TLDR
- Guren “Bobby” Zhou, behind Aqua 1’s $100M purchase of World Liberty Financial tokens, was arrested in the UK in 2021 on suspicion of money laundering
- The investigation remains active as of late July 2026; Zhou has not been charged
- Up to $75 million from the purchase was distributed to Trump family-controlled entities
- Zhou previously ran failed ventures including a crypto project whose token became worthless
- World Liberty said it followed all applicable laws but declined to confirm it knew the source of Zhou’s funds
A $100 million purchase of World Liberty Financial governance tokens has been linked to a Chinese businessman under active investigation by UK authorities for money laundering.
Trump-Linked World LibertyFi’s $100M Deal Under Scrutiny?
World Liberty Financial received $100 million from a businessman under an active money laundering investigation in Britain, the New York Times reported.
Guren "Bobby" Zhou, the man behind Aqua 1's token purchase, was… pic.twitter.com/BAALBPvqDi
— BSCN (@BSCNews) August 10, 2026
The buyer was Aqua 1, a UAE-based fund. The man behind it, Guren “Bobby” Zhou, was arrested in Britain in March 2021 on suspicion of money laundering. British officials confirmed the investigation was still active as of late July 2026.
Zhou has not been charged. A British court record filed last November accused him of taking part in a money laundering operation with five others dating back to 2019. Two of his employees were charged last September, and one has already pleaded guilty. A trial is set for 2028.
Reuters first identified Zhou as the person behind Aqua 1. The New York Times later confirmed this through court records, confidential documents, and interviews with former associates.
Where the Money Went
Under World Liberty’s revenue-sharing arrangement, up to $75 million from the purchase flowed to a company controlled by Donald Trump and his sons. The deal also benefited the family of co-founder Zach Witkoff, whose father Steve Witkoff serves as a Trump administration special envoy.
Trump’s latest financial disclosure listed more than $65.6 million from equity sales in WLF Holdco and $236.25 million in distributed token sale proceeds.
Eric Trump met with Zhou in Dubai to discuss the investment. Zhou later described the deal as involvement in “Trump’s family’s crypto venture.”
Zhou’s Business History
Zhou’s background raises questions about the source of the funds. He previously ran a British flooring retailer that entered restructuring without repaying around $5 million owed to his father’s company.
He later launched Caduceus, a crypto project that spent about $7.6 million in funding before its token became effectively worthless by 2024.
Caduceus claimed backing from China Merchants Securities UK and the Bin Zayed Group. Both organizations told the Times that claims about their involvement were “unauthorized and materially false.”
After moving to the UAE in 2024, Zhou led Web3Port, a crypto fund that announced a $10 million World Liberty investment after Trump’s January 2025 inauguration.
The Compliance Question
Blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence tracked the purchases. One wallet linked to Web3Port bought $20 million of tokens in January 2025. A second wallet likely linked to Aqua 1 bought another $80 million in June.
Aqua 1 had previously denied any connection to Web3Port.
World Liberty spokesperson David Wachsman said the company followed all applicable laws and maintained a compliance program that “meets or exceeds industry standards.” He declined to say whether World Liberty knew the source of Zhou’s funds.
The Times said it could not determine where the $100 million originated. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Trump had no conflicts of interest. Zhou did not respond to requests for comment.
Stop guessing and start investing with confidence. KnockoutStocks gives you the AI insights, market intelligence, and stock research you need to spot opportunities, cut through the noise, and make smarter investment decisions — all in one powerful platform.
Sign up today and get 50% OFF full access to our premium stock picks.
Simply use coupon code SPECIAL50 at checkout to claim your exclusive discount.
Get 3 Free Stock Ebooks
Discover top-performing stocks in AI, Crypto, and Technology with expert analysis.
- Top 10 AI Stocks - Leading AI companies
- Top 10 Crypto Stocks - Blockchain leaders
- Top 10 Tech Stocks - Tech giants
