World Liberty Financial Token Buyer Linked to Money Laundering Probe

A major investor in the World Liberty Financial project, known as Aqua 1, is facing scrutiny following reports that its backer, Guren Bobby Zhou, is connected to an active money laundering probe in Britain. While Zhou has not been charged, court records indicate he is under investigation for a laundering operation that allegedly began in 2019. Two of his former employees were charged in the same case last year.

Aqua 1 made headlines in June 2025 by purchasing 100 million dollars worth of WLFI tokens. This move cemented the firm as one of the venture's largest token holders. Under the platform's revenue sharing model, a significant portion of these funds flowed to companies controlled by the Trump family and the associates of co founder Zach Witkoff.

Questions have also emerged regarding the history of the firms linked to Zhou. Before the Aqua 1 purchase, he led a fund called Web3Port, which previously invested 10 million dollars into World Liberty Financial. Public records and blockchain data link these entities despite earlier denials of a connection. Zhou has a history of failed crypto projects and previous claims of backing from major institutions that were later proven to be false.

This situation highlights the transparency risks associated with large token sales and private venture capital in the crypto space. Investors should watch for further developments as British officials continue their investigation into Zhou's business dealings. The involvement of political figures in this project makes the outcome of this probe particularly significant for the future of the venture.