A secret agreement between Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Donald Trump family regarding a cryptocurrency venture has sparked public debate.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, citing company documents and sources close to the matter, representatives of Tahnoon, a royal family from Abu Dhabi, have signed an agreement to acquire a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial, the Trump family’s cryptocurrency project.
According to the report, the deal was struck between Tahnoon representatives and Eric Trump four days before Donald Trump’s inauguration last year. The first installment of the total $500 million investment amounted to $250 million, with $187 million reportedly allocated to companies linked to the Trump family.
It was also stated that at least $31 million was planned to be transferred to entities connected to the family of Steve Witkoff, a co-founder of World Liberty and the U.S. special envoy for the Middle East. Another $31 million reportedly went to an entity linked to the company’s other co-founders, Zak Folkman and Chase Herro.
A World Liberty spokesperson stated that the investment was made to secure the company’s growth and that Donald Trump and Steve Witkoff played no role in the deal. A White House spokesperson added that Trump’s assets are held in a trust managed by his children.
The report stated that Tahnoon and several partner investors finalized the deal after months of review of the project. The remaining $250 million is scheduled to be paid by July 15, 2025, but the distribution of this amount has not yet been determined.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan serves as the national security advisor of the United Arab Emirates and as the deputy ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. He was also appointed head of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority in 2023, which manages assets worth approximately $1 trillion.
*This is not investment advice.
