Abu Dhabi Royal Reportedly Backs 49% Stake in Trump-Linked Crypto Bank

An investment group linked to Abu Dhabi royal Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan reportedly holds a 49% stake in the holding company behind World Liberty Financial’s proposed U.S. trust bank, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The reported ownership puts a major UAE-linked investor behind a bank venture connected to the Trump family and the USD1 stablecoin.

Sheikh Tahnoon Group Reportedly Holds 49%

The Wall Street Journal reported that Sheikh Tahnoon’s group is behind StringZ Holding RSC, which owns 49% of WLTC Holdings. An entity affiliated with the Trump family reportedly owns another 38%.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) granted World Liberty Trust Company preliminary conditional approval on August 14. However, the OCC’s published decision identifies StringZ as an investor without naming Sheikh Tahnoon as its backer or confirming the reported 49% ownership.

The bank cannot begin operations until it completes the OCC’s pre-opening requirements and receives final approval.

USD1 Could Move Under the Bank

If approved, the proposed trust bank would handle the issuance, redemption and custody of World Liberty Financial’s USD1 stablecoin under federal supervision.

This development also connects with the recent expansion of USD1 into institutional blockchain infrastructure. 

Related: World Liberty Financial launches USD1 natively on Canton Network

Sheikh Tahnoon, the UAE’s national security adviser and chairman of AI company G42, has previously been linked to World Liberty Financial. He reportedly backed a $500 million purchase of a 49% stake in the crypto venture, a transaction that later drew scrutiny from Democratic senators.

For now, the reported ownership structure remains separate from the bank’s regulatory approval. The key next step is whether World Liberty Trust Company can satisfy the OCC’s conditions and receive final approval to begin operations.