Trump denies knowledge of UAE investment in World Liberty of $500 million; Bitcoin "millionaire addresses" decrease by 25,000 in one year

February 3 News, U.S. President Donald Trump responded to the flow of UAE funds into the crypto platform World Liberty Financial, stating that he was “completely unaware” and that the matter was handled by his family. Previously, reports indicated that Abu Dhabi royal family member Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan invested $500 million through an affiliated entity to acquire a 49% stake in the company, sparking widespread discussion about foreign influence and the business relationships of the presidential family.

The report shows that this funding was injected by Aryam Investment, with an initial $250 million, approximately $187 million of which flowed to entities related to the Trump family, while the rest went to companies associated with Zach Folkman and Chase Herro. If the deal is completed, Aryam will become the largest shareholder. World Liberty Financial was founded by nine individuals, including Trump and his children, and the structural arrangement was immediately questioned by lawmakers.

The incident also ignited political debate in Washington. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren called for a suspension of the company’s banking license review until Trump divests his holdings, but the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency stated it would evaluate according to standard procedures. Meanwhile, Sheikh Tahnoun’s Group 42 has been approved to procure advanced chips, drawing more attention to its position within the U.S. regulatory system.

Notably, despite the U.S. adopting a more friendly stance toward the crypto industry, on-chain high-net-worth Bitcoin addresses continue to decline. Data shows that over the past year, the number of wallets holding at least $1 million in Bitcoin decreased by about 16%, roughly 25,000 addresses; those holding over $10 million also fell by 12.5%. This indicates that policy expectations have not translated into stable on-chain wealth expansion.

Market observers point out that the related turmoil and changes in capital flow may intensify investors’ cautious attitude toward governance and transparency in the crypto industry.