World Liberty's $100 Million Aqua 1 Buyer Tied to Active UK Money Laundering Probe: NYT
The $100 million token purchase routed payments to Trump-linked companies and came from Guren “Bobby” Zhou, who is under a UK money-laundering probe.
- In June 2025, the United Arab Emirates-based Aqua 1 Foundation purchased $100 million in digital tokens from World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency venture operated by President Donald Trump and his family.
- Zhou, who is currently under investigation in Britain for money laundering, reportedly possesses a 'shady background' involving a failed flooring business with an unpaid $5 million debt and collapsed crypto ventures.
- Trump-Linked entities received up to $75 million from the purchase, which also benefited the family of Steve Witkoff, Trump's special peace envoy and father of World Liberty Financial co-founder Zach Witkoff.
- The New York Times reported that the transaction illustrates how anonymous cryptocurrency can funnel money toward a sitting president's business interests, as observers expressed confusion regarding how Zhou accessed such capital.
- Historically, a windfall of this scale from a foreign investor with no clear wealth source would have triggered congressional investigations, violating political norms regarding presidential business interests in prior administrations.
27 Articles
27 Articles
The mystery Chinese businessman who dropped $100 million on Trump’s crypto empire was under investigation for money laundering — after his flooring chain collapsed, his crypto startup burned through millions, and he fled Britain for the UAE
In a turn of events, the mysterious Chinese businessman who received millions from U.S. President Donald Trump was under investigation for money laundering and also witnessed the collapse of his crypto startup. Guren “Bobby” Zhou came into the public spotlight during the World Cup final in New Jersey in July, where he was photographed alongside...
World Liberty's $100 Million Aqua 1 Buyer Tied to Active UK Money Laundering Probe
Guren “Bobby” Zhou, the businessman behind Aqua 1’s $100 million purchase of World Liberty Financial governance tokens, was arrested in Britain in 2021 on suspicion of money laundering and remains connected to an investigation that British officials said was still active as of late July, The New York Times reported Sunday. Zhou has not been charged. A British court record filed last November accused Zhou of participating with five other people i…
World Liberty’s $100M WLFI buyer linked to UK money laundering probe
Guren “Bobby” Zhou, the businessman identified as the person behind Aqua 1’s $100 million purchase of World Liberty Financial tokens, has remained linked to an active British money laundering investigation after his 2021 arrest, despite not being charged. The New…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
