Sheikh Tahnoon Reportedly Controls 49% of World Liberty Bank Firm

Swan.my.id - Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan and co-investors reportedly control a 49% stake in the holding company behind World Liberty Financial’s proposed US trust bank, adding a major Abu Dhabi connection to the Trump family-affiliated crypto venture.

The reported ownership structure places StringZ Holding RSC at the center of the proposed banking operation. StringZ reportedly owns 49% of WLTC Holdings, the company formed around World Liberty Trust Company.

A Trump family-affiliated entity reportedly owns another 38% of WLTC Holdings, according to people familiar with the structure cited by The Wall Street Journal. The disclosure comes as World Liberty Trust Company moves through the final stages of the US banking approval process.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) granted preliminary conditional approval to World Liberty Trust Company on Aug. 14. However, the proposed national trust bank cannot begin operating until it meets the regulator’s pre-opening requirements and receives final authorization.

Sheikh Tahnoon Linked to 49% Stake in Bank Holding Company

The reported connection between Sheikh Tahnoon and StringZ Holding adds another significant financial link between Abu Dhabi interests and World Liberty Financial.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Aug. 27 that Tahnoon’s group is behind StringZ Holding RSC. The company owns 49% of WLTC Holdings, which sponsors the proposed World Liberty Trust Company.

The OCC’s Aug. 14 preliminary approval identified StringZ among the investors in WLTC Holdings. However, the public regulatory document did not identify Tahnoon as the backer of StringZ or disclose the size of his interest.

StringZ was also among three shareholders required to sign commitments restricting their ability to influence management or control the proposed bank. The other shareholders reportedly included a Trump family-affiliated entity and another investor associated with World Liberty co-founders Zak Folkman and Chase Herro.

StringZ’s commitment was signed by Hamad Khlfan Ali Matar Alshamsi. He previously served as a director at G42, the Abu Dhabi artificial intelligence company chaired by Tahnoon.

The reported structure therefore links the proposed US trust bank to an investor network with substantial Abu Dhabi connections.

World Liberty Trust Company Awaits Final OCC Approval

World Liberty Trust Company has not yet received permission to begin banking operations.

The preliminary approval requires the company to complete conditions imposed by the OCC before receiving final authorization. The proposed institution would operate as a de novo national trust company based in Florida.

Unlike conventional commercial banks, the proposed trust company would not have Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. insurance. Its planned activities would instead focus on trust services, stablecoin operations and digital asset custody.

The January application outlined several core functions for the proposed institution, including:

• Issuing and redeeming World Liberty Financial’s USD1 stablecoin.
• Managing reserves backing USD1.
• Providing digital asset custody services.
• Offering institutional custody and conversion services.
• Holding reserves in US dollars, government money market funds and cash equivalents.

The bank would therefore place USD1 at the center of its proposed operations. If final approval is granted, issuance, redemption and reserve management for the stablecoin would move under a federally supervised national trust company.

USD1 is designed to maintain a one-to-one value with the US dollar. The stablecoin initially used short-term US Treasuries, cash deposits and other cash equivalents as reserve assets.

Tahnoon Already Has Major Ties to World Liberty Financial

The reported bank investment follows an earlier financial relationship between Tahnoon-linked capital and World Liberty Financial.

A Tahnoon-backed investment vehicle reportedly acquired a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial for approximately $500 million shortly before Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.

The investment was reportedly made through Aryam Investment 1 and signed by Eric Trump. The transaction was completed four days before Trump’s inauguration, according to earlier reporting.

Trump later said he was unaware of the transaction and that his sons and family handled the business.

Tahnoon is the UAE’s national security adviser and the brother of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He also chairs G42, which has become one of Abu Dhabi’s leading artificial intelligence companies.

His business and government roles have made his financial relationship with World Liberty a subject of political attention in the United States.

USD1 Becomes Central to Proposed Bank

World Liberty Financial launched USD1 in 2025 as a dollar-pegged stablecoin. Its circulation subsequently expanded into the billions of dollars as distribution and institutional use increased.

By June 2026, USD1’s circulating supply had reached approximately $4.4 billion.

One of the stablecoin’s largest early transactions involved Abu Dhabi-based investment company MGX. The company, chaired by Tahnoon, used USD1 in a $2 billion investment in Binance in 2025.

The transaction brought USD1 into a major institutional deal soon after the stablecoin’s launch. It also attracted political attention in Washington because of the relationships connecting World Liberty, the Trump family and Tahnoon.

If the proposed trust bank receives final approval, World Liberty would place the stablecoin’s core financial functions within a federally supervised institution. That would represent a significant step in the company’s effort to integrate digital assets with the US financial system.

Foreign Investment Remains Under Congressional Scrutiny

World Liberty’s foreign financial relationships have also drawn attention from US lawmakers.

In February, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim requested a national security review of the reported UAE investment in World Liberty. They questioned whether the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States had examined the transaction.

Their concerns included whether foreign investors could gain influence over World Liberty or access information associated with the company’s financial operations.

The scrutiny continued while the OCC reviewed the proposed trust bank. During a June House Financial Services Committee hearing, Comptroller Jonathan Gould faced questions from Democratic lawmakers about the agency’s handling of a bank application connected to the president’s family.

Gould said the application would be evaluated under existing banking laws and government ethics requirements.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that career OCC staff handled the application and consulted experienced government ethics officials during the review. World Liberty separately said career OCC personnel assessed the filing against applicable statutory, regulatory and policy requirements.

What Happens Next for World Liberty Trust Company?

The Aug. 14 OCC decision represents preliminary approval rather than a final banking charter.

World Liberty Trust Company must still satisfy the regulator’s pre-opening conditions. Only after those requirements are completed can the OCC grant final authorization for the institution to begin operations.

For World Liberty, the outcome could determine how USD1 operates within its broader financial ecosystem. The proposed structure would give the stablecoin a federally supervised home for issuance, redemption and reserve management while also allowing institutional digital asset custody.

Meanwhile, the reported 49% ownership of WLTC Holdings by a group linked to Sheikh Tahnoon adds another important dimension to the company’s ownership structure.

Conclusion

Sheikh Tahnoon’s reported connection to 49% of WLTC Holdings highlights the growing financial relationship between Abu Dhabi interests and World Liberty Financial. The proposed US trust bank is now closer to becoming operational after receiving preliminary conditional approval from the OCC.

Nevertheless, final authorization remains outstanding. Until the regulator’s conditions are satisfied, World Liberty Trust Company cannot begin operating under its proposed national trust bank charter.

If approved, the institution would play a central role in USD1 by overseeing issuance, redemption, reserves and digital asset custody. Its ownership structure and foreign investment links are therefore likely to remain closely watched as the approval process continues.

FAQ

Who reportedly controls 49% of WLTC Holdings?

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan and co-investors are reportedly behind StringZ Holding RSC, which owns 49% of WLTC Holdings.

What is World Liberty Trust Company?

World Liberty Trust Company is a proposed national trust bank sponsored by WLTC Holdings. It is intended to focus on trust services, stablecoin operations and digital asset custody.

Has World Liberty Trust Company received final approval?

No. The OCC granted preliminary conditional approval on Aug. 14, 2026. The company must satisfy pre-opening conditions before receiving final authorization.

What role would the bank have in USD1?

The proposed bank would handle USD1 issuance and redemption, manage its reserves and provide related digital asset custody services.

How much USD1 was in circulation by June 2026?

USD1’s circulating supply had reached approximately $4.4 billion by June 2026.

Why has World Liberty faced political scrutiny?

Lawmakers have questioned the company’s foreign investment relationships, including reported UAE-linked investment, and whether foreign investors could gain influence or access information related to its financial operations.