Mysterious $100M Investment Shadows Trump-Linked DeFi Project Amid Money Laundering Probe

A bombshell investigation by The New York Times has revealed the true identity behind the staggering $100 million investment in World Liberty Financial’s governance token, WLFI: a wealthy Chinese businessman reportedly embroiled in a global money laundering investigation. This revelation casts a significant shadow over the DeFi project, known for its close ties to the Trump family, raising serious questions about the provenance of its substantial funding.

The individual at the center of this controversy is Guren “Bobby” Zhou, identified as the ultimate beneficial owner of “Aqua 1,” a secretive fund based in the United Arab Emirates. Zhou was previously arrested in the UK in 2021 on suspicion of money laundering. While he has yet to be formally charged, British court documents suggest his involvement in a sophisticated money laundering network operating since 2019. Two of his former employees were indicted last September, with one already pleading guilty. The full trial is anticipated to commence in 2028.

The financial world had already begun to connect the dots. Reuters previously identified Guren “Bobby” Zhou as the enigmatic figure behind Aqua 1. Meanwhile, The Block reported in June 2025 that this relatively obscure fund had committed $100 million to acquire WLFI tokens, instantly making it one of World Liberty Financial’s largest known token purchasers.

The Enigma of the $100 Million Fund Source

Through meticulous examination of court records and interviews with former associates, The New York Times has pieced together the contentious trajectory of Guren “Bobby” Zhou’s financial ascent. His earlier ventures in the UK, particularly a flooring retail business, ended in bankruptcy, leaving him reportedly indebted to his father’s company for approximately $5 million. His subsequent foray into the cryptocurrency space with the “Caduceus” project saw an estimated $7.6 million vanish, with the token’s value plummeting to near zero by 2024.

Adding to the controversy, Caduceus had publicly boasted of securing investments from prominent entities like “China Merchants Securities (UK)” and the “Bin Zayed Group,” purportedly founded by a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family. Both organizations have since vehemently denied these claims, labeling them “unauthorized and seriously false.”

However, Zhou’s financial fortunes took a dramatic turn after his relocation from London to Abu Dhabi in 2024. He swiftly emerged as the principal of Web3Port, a crypto venture fund. Shortly after Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration in January 2025, Web3Port announced a $10 million investment in World Liberty Financial.

The investigation further revealed a critical link: a Web3Port entity registered in the British Virgin Islands subsequently rebranded as “Aqua 1 GP Limited.” A mere two weeks after this name change, Aqua 1 publicly declared its monumental $100 million acquisition of WLFI tokens.

On-chain analysis by blockchain intelligence firm Arkham Intelligence corroborated these movements. Wallets controlled by Web3Port reportedly acquired $20 million worth of WLFI in January 2025, followed by another $80 million purchase in June of the same year by a wallet believed to be under Aqua 1’s control.

Despite these findings, Aqua 1 has previously denied any association with Web3Port and has yet to issue a specific rebuttal to the alleged inaccuracies in The New York Times’ reporting.

The Trump Family’s Stake in the Transaction

The most pressing question revolves around the ultimate beneficiaries of this substantial investment. While The New York Times acknowledges it cannot definitively trace the original source of Guren “Bobby” Zhou’s $100 million, World Liberty Financial’s revenue distribution model suggests that as much as $75 million from this transaction could flow into companies controlled by Donald Trump and his children.

Further implicating prominent figures, the family of World Liberty Financial co-founder Zach Witkoff also reportedly benefited from the deal. Zach’s father, Steve Witkoff, currently serves as a special envoy for the Trump administration.

Prior reports indicate that approximately 75% of WLFI token sales revenue was earmarked for DT Marks DEFI LLC, a company controlled by Trump. His most recent financial disclosures further reveal over $65.6 million received from the sale of WLF Holdco equity, alongside an additional $236.25 million derived from World Liberty Financial token sale distributions.

In response to the allegations, David Wachsman, a spokesperson for World Liberty Financial, informed The New York Times that the company adheres to all applicable laws and regulatory requirements, maintaining a compliance framework that meets or exceeds “industry standards.” However, Wachsman declined to disclose whether World Liberty Financial was aware of Zhou’s funding sources and refuted certain aspects of The New York Times’ description of Zhou without providing specific counter-arguments.

When confronted with questions regarding potential money laundering funds, Wachsman reiterated the company’s commitment to regulatory compliance, asserting that their due diligence processes “meet or exceed industry standards.” He notably refused to confirm knowledge of Guren “Bobby” Zhou’s funding origins, offering only a vague denial of the NYT report’s accuracy without pinpointing specific errors. Meanwhile, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly swiftly defended, stating unequivocally that Donald Trump has “absolutely no conflict of interest” in this matter.