The New York Times reported on August 9, 2026, that the buyer behind Aqua 1’s $100 million purchase of World Liberty tokens is Guren “Bobby” Zhou, a businessman who has been under investigation by UK authorities for money laundering since 2021.
The report found that British officials confirmed the probe remained active as of late July, and that Zhou has not been charged. As much as $75 million of the June 2025 investment flowed to Trump family companies, raising scrutiny over how the venture vets its biggest buyers.
How Zhou’s Aqua 1 Became WLFI’s Biggest Known Buyer
Zhou relocated to the United Arab Emirates after facing scrutiny in Britain, where he had led a venture fund called Web3Port, according to The New York Times. Web3Port announced a $10 million World Liberty investment two weeks after Trump’s January 2025 inauguration, and a Web3Port entity in the British Virgin Islands later renamed itself Aqua 1 GP Limited. Two weeks later, Aqua 1 announced the far larger $100 million purchase.
Blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence traced $20 million to a Web3Port-controlled wallet in January 2025 and another $80 million to a wallet likely tied to Aqua 1 in June, the Times reported.
World Liberty co-founder Zak Folkman welcomed Aqua 1 as a partner when The Block first covered the deal in June 2025, saying it validated the project’s approach to global financial innovation. Aqua 1 has since denied any connection to Web3Port without specifying which details it disputes.
What This Means for WLFI Investors and Buyers
For anyone holding or considering World Liberty tokens, the case highlights a gap that keeps surfacing across our crypto news coverage this year: investors have little visibility into who funds a project once it accepts a large strategic purchase.
It’s also not the first time World Liberty’s vetting has come under question. Co-founder Justin Sun’s dispute with the project over token allocations already raised similar concerns about the venture’s stakeholder screening.
Whether UK Prosecutors Move Toward Charges
British officials described the investigation into Zhou as active as of late July 2026, though the Times reported no charging timeline has been set. A trial for other defendants in the same alleged money-laundering case is scheduled for 2028, a date that could keep Zhou’s ties to World Liberty in the headlines regardless of his own outcome.
World Liberty has said only that it followed all applicable laws when it accepted the investment, without detailing what due diligence, if any, it performed on Zhou’s background beforehand.
What this means for you: if you’re weighing an investment in WLFI or any Trump-linked crypto project, this case is a reminder to look past the headline dollar figures and ask who is behind the money before you buy in.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Do your own research before making any investment decisions.
