Investigation into Zhou, known as 'Bobby', linked to $10 billion WLFI purchase

Guren "Bobby" Zhou, identified as the entrepreneur behind Aqua 1, which purchased $100 million worth of WLFI tokens, is still under investigation in a money laundering case in the UK.

Zhou was detained in 2021 on suspicion of money laundering but has not been formally charged. UK judicial documents indicate that he is connected to a case that was initiated last November.

The case involves five other individuals and may stem from business activities that began in 2019. Two of Zhou's former employees were charged in September, and one of the involved parties has already pleaded guilty. The trial is expected to take place in 2028.

Zhou's business history has also faced challenges. Before entering the cryptocurrency sector, he operated a UK flooring retailer that entered restructuring due to debts of approximately $5 million related to his father's company.

Subsequently, Zhou founded Caduceus, a cryptocurrency project whose tokens nearly lost all value in 2024. The initiative has secured around $7.6 million in funding.

The company also announced support for several institutions, which later denied involvement. China Merchants Securities UK and the Bin Zayed Group labeled these claims as "unauthorized and essentially false."

After moving from London to Abu Dhabi in 2024, Zhou began leading Web3Port. The company announced a $10 million investment in World Liberty shortly after Donald Trump took office as President of the United States in January 2025.

Blockchain records show that wallets associated with the relevant operations received $20 million in WLFI in January and another $80 million in June.

The source of the funds used for the $100 million purchase has not been publicly disclosed. Some activities related to this operation have also generated income linked to entities associated with the Trump family.

A spokesperson for World Liberty Financial, David Wachsman, stated that the company continues to comply with applicable regulations and maintains a compliance program that "meets or exceeds industry standards." He did not disclose whether the company was aware of the source of the funds used by Zhou.

The White House stated that Donald Trump has no conflict of interest with this operation. Zhou did not respond to requests for comment.

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