The cryptocurrency market saw major developments today, spanning high-profile political ties, sharp Ether losses, and new regulatory pressure from the United States. From a $500 million UAE-backed investment connected to former President Donald Trump, to billions wiped off Ethereum treasury balances, and fresh sanctions targeting Iran-linked crypto exchanges, today’s events highlight how geopolitics, regulation, and market volatility continue to shape the digital asset space.
UAE Investment Buys 49% of Trump-Linked Crypto Firm for $500 Million
A UAE-backed investment vehicle has quietly acquired a significant stake in World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency startup linked to US President Donald Trump, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The deal was reportedly signed in January 2025, just days before Trump returned to the White House.
Aryam Investment 1, an Abu Dhabi-based entity backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, agreed to purchase 49% of World Liberty Financial for $500 million. Roughly half of that amount was paid upfront, with approximately $187 million flowing to entities controlled by the Trump family. Additional payments reportedly went to organizations tied to the company’s co-founders, including relatives of US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
The agreement was allegedly signed by Eric Trump and was not publicly disclosed at the time. While World Liberty Financial later announced that the Trump family’s ownership stake had dropped significantly, details of the UAE investment were not previously revealed, raising questions around transparency and disclosure in politically connected crypto ventures.
Ethereum Sell-Off and US Sanctions Add Pressure to Crypto Markets
Ethereum faced renewed selling pressure this week, leaving one of the largest crypto treasury holders, BitMine Immersion Technologies, with massive unrealized losses. The publicly traded firm, linked to investor Tom Lee, is now carrying more than $6 billion in unrealized losses on its Ether holdings following the recent market downturn.
BitMine recently added over 40,000 ETH to its balance, bringing total holdings to more than 4.24 million Ether. At current prices near $2,300, the company’s ETH stash is valued at around $9.6 billion, down sharply from a peak valuation of nearly $14 billion in October. Analysts have pointed to fragile market liquidity, heavy leverage, and crowded positioning as key factors accelerating Ether’s decline.
At the same time, regulatory pressure intensified as the US Treasury announced sanctions against two UK-registered cryptocurrency exchanges linked to Iran’s financial system. This marks the first time Washington has directly sanctioned digital asset platforms as part of its Iran sanctions program.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said the action targets networks accused of using crypto to bypass international sanctions. Those designated include Iran’s interior minister Eskandar Momeni Kalagari and businessman Babak Zanjani, who was previously convicted of embezzling billions in oil revenues and later accused of laundering funds tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
