Trump Crypto Venture Tied to Sanctioned Scam Network in New Investigation

Trump Family Crypto Project Connected to International Fraud Network

A company partnered with World Liberty Financial -- the cryptocurrency venture backed by President Donald Trump -- has direct ties to individuals sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for involvement in a Cambodian conglomerate accused of operating one of the world's largest online scam networks, according to an investigation published Monday by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project and Guardian Australia.

The investigation traced the connection through a planned "blockchain theme resort" in Timor-Leste tied to AB network, World Liberty's partner company. Three individuals involved in that project were later sanctioned as part of a U.S. crackdown on the Cambodia-based Prince Group, which authorities say generates tens of billions of dollars annually through fraud schemes run from compounds across Southeast Asia.

Corporate records show the majority shareholder of the Timor-Leste development company was Yang Jian, a Cyprus-based businessman sanctioned in October for allegedly working with Prince Group CEO Chen Zhi on what U.S. authorities described as a "predatory investment" scheme. The three sanctioned individuals were removed from the project shortly after sanctions were announced.

World Liberty Financial claims it conducted due diligence on AB network and was not made aware of the resort project or the individuals connected to it. Lawyers for the company told investigators it is "committed to responsible practices and compliance" and called claims of links to sanctioned figures "unfounded and untrue." The company did not respond to follow-up requests for comment.

A Pattern of Opacity and Political Access

World Liberty Financial was founded in 2024 by partners including companies affiliated with the Trump and Witkoff families. The venture has sold tokens granting holders access to its decentralized finance platform -- a model that critics say amounts to selling political influence through unregulated financial instruments.

AB network announced its partnership with World Liberty in November, securing the right to use the company's U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin USD1 on its blockchain. AB has promoted ties to global political figures and listed former world leaders among advisers to its Irish-registered nonprofit arm, but its corporate structure remains deliberately opaque. The network describes itself as comprising an Irish nonprofit, a Cayman Islands foundation, and blockchain-based entities governed by token holders.

The OCCRP investigation identified two previously undisclosed figures as key actors within AB network: software developer Sui Chenggang and entrepreneur Lin Xiaofan. Lin, who said he played a leading role in the Timor-Leste resort project, denied any connection to the Prince Group. He also said he introduced Sui to World Liberty executives.

Promotional material for the Timor-Leste development was scrubbed from AB's websites after reporters began asking questions. Lin said the project remains active but that AB is no longer involved, providing documentation showing the partnership was terminated in November.

The Scale of Cryptocurrency Fraud

The timing could not be worse for a venture trading on the Trump name. According to the FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report, Americans lost nearly $21 billion to online scams last year, with more than 1 million complaints filed. Cryptocurrency-related fraud accounted for the largest share of losses -- more than $11 billion across 181,565 complaints.

The Prince Group sits at the center of this epidemic. The U.S. government seized $15 billion worth of Bitcoin from Chen Zhi last year in what it described as its largest forfeiture action against online scammers. The company has denied wrongdoing. Cambodian authorities arrested Chen in January and extradited him to China.

Despite the sanctions and the removal of key figures from the Timor-Leste project, AB network continues to promote its partnership with World Liberty Financial and its network of political advisers. The collaboration has produced limited results so far, with World Liberty's stablecoin showing a maximum total supply of around $3.6 million and just over 3,000 holders on AB's blockchain.

Questions About Due Diligence

The connection raises fundamental questions about how thoroughly World Liberty Financial vets its partners -- and whether the Trump family's involvement creates conflicts of interest that compromise oversight. The company's claim that it was unaware of the Timor-Leste project or the sanctioned individuals strains credulity given the public nature of AB network's promotional activities.

This is not the first time Trump-affiliated ventures have faced scrutiny over foreign business entanglements and potential conflicts of interest. But the connection to a network linked to sanctioned individuals running global fraud operations takes the concerns to a new level.

For a cryptocurrency project that has positioned itself as a legitimate player in decentralized finance while simultaneously leveraging the Trump name to sell tokens, the revelation that a key partner has ties to one of the world's largest scam networks is more than embarrassing. It is a warning sign about what happens when political access becomes a commodity and oversight takes a back seat to profit.