TLDR:
- World Liberty faces fresh scrutiny after Guren Bobby Zhou, linked to Aqua 1’s $100 million WLFI purchase, was tied to an active UK money laundering investigation.
- British authorities arrested Zhou in 2021 on suspicion of money laundering, but prosecutors have not charged him, and the investigation remains open.
- The source of Aqua 1’s $100 million WLFI purchase remains unclear, while blockchain analysis linked separate $20 million and $80 million buys to related wallets.
- World Liberty says it followed applicable laws and maintains strong compliance controls, while its spokesperson declined to discuss the source of Zhou’s funds.
World Liberty is facing scrutiny after reports linked a token buyer to a British money laundering investigation. Guren Bobby Zhou, the businessman behind Aqua 1, funded a $100 million purchase of WLFI tokens. British authorities arrested Zhou in 2021 on suspicion of money laundering.
However, prosecutors have not charged him. Officials said the investigation remained active in Britain in late July. The source of the $100 million used for the purchase remains unclear. The company said it followed laws and maintained compliance controls. The report has renewed questions around crypto token buyers and fund transparency and due diligence standards worldwide.
World Liberty Buyer Linked to Active UK Investigation
Court records reviewed by The New York Times connect Zhou to an alleged laundering operation dating back to 2019. The filing names six people in the investigation. Two longtime Zhou employees were charged last September. One defendant has pleaded guilty. A trial for the charged defendants is scheduled for 2028.
Zhou has not been charged. British officials said the investigation involving him remains open. The legal status leaves the matter unresolved while scrutiny continues around his business network.
Aqua 1 became one of WLFI’s largest known token buyers after purchasing $100 million of WLFI. Reuters identified Zhou as the person behind Aqua 1. The fund had little public profile in public records before the transaction.
The Times reviewed Zhou’s ventures. One British flooring retailer entered restructuring while owing about $5 million to his father’s company. Zhou later launched Caduceus, a crypto project that raised about $7.6 million. Its token had lost nearly all value by 2024.
Caduceus promoted links with China Merchants Securities UK and the Bin Zayed Group. Both groups rejected those representations to the Times. They described the claimed involvement as unauthorized and materially false.
After moving to Abu Dhabi in 2024, Zhou led Web3Port, a crypto venture fund. Web3Port announced a $10 million World Liberty investment after Donald Trump’s January 2025 inauguration.
World Liberty Faces Questions Over $100 Million Source
A Web3Port entity registered in the British Virgin Islands later changed its name to Aqua 1 GP Limited. Two weeks later, Aqua 1 announced the $100 million WLFI purchase.
Blockchain analytics cited by the Times traced two purchases linked to the network. A Web3Port-controlled wallet bought $20 million of WLFI in January 2025. Another wallet, likely controlled by Aqua 1, bought another $80 million in June.
Aqua 1 previously denied having a connection with Web3Port. However, it did not specify which details it disputed. The Times said it could not determine where the $100 million originated.
World Liberty’s revenue structure drew attention. The Times reported that as much as $75 million reached a company controlled by Trump and his sons. The transaction also benefited the family of co-founder Zach Witkoff.
As reported, 75% of WLFI token sale proceeds flow to DT Marks DEFI LLC. Trump’s financial disclosure listed more than $65.6 million from WLF Holdco equity sales. It also listed $236.25 million in distributed WLFI token sale proceeds.
World Liberty spokesperson David Wachsman said the company followed all applicable laws and regulations. He also said its compliance program meets or exceeds industry standards. Wachsman declined to say whether the company knew the source of Zhou’s funds.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told the Times that Trump had no conflicts of interest. Zhou did not respond to the newspaper’s requests for comment.
