World Liberty Faces New Questions Over $100M Token Purchase Tied to UK Money Probe
World Liberty Financial (WLFI) is facing fresh scrutiny over a $100 million investment in its WLFI tokens, after reports linked the buyer to an active UK money-laundering investigation. Guren “Bobby” Zhou, identified as the person behind UAE-based investment fund Aqua 1, was arrested in Britain in 2021 on suspicion of money laundering, according to The New York Times. He has not been charged, but British authorities confirmed the investigation was still active as of late July 2026.
The $100 million purchase made Aqua 1 one of World Liberty’s largest known token buyers, and the unanswered question of where the money came from has put the project’s compliance practices under renewed scrutiny.
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The Unclear Source of the $100 Million
The New York Times reviewed court records and confidential documents and spoke with people connected to Zhou, but the origin of the funds used for the WLFI purchase remains unresolved. Zhou’s background adds to the questions: he previously ran a UK flooring business that entered restructuring while owing about $5 million to his father’s company. He later became involved with Caduceus, a crypto project whose token lost most of its value.
Caduceus had claimed backing from China Merchants Securities UK and Bin Zayed Group, but both organizations later said those allegations were unauthorized and false. Zhou subsequently moved to Abu Dhabi and became involved with crypto investment firm Web3Port.
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The Aqua 1 and Web3Port Connection
The relationship between Aqua 1 and Web3Port has drawn particular attention. Web3Port announced a $10 million World Liberty investment shortly after Donald Trump’s January 2025 inauguration. Blockchain analysis cited by the NYT shows a wallet controlled by Web3Port bought $20 million worth of WLFI in January 2025, while another wallet believed to be controlled by Aqua 1 purchased an additional $80 million in June.
Further complicating matters, a Web3Port entity registered in the British Virgin Islands later changed its name to Aqua 1 GP Limited. Aqua 1 had previously denied being connected to Web3Port.
Trump Family Financial Ties
The transaction has drawn extra scrutiny because World Liberty has a financial relationship with companies controlled by the Trump family. Reports say up to $75 million from the purchase went to a Trump-controlled company. Trump’s latest financial disclosure listed $65.6 million from WLF Holdco equity sales and $236.25 million in World Liberty token-sale proceeds.
The White House said Trump had no conflicts of interest. WLFI spokesperson David Wachsman said the company followed all applicable laws and maintained a compliance program that meets or exceeds industry standards, but did not disclose whether the company knew the source of Zhou’s funds. Zhou did not respond to the report.
What to Watch Next
Zhou has not been charged, and the UK investigation reportedly remains active. The key questions — the source of the $100 million, the true relationship between Aqua 1 and Web3Port, and what World Liberty knew about the buyer — are likely to persist. Regulators and market watchers will be watching for any further disclosures from the UK authorities or from World Liberty itself.
Following the report, WLFI gained 2.74% to trade at $0.0529, with 24-hour trading volume jumping 57.02%, indicating increased market attention. Investors should note that this is a developing story, and the market’s reaction may not reflect the long-term regulatory or legal outcomes.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The cryptocurrency market is volatile and uncertain; readers should conduct their own research before making any investment decisions.
