Key facts
- An individual investigated for money laundering in the UK, Guren Zhou, is reportedly linked to a $100 million purchase of tokens from World Liberty Financial.
- World Liberty Financial is described as a Trump family crypto business.
- The purchase was made by an entity named Aqua 1.
- The source of Zhou's funds for the investment remains unclear.
- Other notable backers of World Liberty include Tron founder Justin Sun and an Abu Dhabi entity.
An individual previously investigated in the UK for money laundering, identified as Guren Zhou, was reportedly behind the Aqua 1 entity that purchased $100 million worth of tokens from World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency business associated with the Trump family. The New York Times reported that the June 2025 transaction financially benefited members of President Donald Trump's family and World Liberty co-founder Zach Witkoff.
Zhou's involvement raises questions about the source of the funds, as he was arrested in the UK in 2021 following the collapse of a cryptocurrency business he launched. Aqua 1, which described itself as a "Web3-native fund" based in the United Arab Emirates, has not clarified the origin of its investment.
Previously, speculation suggested Dave Lee was the individual behind Aqua 1; he joined the company as co-founder and CEO in April 2025. White House spokesperson Anna Kelley has stated there are no conflicts of interest regarding the president's investments.
Other significant backers of World Liberty Financial include Tron founder Justin Sun, who initially invested $45 million, and an Abu Dhabi entity backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which reportedly holds a $500 million stake.