Updated Sep 2, 2026
/Trump and Rubio seal Venezuela oil deal covering 65 billion barrels across 17 fields/Bond rout gathers pace as borrowing costs hit multi-decade highs/Van Jones calls El-Sayed's total Israel arms embargo 'insane,' cites Obama legacy on defense/Memecoin buys on Robinhood Wallet and Fomo coded as "digital media," sidestepping card-network crypto rules/Caring Brands (CABR) Closes $4.6 Million Initial Series B Preferred Stock Private Placement/Sanmar Group takes majority stake in AltEons Energy to back 1.5GW India pipeline/Trump and Rubio seal Venezuela oil deal covering 65 billion barrels across 17 fields/Bond rout gathers pace as borrowing costs hit multi-decade highs/Van Jones calls El-Sayed's total Israel arms embargo 'insane,' cites Obama legacy on defense/Memecoin buys on Robinhood Wallet and Fomo coded as "digital media," sidestepping card-network crypto rules/Caring Brands (CABR) Closes $4.6 Million Initial Series B Preferred Stock Private Placement/Sanmar Group takes majority stake in AltEons Energy to back 1.5GW India pipeline

UK money laundering suspect behind Aqua 1's $100M World Liberty Financial stake, NYT reports

NEW YORK, Aug. 10. The person controlling Aqua 1, an entity that paid $100 million for World Liberty Financial tokens in 2025, is a UK money laundering suspect with business ties in both the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, the New York Times reported. World Liberty Financial is Donald Trump's crypto business.

By Rafael Okonkwo2 min read
Share

Key takeaways

  • The person controlling Aqua 1, the entity that paid $100 million for World Liberty Financial tokens in 2025, is a UK money laundering suspect, the New York Times reported.
  • Aqua 1 was traced by the Times to a businessman with connections in both the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.
  • World Liberty Financial is the crypto venture associated with Donald Trump.
  • Aqua 1's acquisition of World Liberty Financial tokens in 2025 totaled $100 million, per the Times.

NEW YORK, Aug. 10. The person controlling Aqua 1, an entity that paid $100 million for World Liberty Financial tokens in 2025, is a UK money laundering suspect with business ties in both the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, the New York Times reported. World Liberty Financial is Donald Trump's crypto business.

The buyer behind Aqua 1

The Times traced Aqua 1 to a businessman. He has connections in the UK and the United Arab Emirates, and is described as a money laundering suspect in the United Kingdom, per the Times.

World Liberty Financial

World Liberty Financial is the crypto venture associated with Donald Trump. Aqua 1 acquired tokens in the project in 2025, a purchase that totaled $100 million, per the Times.

Related reading

Frequently asked

Who is behind Aqua 1?

The New York Times traced Aqua 1 to a businessman with business ties in the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates who is described as a money laundering suspect in the UK.

How much did Aqua 1 pay for World Liberty Financial tokens?

Aqua 1 paid $100 million for World Liberty Financial tokens in a 2025 purchase, according to the Times.

What is World Liberty Financial?

World Liberty Financial is the crypto business or venture associated with Donald Trump.

When did Aqua 1 buy the tokens?

Aqua 1 acquired the World Liberty Financial tokens in 2025.