Trump-Linked Crypto Firm World Liberty Financial Tied to Platform Offering Restricted Chinese AI

A crypto venture backed by President Donald Trump is collaborating with a Hong Kong based AI platform that provides access to models built by Chinese technology companies the U.S. government has flagged for national security concerns, according to a Reuters review published Monday. The platform, WorldClaw, offers 90 AI models in total, with 43 of them developed by Chinese firms including major names in the sector alongside U.S.-based companies.

Stablecoin Payment Creates Financial Link

WorldClaw accepts World Liberty Financial’s USD1 stablecoin as a form of payment, which allows the Trump family, holders of a 38% stake in World Liberty, to benefit financially from the token’s use. The revenue model works because stablecoin issuers typically invest the dollar reserves backing their tokens into short-term government securities, with the resulting yield flowing back to the issuer. World Liberty’s token sales have already generated more than $1.4 billion for the Trump family, a significant portion of the roughly $2.3 billion the family has earned from cryptocurrency ventures overall.

Chinese Firms Face U.S. Restrictions

Several of the companies whose AI models appear on WorldClaw have been formally designated by the Trump administration as posing national security risks. Some have been labeled as Chinese military-linked companies barred from Defense Department contracts, while others have been placed on restricted trade lists. Despite this, Chinese AI models remain legal for U.S. users to access and have grown in popularity partly due to their lower cost compared to Western alternatives.

Experts Flag Contradiction and Security Risks

Multiple technology and policy experts described the arrangement as inconsistent with the administration’s broader stance against Chinese AI development, even though no laws appear to have been broken. One national security fellow noted that using Chinese AI tools while simultaneously restricting them elsewhere raises questions about consistency. Separate experts warned that Chinese developed AI models accessed through the platform could expose users to government monitoring, censored responses, or malicious code targeting AI agents, noting that WorldClaw’s own disclosures indicate user data may be shared with the companies behind the models.

Companies Push Back on Conflict Claims

A spokesperson for World Liberty described WorldClaw as an independent company unaffiliated with World Liberty’s operations, adding that major U.S. technology firms commonly offer access to Chinese AI models as well. WorldClaw itself said it helps American AI companies reach international audiences and that listing a model does not represent an endorsement of its developer. A White House spokesperson maintained that no conflicts of interest exist involving the president’s business dealings.