Just days before assuming office in 2026,Donald Trump‘s family reportedly finalized a significant financial deal with a member of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family,raising questions about potential conflicts of interest during a sensitive transition period. The transaction, involving a newly formed cryptocurrency venture, saw the sale of nearly half the company to an investment firm linked to Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan for approximately $500 million. This deal highlights the increasingly complex relationship between international finance,emerging technologies,and the highest levels of American politics,and comes as Sheikh Tahnoun has sought greater access to U.S. technologies.
Just Days Before Inauguration
Trump Family Completed Secret Million-Dollar Deal with Sheikh
01.02.2026 – 12:06 UhrLesedauer: 3 Min.
The Trump family sold nearly half of a newly formed cryptocurrency venture to an investor from Abu Dhabi just days before Donald Trump’s inauguration, a transaction that coincided with a period of sensitive policy decisions for the incoming U.S. administration.
Four days before the inauguration of Donald Trump, the Trump family sold approximately 49% of their newly established cryptocurrency company to a foreign investor. The deal, detailed in company documents and confirmed by individuals familiar with the transaction, involved an investment of around $500 million from an investment firm backed by the leadership of the United Arab Emirates. This transaction underscores the growing intersection of politics and the rapidly evolving cryptocurrency market.
According to reports, the agreement was signed by Eric Trump. Roughly half of the funds were transferred immediately, with approximately $187 million going directly to entities controlled by the Trump family. Additional payments were directed to companies affiliated with Steve Witkoff, who had been appointed as a U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East weeks prior, as well as other founding members of the firm.
The deal was spearheaded by Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family, the UAE’s national security advisor, and a prominent investor in the region, the Wall Street Journal reported. He has been actively pursuing access to advanced U.S. chips for artificial intelligence for years, a push that had largely been blocked by the previous U.S. administration due to security concerns.
Sheikh Tahnoun controls a vast economic network through state-backed and state-affiliated investment vehicles, spanning energy, logistics, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrencies. His technology conglomerate, G42, had been under scrutiny in the U.S. for its past ties to Chinese companies like Huawei. G42 stated in late 2023 that it had severed these relationships, though concerns remained in Washington.
