World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture backed by the Trump family, is facing scrutiny over its collaboration with WorldClaw, a Hong Kong-based AI platform. Nearly half of the 90 AI models offered by WorldClaw are developed by Chinese firms that the U.S. government has flagged for national security and intellectual property concerns.
Trump-Backed Venture and WorldClaw’s AI Offerings
WorldClaw, an artificial intelligence marketplace founded earlier this year, has drawn attention for its extensive roster of Chinese-developed models. A review by Reuters identified that 43 of the 90 models available on the platform originate from Chinese technology firms, including Alibaba, Baidu, and Z.ai. The platform also hosts offerings from U.S.-based companies like OpenAI and Anthropic.
The collaboration links WorldClaw to World Liberty Financial, a project in which the Trump family holds a 38% ownership stake. According to Cryptotimes, WorldClaw accepts World Liberty’s USD1 stablecoin as a payment method for accessing its AI suite. Because World Liberty generates revenue when its tokens are utilized, the partnership creates a direct financial connection between the Trump-backed venture and the use of technology from companies currently under U.S. regulatory scrutiny.
Government Restrictions and Security Concerns
Several Chinese firms featured on WorldClaw’s platform face significant restrictions from the U.S. government. The Department of Defense has designated Alibaba and Baidu as military-aligned companies, a status that prohibits the Pentagon from engaging in business with them. Meanwhile, Z.ai—formerly known as Zhipu AI—is included on the Department of Commerce’s “entity list,” which severely limits its access to U.S. technology due to its role in advancing China’s military modernization.
In addition to these entities, the platform offers models from DeepSeek and Moonshot. U.S. officials have recently accused both companies of misappropriating intellectual property from American AI rivals. Experts warn that the business relationship between these firms and a project linked to the Trump family presents a conflict of interest, particularly given the former president’s stated stance on Chinese technology.
“As the U.S. government tries to respond to the rise and threat of Chinese AI, it seems hypocritical to go out through WorldClaw to use these tools from China to try and make a bunch of money.”
Sam Bresnick, fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology
Company Responses and Financial Ties
Representatives for the companies involved have defended the business arrangement. A spokesperson for WorldClaw stated that helps American AI companies reach international users
and emphasized that making a model available does not constitute an endorsement of its developer.
David Wachsman, a spokesman for World Liberty, described the collaboration as a standard industry practice, noting that major U.S. firms also provide access to both American and Chinese AI models.
The White House has also weighed in on the controversy. A spokesperson, Anna Kelly, stated that there are no conflicts of interest
regarding the relationship and asserted that President Trump only acts in the best interests of the American public.
Beyond the use of the USD1 stablecoin, the organizational ties are further bolstered by personnel overlap. Ryan Fang, head of growth at World Liberty, has served as an external advisor to WorldClaw. The AI firm clarified that his involvement is strictly advisory, focusing on USD1 adoption and expanding service access. While the exact financial terms remain private, the Reuters review noted that the Trump family is entitled to a percentage of the interest earned on assets backing the USD1 stablecoin.
Ongoing Scrutiny of World Liberty Financial
The controversy surrounding the WorldClaw partnership occurs as World Liberty Financial faces separate legal and operational challenges. According to Cryptotimes, the venture is currently the subject of a lawsuit filed by Tron founder Justin Sun, who alleges fraud and claims the project is struggling with frozen tokens. As these developments unfold, the focus remains on whether the venture’s business model can reconcile its commercial growth with the U.S. administration’s national security directives regarding Chinese AI development.
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