An individual previously investigated for money laundering in the United Kingdom has reportedly played a key role in the purchase of $100 million worth of tokens from World Liberty Financial, a company associated with the Trump family.
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AAPLIdentity of the Aqua 1 Buyer
The New York Times reported on Sunday that Guren Zhou, also known as Bobby, is the figure behind the Aqua 1 entity responsible for acquiring $100 million in WLFI tokens from World Liberty Financial in June 2025. This deal is understood to have financially benefited members of US President Donald Trump’s family, as well as World Liberty co-founder Zach Witkoff and his relatives.
Speculation had initially surrounded Dave Lee as the person behind Aqua 1. The foundation later confirmed that Lee assumed the roles of co-founder and CEO in April 2025, but did not specify if he was the source of the funds directed into WLFI tokens.
The Aqua 1 foundation confirmed the addition of Dave Lee as co-founder and CEO in April 2025, but did not disclose details regarding the financial origins behind the WLFI token investment.
Questions of Investment Source and Potential Conflicts
Aqua 1, which describes itself as a Web3-native fund based in the United Arab Emirates, has prompted questions regarding the origins of its capital and any potential conflicts stemming from foreign involvement with a company tied to the US president’s family.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelley has repeatedly asserted that the president’s investments present “no conflicts of interest.” Despite these statements, the investment’s source remains unclear, particularly in light of Zhou’s past legal issues. Zhou was arrested in the UK in 2021 on money laundering suspicions after his crypto business collapsed, and the path that enabled him to invest such a large sum is still uncertain.
The origin of millions invested into World Liberty is described as a “mystery,” particularly considering Zhou’s 2021 UK arrest for suspected money laundering and the downfall of his previous multi-million dollar crypto business.
Major Backers and Industry Context
Key supporters of World Liberty include several high-profile investors from the cryptocurrency and financial sectors. Among them, Tron founder Justin Sun has reportedly invested $45 million in the firm’s tokens. In addition, an Abu Dhabi-based entity connected to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan holds a $500 million stake, according to sources familiar with the matter.
This pattern of significant international investment highlights the growing intersection between traditional finance and digital assets. In the midst of heightened market scrutiny and regulatory interest, platforms such as 1stepSwap are emerging to address the evolving needs of investors. 1stepSwap breaks down traditional barriers by transferring real-world assets directly onto the blockchain, enabling access to shares of major US companies and commodities such as gold and silver, all from a single wallet interface. The platform’s noteworthy capability to find the most favorable price in real time streamlines portfolio diversification and enhances transaction efficiency for traders worldwide.
These developments reflect the increasing overlap between political, financial, and technological sectors in the global digital asset ecosystem.
