UAE-Backed Aryam Buys 49% of World Liberty Financial for $500M Before Trump Inauguration

• UAE backed Aryam quietly bought 49% of World Liberty Financial for $500 million days before Trump inauguration.

• The undisclosed deal sent major funds to Trump linked entities and reshaped ownership after the January signing.

• The timing aligned with shifting US UAE ties as Abu Dhabi pushed deeper into crypto and technology strategy.

A UAE-backed investment vehicle quietly acquired 49% of World Liberty Financial for $500 million. The deal closed days before Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration. According to The Wall Street Journal, the transaction stayed undisclosed at the time. The timing placed the agreement during a sensitive political transition. Consequently, the purchase later drew attention from lawmakers and market observers.

🚨 BREAKING: UAE-backed Aryam Investment quietly bought 49% of World Liberty Financial for $500M just before Trump’s inauguration.

Deal signed by Eric Trump, never publicly disclosed.

$187M reportedly went to Trump family entities. pic.twitter.com/gUbMiwOd8N

— Reality On Chain (@RealityOnChain) February 1, 2026

Aryam Investment 1 completed the agreement in January 2025. The entity operates with backing from Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He serves as the United Arab Emirates national security adviser. The deal made Aryam the largest external shareholder in the crypto startup. Meanwhile, World Liberty later reported a sharp reduction in Trump family ownership.

The transaction emerged through reporting rather than company disclosures. World Liberty did not announce the agreement publicly. Instead, the details surfaced months later through documents and sources. As a result, the deal raised questions around timing and transparency. However, involved parties denied any policy influence.

Payment Structure and Ownership Changes

The agreement valued the 49% stake at $500 million. Aryam paid half of the amount upfront at signing. Therefore, Trump family-controlled entities received about $187 million. Additional tens of millions flowed to entities linked to company co-founders. These entities reportedly included relatives of US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

Eric Trump signed the agreement on behalf of World Liberty Financial. Despite his involvement, the company kept the deal private. Ownership disclosures only appeared later through separate filings. Consequently, the public learned about the transaction after Trump took office. This delay intensified scrutiny around governance and disclosure practices.

World Liberty later acknowledged changes in its ownership structure. The Trump family stake fell sharply following the transaction. Aryam gained significant influence through its near-half ownership. Meanwhile, the startup continued operations without public comment on the deal. This silence persisted during the early months of the new administration.

Policy Context and Rising Scrutiny

The timing aligned with improving US-UAE relations under the Trump administration. Sheikh Tahnoon has led Abu Dhabi’s artificial intelligence expansion efforts. He previously sought access to advanced US-made AI chips. Under the prior administration, US officials limited those efforts. They cited concerns about technology exposure through certain companies. Moreover, White House crypto czar and UAE officials met to explore opportunities in AI and digital currencies last year.

Stablecoin Use and Political Scrutiny

After Trump’s election, the policy environment shifted. Tahnoon met several times with Trump and senior US officials. Soon after, the US committed to granting the UAE expanded chip access. At the same time, executives from UAE-linked firm G42 helped manage Aryam Investment 1. They also took board seats at World Liberty Financial.

Separately, scrutiny around World Liberty continued to grow. Democratic senators previously urged US agencies to investigate its token sales. They cited alleged purchases tied to sanctioned foreign actors. Moreover, the ownership structure directs most token revenue to Trump-linked entities. Lawmakers argue this structure creates a potential conflict of interest.