Abu Dhabi

G42

2026-09-04 13:03:37

Abu Dhabi AI Firm G42 Explores Sale of Majority Stake to US Companies for Chip Access

Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence company G42 is in exploratory talks to sell a majority stake to US firms, aiming to secure continued access to advanced AI chips beyond next year. The deal, if completed, would significantly restructure the company, which is backed by UAE royal family members. The discussions are at an early stage.

840

Binance

2026-09-01 13:51:38

Binance Lists Options on Over 1,000 US Stocks and ETFs, Excluding US Users

Binance has expanded its traditional asset offerings by listing options tied to over 1,000 US stocks and ETFs. Available only to non-US users, these traditional securities options are physically settled through Binance's Abu Dhabi entity in partnership with Alpaca Securities. The move comes as Binance's TradFi perpetual trading volume surged to $433.4 billion in August, a 15x increase from January.

800

Coinbase

2026-09-01 12:59:45

Coinbase August Review: US Stocks Expand to UK, AiFi Launch, Abu Dhabi as Tokenization Hub

Coinbase released its August business review on X, detailing the expansion of US stock trading to the UK, the launch of AI-powered stock trading feature AiFi, the designation of Abu Dhabi as a tokenization center, and the introduction of Bitcoin-backed loans. The exchange noted a significant recovery in market activity.

730

Binance

2026-09-01 10:18:30

Binance July Traditional-Asset Perpetual Volume Surges 15x to $445B

Binance's July trading volume for perpetual contracts on traditional assets hit $445 billion, a 15-fold increase month over month, according to Techub News. In a separate development, Bloomberg reports that Binance, through its Abu Dhabi entity Nest Trading Limited and with partners, is offering options on more than 1,000 U.S. stocks and ETFs to users outside the U.S. (via @WuBlockchain)

780

Trump family

2026-08-31 02:00:00

Trump-linked crypto trust bank draws Abu Dhabi capital into spotlight after OCC approval

The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has granted preliminary conditional approval for World Liberty Trust Company, N.A. (WLTC), a proposed national trust bank that plans to take over issuance, redemption, and reserve management for the USD1 stablecoin. Attention then shifted from the bank’s planned business lines to its ownership structure. On Aug. 27, The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al Nahyan and co-investors hold a 49% stake in WLTC Holdings through StringZ Holding RSC, while a Trump family-linked entity holds another 38%. OCC records do not disclose the exact percentages, but they do confirm the core structure: WLTC would be wholly owned by WLTC Holdings LLC, and StringZ Holding RSC (DE) LLC, DT Marks SC LLC, and AMGUS, LLC each submitted passive investment commitments tied to indirect interests in the proposed bank. Those commitments limit governance rights, board access, nonpublic information access, and influence over policy, while leaving economic interests intact. WLTC, if finally approved, would operate as a limited-purpose national trust bank without FDIC deposit insurance, focused on institutional USD1 services and digital asset custody rather than retail banking. The proposal also sits alongside scrutiny over Tahnoon-backed investments, Binance’s $2 billion MGX deal settled in USD1, and conflict-of-interest questions raised by U.S. lawmakers.

1010

Donald Trump

2026-08-28 04:17:09

WSJ says Abu Dhabi royal backs 49% stake in Trump-linked crypto bank holding company

An Abu Dhabi royal is reported to be behind the biggest stake in the holding company tied to World Liberty Financial’s proposed US trust bank, according to The Wall Street Journal. The report, citing people familiar with the matter, said Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s group backs StringZ Holding RSC, which owns 49% of WLTC Holdings. Another 38% is held by an entity affiliated with US President Donald Trump’s family, one person told the Journal. If the bank wins final approval, it would place the issuance, redemption and custody of World Liberty’s USD1 stablecoin inside a federally supervised venture. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency granted preliminary conditional approval to World Liberty Trust Company on Aug. 14, but the bank cannot begin operations until it meets pre-opening requirements and receives final approval. The OCC’s published decision names StringZ as an investor in WLTC Holdings and says it agreed not to influence the bank. It does not identify Tahnoon as the backer or disclose the size of the stake. The report also noted that Tahnoon had previously backed a $500 million purchase of 49% of World Liberty Financial, a deal that later drew calls from Democratic senators for hearings on whether it affected US policy toward the UAE.

490

Policy Regula

2026-08-28 00:11:05

Abu Dhabi royal-linked investors hold 49% of WLFI bank holding company

Abu Dhabi royal family member and UAE national security adviser Tahnoon bin Zayed al Nahyan, together with co-investors, holds a 49% stake in WLTC Holdings, the new bank business holding company tied to World Liberty Financial, according to a Wall Street Journal-cited report carried by BlockBeats on Aug. 28. That makes the group the largest shareholder, while entities linked to the Trump family hold about 38%. The report said the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency this month gave preliminary conditional approval for World Liberty to establish a national trust bank. The planned bank would be used to issue, redeem, and custody its stablecoin, USD1. The Wall Street Journal report also said Tahnoon invested $500 million into World Liberty through another entity last year and obtained a 49% stake. Of that amount, about $263 million went to entities related to the Trump family. The update ties together the ownership structure of the new holding company, the bank approval process, and Tahnoon’s earlier investment in the project.

1020

Policy Regula

2026-08-27 23:07:33

OCC approves Trump family-linked trust bank for USD1, with Abu Dhabi entity holding 49%

The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency approved World Liberty Trust Company on Aug. 14 to operate as a national trust bank, clearing the way for it to issue and redeem the USD1 stablecoin. The bank is owned by WLTC Holdings. According to The Wall Street Journal, an Abu Dhabi entity holds a 49% stake, while Trump family entities hold 38%. The OCC said the bank must maintain at least $20 million in Tier 1 capital, with half kept in liquid assets. USD1 currently has a market capitalization of about $4.1 billion, ranking No. 24 among crypto assets. The regulator also obtained passivity commitments from three entities, including DT Marks SC LLC, signed by Eric Trump, and StringZ Holding RSC, which is linked to a former director of Abu Dhabi AI firm G42. Those parties agreed not to seek board seats or influence the bank’s operations. USD1 is currently issued by BitGo, which also manages part of the reserve interest. The new bank plans to take over the reserves. As a stablecoin, USD1 is not covered by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance.

990