The mystery surrounding one of the largest investments in Trump-linked World Liberty Financial has deepened after Guren “Bobby” Zhou, a businessman previously involved with Web3Port’s UAE operations, was identified as the figure behind Aqua 1, the little-known fund that purchased $100 million of WLFI tokens. The identification provides a new link between World Liberty Financial and Web3Port, a crypto venture and market-making operation that came under intense scrutiny after being accused of misconduct involving Movement Labs’ MOVE token.
Aqua 1 announced its $100 million purchase of World Liberty Financial’s governance token in June 2025, immediately becoming one of the project’s largest publicly known investors. Questions surrounding the fund emerged almost immediately because relatively little was publicly known about Aqua 1 or the source of the capital behind the transaction. Those questions have intensified following reporting identifying Zhou as the businessman behind the investment. Zhou previously led Web3Port’s operations in the United Arab Emirates after relocating to Abu Dhabi in 2024. Web3Port itself had already invested in World Liberty Financial months before Aqua 1’s much larger purchase.
Corporate Records Connect Web3Port and Aqua 1
The strongest evidence connecting the two organizations comes from corporate records. A Web3Port entity registered in the British Virgin Islands was subsequently renamed Aqua 1 GP Limited, according to records reviewed by The New York Times and cited in subsequent reporting. Approximately two weeks after that corporate name change, Aqua 1 announced its $100 million investment in WLFI. Blockchain activity provides another connection. A wallet controlled by Web3Port reportedly purchased approximately $20 million of WLFI in January 2025, shortly after Donald Trump returned to the White House. Another wallet believed to be controlled by Aqua 1 subsequently purchased approximately $80 million in June.
Together, the transactions account for roughly $100 million of WLFI purchases. Web3Port had separately announced a $10 million investment in World Liberty Financial following Trump’s inauguration. The findings are notable because Aqua 1 previously denied having a relationship with Web3Port after earlier reporting linked the organizations. The fund did not provide a detailed explanation of which elements of those reports it disputed. Earlier allegations had attempted to connect Aqua 1 co-founder “Dave Lee” with individuals associated with Web3Port. Those specific identity claims should be distinguished from the newer reporting centered on Zhou and the corporate records connecting a Web3Port entity with Aqua 1 GP Limited.
Web3Port’s MOVE Controversy Adds Scrutiny
The Web3Port connection matters because of the firm’s controversial history. Web3Port was one of the market makers involved with Movement Labs’ MOVE token and was accused of manipulating the token’s market after receiving tens of millions of MOVE under a market-making arrangement. Movement Network Foundation said in 2025 that a market maker had sold approximately 66 million MOVE tokens, generating roughly $38 million in proceeds. The controversy ultimately resulted in Web3Port being banned by major exchanges and became part of the broader crisis surrounding Movement Labs and the MOVE token. That history means the apparent relationship between Web3Port and Aqua 1 raises questions beyond the identity of a previously opaque WLFI investor.
It also raises questions about where Aqua 1 obtained the capital for one of World Liberty Financial’s largest purchases. Zhou himself is facing separate scrutiny. He was arrested in Britain in 2021 on suspicion of money laundering. He has not been charged, and British authorities reportedly confirmed that the investigation remained active as of late July 2026. Court records cited by The New York Times reportedly allege that Zhou participated with five other people in a money-laundering operation dating back to 2019. Two longtime employees have been charged in connection with the case, while one defendant has pleaded guilty. Those allegations do not establish that the $100 million invested in World Liberty Financial represented illicit funds, and no public evidence currently demonstrates that World Liberty knowingly accepted criminal proceeds.
World Liberty has said it complied with applicable laws and regulations. $100 Million Deal Put Aqua 1 Among WLFI’s Biggest Backers Aqua 1’s $100 million purchase made it one of World Liberty Financial’s largest publicly disclosed token investors. The investment therefore attracted political scrutiny because President Trump and members of his family have significant financial interests connected to World Liberty Financial while the administration simultaneously oversees US cryptocurrency policy. Aqua 1 described itself as a UAE-based Web3 investment fund focused on blockchain infrastructure, real-world asset tokenization and stablecoins when announcing the transaction. Until that funding trail is established, the disclosure does not close the questions surrounding Aqua 1.
