Abu Dhabi royal's group reportedly backs 49% of Trump-linked bank venture

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan's group reportedly backs StringZ Holding RSC, which owns 49% of WLTC Holdings, the holding company behind World Liberty Financial's proposed US trust bank. The Wall Street Journal based the report on people familiar with the matter. An entity affiliated with US President Donald Trump's family owns another 38% of WLTC Holdings, according to one person. If the bank receives final approval, the federally supervised venture would handle the issuance, redemption and custody of World Liberty's USD1 stablecoin. Tahnoon is the UAE's national security adviser. He is also chairman of artificial intelligence company G42. The US authorized exports of advanced AI chips to G42 in November 2025. Washington and Abu Dhabi agreed a broader AI cooperation framework months earlier. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency granted World Liberty Trust Company preliminary conditional approval on Aug. 14. The OCC's published decision confirms that StringZ is an investor in WLTC Holdings. StringZ signed commitments not to influence the bank. The decision does not identify Tahnoon as StringZ's backer. It also does not disclose StringZ's stake. The trust bank cannot begin operating until it satisfies the OCC's pre-opening requirements and receives final approval. Tahnoon previously backed a $500 million purchase of 49% of World Liberty Financial. Democratic senators later called for hearings into the transaction and whether it influenced US policy toward the UAE.