Trump crypto firm backs venture offering AI from restricted Chinese companies
President Donald Trump-backed World Liberty Financial is collaborating with a Hong Kong-based venture that offers artificial intelligence models developed by Chinese companies the U.S. administration has flagged for national security concerns.
WorldClaw, founded earlier this year, provides customers access to a suite of AI models. It accepts World Liberty’s crypto tokens as payment. The Trump family, through its ownership stake, earns revenue from the use of those tokens.
A Reuters review found that 43 of the 90 models available through WorldClaw’s website, or nearly half, were developed by Alibaba, Baidu, Z.ai and other Chinese technology companies. The Trump administration has said these firms pose risks to national security and intellectual property. WorldClaw also offers access to dozens of models from U.S. firms such as OpenAI and Anthropic.
Key Takeaways:
- World Liberty Financial, backed by the Trump family, partners with WorldClaw, offering AI models from restricted Chinese companies.
- Nearly half of WorldClaw’s AI models are from Chinese tech giants like Alibaba and Baidu, flagged by the U.S. for security risks.
- The Trump family earns revenue through their stake in World Liberty, which uses its crypto tokens for AI model payments.
- Despite U.S. restrictions, using these Chinese AI models is legal, though it raises concerns about national security and ethics.
- Experts criticize the collaboration as contradictory to the U.S. administration’s stance on Chinese tech companies.
World Liberty Financial and the Nasdaq connection
Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, co-founders of the World Liberty crypto group, appeared outside the Nasdaq building in New York after ringing the opening bell. The event on August 13, 2025, celebrated the closing of ALT5 Sigma’s $1.5 billion offering and adoption of its $WLFI Treasury Strategy. The president’s sons have promoted WorldClaw on the social media platform X.
World Liberty Financial makes money from the use of its USD1 stablecoin. This includes cases when WorldClaw users choose it as their payment method for AI model access. Like other U.S. dollar-based stablecoins, USD1 is backed by traditional assets such as U.S. Treasury securities. The Trumps are entitled to a percentage of the interest earned on those assets. The Trump family owns 38% of World Liberty.
Ryan Fang, World Liberty’s head of growth, has served as an adviser to WorldClaw. A WorldClaw spokesperson described the role as strictly advisory, focused on USD1 adoption, partnerships and expanding global access to AI services.
Chinese AI models and U.S. restrictions
The Chinese AI models offered by WorldClaw are generally legal for individuals and businesses to use in the United States. Some of the companies producing them face U.S. government restrictions over national-security concerns.
Models from Alibaba and Baidu appear on the list. The U.S. Department of Defense has designated both as Chinese military-aligned companies. That designation blocks the Pentagon from doing business with them. Other models come from Z.ai, formerly Zhipu AI, which sits on the Department of Commerce’s entity list. This designation severely restricts access to U.S. technology. Any U.S. company seeking to sell products or services to entities on the list must apply for an export license, with a presumption of denial.
Models from DeepSeek and Moonshot are also available. Trump administration officials have accused these Chinese companies of intellectual property issues involving U.S. AI rivals. Alibaba, Baidu and Z.ai have disputed the U.S. government’s determinations regarding military alignment. The Chinese government has disputed claims of technology theft.
There is nothing illegal about World Liberty’s collaboration with WorldClaw or WorldClaw’s relationships with the Chinese companies. Chinese models, which are typically less expensive, have gained traction globally, including among some U.S. tech companies.
Official responses and expert views
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement that there are no conflicts of interest in the relationship between World Liberty and WorldClaw. She added that President Trump only acts in the best interests of the American public.
David Wachsman, a spokesman for World Liberty, said WorldClaw was an independent company. He noted that major U.S. firms offer AI from Chinese as well as American tech companies and described this as a common and widely accepted approach.
A WorldClaw spokesperson stated that the company helps American AI companies reach international users. The spokesperson added that making a model available does not constitute an endorsement of its developer. The company said it takes security seriously and applies privacy and security safeguards to its platform.
Seven experts on Chinese technology, trade and government ethics told Reuters that the business collaboration and potential profits for President Trump through World Liberty run counter to the administration’s stance toward Chinese tech companies. Sam Bresnick, a fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology, said that as the U.S. government tries to respond to the rise of Chinese AI, using these tools through WorldClaw to generate revenue appears hypocritical.
Daniel Remler, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and a former policy advisor at the U.S. State Department, said the Chinese AI models offered on WorldClaw could expose users to risks. These include monitoring by the Chinese government, censored outputs and the injection of malicious code that can affect AI agents. WorldClaw’s website notes that the company may share user inputs with the firms that provide its AI models.
Broader developments in the AI landscape
The Trump administration’s response to advancing Chinese AI models remains fluid. Early in his second term, Trump emphasized the importance of the United States beating China in technology and AI development. More recently, both countries have expressed concern about an AI arms race and have sought to reduce tensions ahead of a planned summit.
Separately, the United States is preparing to tell dozens of countries they must pick sides in the artificial intelligence race with China. Officials have indicated that partners who also join Beijing’s competing framework risk exclusion from a U.S.-led AI coalition. The draft communication targets signatories of a U.S. AI Opportunity Statement and related initiatives focused on models, chips and critical minerals.
In the private sector, Anthropic’s annual revenue run rate topped $65 billion by the end of July, according to a person familiar with the matter. The figure marked a sharp rise from earlier levels and came as the company prepared for a potential public listing. Anthropic has also projected substantial future revenue figures that could influence its IPO valuation.
WorldClaw’s website states that its WorldRouter tool, which aggregates access to various AI models, has more than 10,000 users and handles more than 50 million requested tasks a day. The company is also developing applications for AI agents that perform personal tasks.
Market and financial context
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The collaboration between World Liberty Financial and WorldClaw illustrates how crypto payment rails and AI model access can intersect. USD1 transactions on the platform generate activity tied to the stablecoin’s reserve assets. Specific details of the financial arrangements between the two companies and the exact revenue generated for the Trump family from WorldClaw-related payments have not been publicly disclosed.
World Liberty’s token sales have generated substantial proceeds for the Trump family in prior reporting. The family retains ownership interests through a trust structure while the president’s sons manage day-to-day business activities.
Summary of the reported developments
President Donald Trump-backed World Liberty Financial maintains a collaborative relationship with WorldClaw, a Hong Kong-based platform that offers AI models from both U.S. and Chinese developers. Nearly half of the models on the platform come from Chinese companies that face U.S. national security designations or restrictions. The arrangement involves acceptance of World Liberty’s USD1 stablecoin for payments, creating a revenue pathway linked to token usage.
White House officials have stated there are no conflicts of interest. Company representatives have described the relationship as independent and consistent with broader industry practices of offering multiple model sources. Experts have noted the tension between the commercial activity and official U.S. policy positions on Chinese technology. Parallel developments include rapid revenue growth at major AI firms such as Anthropic and diplomatic efforts by the United States to encourage partners to align on AI frameworks amid competition with China.
The facts surrounding the World Liberty Financial and WorldClaw collaboration remain a matter of public record as reported by major news agencies.
People Also Ask:
What is World Liberty Financial?
World Liberty Financial is a crypto firm backed by the Trump family, involved in offering AI models through its collaboration with WorldClaw.
Why are Chinese AI models controversial in the U.S.?
Chinese AI models are controversial due to national security concerns, as some of the companies developing them have been flagged by U.S. authorities for military alignment and intellectual property risks.
How does World Liberty Financial make money?
World Liberty Financial earns revenue through its USD1 stablecoin and crypto tokens used as payment for AI model access on platforms like WorldClaw.
Is it legal to use AI models from restricted Chinese companies?
Yes, it is generally legal for individuals and businesses in the U.S. to use these models, despite the restrictions imposed on the companies producing them.
What are the potential risks of using Chinese AI models?
Potential risks include monitoring by the Chinese government and exposure to intellectual property issues, as suggested by experts and critics.