World Liberty's $100M WLFI buyer linked to UK money laundering probe

World Liberty Financial faces fresh regulatory scrutiny after The New York Times reported that Guren "Bobby" Zhou, the businessman behind Aqua 1's $100 million WLFI token purchase, remains under an active UK money laundering investigation.

British authorities arrested Zhou in 2021 on suspicion of money laundering, and the investigation remains active as of late July 2026, The New York Times reported Sunday, citing court records, confidential documents and interviews with people connected to Zhou.

Zhou has not been charged. Two of his longtime employees were charged in September 2025, with one pleading guilty and a trial scheduled for 2028. The source of the $100 million used for the WLFI purchase remains unclear, according to the report.

The scrutiny comes as U.S. lawmakers examine separate UAE-linked investments in World Liberty, including a reported $500 million stake by Abu Dhabi-based Aryam Investment 1, raising questions about foreign financial interests and potential conflicts involving the Trump administration.

Aqua 1 and the Web3Port connection

Blockchain analysis cited by the Times showed that a wallet controlled by Web3Port, a crypto venture fund Zhou led before Aqua 1 emerged, bought $20 million worth of WLFI in January 2025. A second wallet believed to be controlled by Aqua 1 purchased an additional $80 million in June, bringing combined purchases to $100 million.

Corporate records reviewed by the Times showed that a Web3Port entity registered in the British Virgin Islands was later renamed Aqua 1 GP Limited. Aqua 1 announced its $100 million WLFI purchase about two weeks after the name change. The fund had previously denied a connection to Web3Port.

Zhou's earlier ventures faced financial problems. A British flooring retailer he operated entered restructuring without repaying roughly $5 million owed to a company controlled by his father. He later launched Caduceus, a crypto project that raised about $7.6 million before its token became effectively worthless by 2024. Caduceus had announced backing from China Merchants Securities UK and the Bin Zayed Group, both of which told the Times those claims were "unauthorized and materially false."

$75 million to a Trump-controlled entity

Under World Liberty's revenue-sharing structure, as much as $75 million from Aqua 1's $100 million token purchase went to DT Marks DEFI LLC, an entity controlled by Trump and his sons. Trump's latest financial disclosure listed more than $65.6 million from WLF Holdco equity sales and $236.25 million in distributed World Liberty token-sale proceeds.

World Liberty spokesperson David Wachsman said the company complied with all applicable laws and maintained a compliance program that "meets or exceeds industry standards." He declined to say whether World Liberty knew where Zhou obtained the money.

Five Democratic senators have asked Republican committee leaders to hold hearings into a reported $500 million investment in World Liberty by Aryam Investment 1, an Abu Dhabi-based company backed by UAE national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim separately asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in February to determine whether the UAE investment required review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

WLFI gained 2.74 percent to trade at $0.0529 following the report, with 24-hour trading volume jumping 57.02 percent, according to market data.

The UK investigation remains open with no charges filed against Zhou. With the trial involving his former employees scheduled for 2028, questions around the source of the $100 million and the flow of funds through Aqua 1 are likely to persist, keeping World Liberty's compliance practices under continued regulatory and public scrutiny.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.