An Abu Dhabi royal and his co-investors reportedly back the largest stake in the holding company behind World Liberty Financial's proposed US trust bank, according to the Wall Street Journal. Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan's group is linked to the investment in the venture, which is connected to World Liberty Financial and has been associated with Trump. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency granted preliminary conditional approval to World Liberty Trust Company on August 14. If the venture receives final approval, the planned bank would handle the issuance, redemption and custody of World Liberty's USD1 stablecoin under federal supervision. The OCC's published decision confirms that StringZ is an investor in WLTC Holdings. It also says StringZ signed commitments not to influence the bank. However, the filing does not identify Sheikh Tahnoon as StringZ's backer and does not disclose the size of the stake held by the entity. The proposed trust bank cannot begin operating until it meets the OCC's pre-opening requirements and receives final approval. The August 14 decision therefore does not permit the institution to start its financial operations immediately. Sheikh Tahnoon is the United Arab Emirates' national security adviser and chairman of artificial intelligence company G42. In November 2025, the US authorized exports of advanced artificial intelligence chips to G42. The authorization came months after Washington and Abu Dhabi agreed a broader artificial intelligence cooperation framework. Tahnoon previously backed a $500 million purchase involving World Liberty Financial. Democratic senators later called for hearings into that transaction and whether it influenced US policy toward the United Arab Emirates. Cointelegraph contacted the Trump Organization for comment but did not receive a response before publication. The ownership disclosures and approval conditions will be the points to watch while the bank awaits its final licence. The story is relevant to Somalis and the Somali diaspora because rules governing dollar-linked digital assets can affect the services people use.