UAE Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoon Holds 49% Stake in World Liberty
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates’ national security adviser, and his co-investors hold a 49% stake in WLTC Holdings, the holding company behind World Liberty Financial’s planned banking venture, according to The Wall Street Journal and information shared by @WuBlockchain on X. A Trump family-affiliated entity holds about 38% of the company.
The ownership structure comes as World Liberty Financial moves forward with plans to establish a national trust bank in the United States. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) granted preliminary conditional approval this month for the proposed institution, which is expected to play a role in the operation of World Liberty’s USD1 stablecoin.
Tahnoon-Linked Investors Hold 49% of WLTC Holdings
According to the reported ownership structure, Sheikh Tahnoon and his co-investors control 49% of WLTC Holdings through StringZ Holding RSC. WLTC Holdings serves as the holding company for World Liberty Financial’s planned banking venture.
A Trump family-affiliated entity holds approximately 38%, giving the company a significant ownership position alongside the group connected to Sheikh Tahnoon.
The ownership arrangement follows an earlier investment in World Liberty Financial. In January 2025, Sheikh Tahnoon and his co-investors invested $500 million in World Liberty Financial in exchange for a 49% stake in the company.
The latest structure places the UAE-linked investors at the center of the ownership of the proposed banking business while maintaining a substantial position for an entity affiliated with the Trump family.
OCC Gives Preliminary Approval for National Trust Bank
The proposed bank received preliminary conditional approval from the OCC this month. The authorization would allow World Liberty to establish a national trust bank, subject to the regulator’s requirements.
The institution is planned to issue, redeem and safeguard USD1, the stablecoin associated with World Liberty Financial. The bank’s proposed responsibilities would therefore connect its operations directly to the management of the digital asset.
The preliminary approval does not mean that the bank can immediately begin operating. World Liberty must first satisfy the conditions established by the OCC and subsequently pass a final examination before the institution can commence operations.
The regulatory process is therefore still ongoing, with final authorization dependent on the company meeting the requirements imposed by the U.S. banking regulator.
World Liberty’s USD1 Stablecoin Strategy
The planned banking venture is closely linked to World Liberty Financial’s broader cryptocurrency activities, particularly USD1. A stablecoin is a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value relative to a reference asset, typically a fiat currency.
Under the proposed structure, the national trust bank would be responsible for issuing, redeeming and safeguarding USD1. This would give the institution an important operational role in supporting the stablecoin once the bank receives final approval and begins operations.
The development also represents a further expansion of World Liberty Financial’s activities into the regulated U.S. financial system. However, the preliminary OCC approval remains conditional, and the proposed bank must complete additional regulatory steps before it can operate.
Regulatory Conditions Remain Before Launch
The OCC’s preliminary decision markets an important stage in the proposed banking venture, but it does not constitute final authorization.
World Liberty must meet the conditions specified by the regulator and successfully complete a final examination. Only after those requirements have been satisfied can the bank begin operations.
The reported ownership structure and regulatory approval come more than a year after the $500 million investment made by Sheikh Tahnoon and his co-investors in January 2025. With the UAE-linked group holding 49% of WLTC Holdings and a Trump family-affiliated entity holding about 38%, the proposed banking venture has ownership ties to both groups as it proceeds through the U.S. regulatory process.
Writer: Victoria HaleTechnology & Blockchain WriterVictoria Hale writes about blockchain technology, digital infrastructure, and the intersection of emerging technologies with finance. Her articles explore how new protocols and systems are shaping the evolving digital economy.She prioritises clarity and accuracy when explaining technical developments to a general audience.
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