BOSTON: World Liberty Financial, the cryptocurrency venture backed by US President Donald Trump, is working with a Hong Kong-based company that provides access to artificial intelligence models developed by several Chinese technology firms that the Trump administration has identified as posing national security and intellectual property risks.
WorldClaw, a venture launched earlier this year, gives customers access to a broad range of AI models and allows users to pay with tokens issued by World Liberty Financial. Through their ownership stake in the crypto venture, members of the Trump family stand to benefit from revenue generated through the use of World Liberty’s tokens.
A Reuters review of WorldClaw’s platform found that 43 of the 90 AI models available were developed by Chinese companies, including Alibaba, Baidu and Z.ai. The Trump administration has raised concerns about some of these companies over national security and intellectual property issues.
WorldClaw also provides access to dozens of AI models developed by US companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic. The partnerships themselves do not appear to violate US law. Chinese AI models have also become increasingly popular internationally, partly because they are often offered at lower costs than competing systems from US developers.
However, the arrangement has raised questions among experts who study Chinese technology, US trade policy and government ethics. Seven experts interviewed by Reuters said the partnership appears inconsistent with the Trump administration’s broader efforts to restrict or scrutinize Chinese technology companies.
“ As the US 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,” said Sam Bresnick, a fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology.
Reuters was unable to determine the precise financial terms of World Liberty Financial’s relationship with WorldClaw or establish how much revenue the Trump family has received from transactions involving World Liberty’s tokens on the platform.
Trump’s two eldest sons have publicly promoted WorldClaw, while an executive at World Liberty has also served as an adviser to the Hong Kong-based venture.
World Liberty generates revenue from the use of its USD1 stablecoin, including when WorldClaw customers select it as a payment method for AI services. USD1, like other US dollar-backed stablecoins, is supported by traditional assets such as US Treasury securities and is designed to maintain a value of $1. The Trump family is entitled to receive a share of the interest generated from those underlying assets.
The partnership comes as Washington continues to intensify scrutiny of China’s rapidly expanding AI industry. US officials have increasingly focused on limiting China’s access to advanced technologies while encouraging domestic development of artificial intelligence.
Despite those policies, Chinese AI companies have continued to expand their international presence, with their models attracting users because of their competitive pricing and capabilities.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly defended the relationship, saying there were “no conflicts of interest” between World Liberty Financial and WorldClaw. She added that “President Trump only acts in the best interests of the American public.”
