Warren Demands Investigation After UAE Intelligence Chief’s Secret Stake in Trump-Linked Crypto Firm

New disclosures show an Abu Dhabi-linked investment vehicle with connections to the United Arab Emirates’ national security adviser acquired a near‑majority 49% stake in World Liberty Financial in January 2025 for $500 million. Roughly $187 million of the purchase price was transferred promptly to entities controlled by the Trump family, with additional amounts — including more than $31 million — routed to parties tied to developer Steve Witkoff and other founders and affiliates. Executives aligned with G42 and other Emirati interests not only managed the buyer but also took board positions at World Liberty after the transaction. In the weeks following the sale, affiliates of the purchaser used World Liberty’s stablecoin to move about $2 billion into Binance, heightening scrutiny of the firm’s token flows and custody practices. Those token‑market movements occur against a backdrop of prior congressional and regulatory attention to World Liberty’s token distributions, including allegations that some blockchain addresses interacting with the firm’s markets were linked to sanctioned actors. Senator Elizabeth Warren has publicly demanded congressional hearings and potential subpoenas to examine whether policy decisions and export approvals were influenced by this financial arrangement and to compel testimony from relevant officials and private actors. The timing of the deal is politically sensitive: it was completed shortly before a presidential transition and months before U.S. agencies authorized expanded exports of advanced AI chips to the UAE, moves critics say warrant examination for potential conflicts. The White House and corporate spokespeople deny any improper influence, pointing to ethical firewalls designed to separate private transactions from presidential decision‑making. Nevertheless, lawmakers and national‑security experts warn that the confluence of cross‑border capital flows, new board alignments, large token transfers, and rapid changes in ownership creates a governance and intelligence risk that existing disclosure and export controls may not adequately address. Anticipated responses include congressional oversight (hearings, subpoenas), accelerated regulatory inquiries into token custody and sanction compliance, and consideration of tighter export rules or enhanced beneficial‑ownership transparency for crypto platforms. For the crypto sector, the episode underscores reputational and compliance risks tied to opaque foreign investment; for policymakers, it crystallizes the need to reconcile fast‑moving private capital and digital‑asset rails with national‑security priorities. Whether the revelations prompt substantive policy change or a high‑profile political inquiry will depend on forthcoming document requests, testimonies, and any evidence of illicit conduct or policy capture.