu Dhabi royal;
Rep. Ro Khanna launched the probe, seeking transparency and legal clarity in WLFI’s UAE-linked deal;
Khanna warned the arrangement may breach US laws and stressed the need for ethical policymaking.

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$500 Million UAE Crypto Deal Puts World Liberty Financial Under Fire

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World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a crypto company linked to the family of US President Donald Trump, is being examined by House Democrats after reports that an Abu Dhabi royal-linked group in the UAE made a $500 million investment in it.

Representative Ro Khanna from California announced that he has started an inquiry into the deal.

Khanna, who often raises concerns about public officials’ involvement in cryptocurrency, said on X that his goal is to ensure transparency. He also confirmed that he asked a US attorney to review the transaction after citing a report from The Wall Street Journal.

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Recently, President Trump said he was not aware of the investment and noted that his family was handling it. The Wall Street Journal report identified Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s National Security Adviser since 2016, as the figure behind the deal.

As part of his investigation, Khanna sent a letter to WLFI’s CEO, Zach Witkoff. The letter asked for 16 detailed responses and supporting documents related to the investment agreement.

Khanna also requested financial records showing the company’s revenue, profit-sharing, and policies addressing potential conflicts of interest.

In his letter, Khanna said the situation could involve serious legal issues. He wrote that the arrangement might break several laws and even parts of the US Constitution.

He added that maintaining clean and transparent policymaking is important for the United States, especially when competing with China.

Senator Chris Murphy alleged President Trump and allies received secret UAE payments tied to defense tech access. What did he say? Read the full story.