The Aqua1 Basis asserted that it operates independently in response to journalist Jacob Silverman’s report, which prompt potential connections to the controversial market maker Web3Port. Nonetheless, the inspiration left a number of vital questions unanswered. Nonetheless, amid all the drama, there are sturdy rumours that the WLFI crypto token will go stay for buying and selling both this week or subsequent.
On Monday, Silverman printed his investigation, claiming to have discovered hyperlinks between the Aqua1 Basis and Web3Port via shared website hosting and overlapping personnel.
Fam!
Rumors linking Aqua1, $WLFI's $100M backer, to banned Chinese language agency Web3Port are swirling.
Aqua1 denies it, however shared AWS footprints and previous connections to Dave Lee (aka David Jia Hua Li) preserve questions alive.
Crypto or geopolitical chess?
pic.twitter.com/IzeXsHozhP
— Vanessa (@_0xVanessa) July 16, 2025
Extra Twists And Turns In Aqua1 / WLFI Crypto Drama As Journalist Claims Dave Lee Is Affiliated With Underneath-Hearth Market Maker
He famous that Aqua1’s founder, often called Dave Lee on X, is definitely David Li, whose profile on the outreach platform ContactOut lists him as a companion and senior challenge supervisor at Web3Port.
Aqua1 Basis got here beneath scrutiny in late June after it bought $100 million value of governance tokens from World Liberty Monetary, a cryptocurrency challenge backed by former US President Donald Trump and his household.
The investigation raised issues that the entity supporting the president’s DeFi initiative might have ties to Web3Port, a agency accused of manipulating cryptocurrency costs.
Lee tried to distance himself from Web3Port, stating that he left his former position at his “earlier employer” on account of “basic variations in imaginative and prescient and technique.” Nonetheless, he has not explicitly confirmed or denied that he’s David Li or that Aqua1 has any connection to Web3Port.
Silverman is a journalist recognized for his vital reporting on Trump and his connections to the cryptocurrency business. Final week, he printed an article in The Nation titled “Does Trump’s Largest Crypto Backer Exist?” which raised doubts concerning the legitimacy of Aqua1 Basis, notably after it dedicated $100 million to WLFI crypto.
Silverman reported that Aqua1’s public presence consists primarily of a imprecise web site, suspended social media accounts, and a determine recognized solely as “Dave Lee.” In a follow-up investigation on his website, he mentioned that Lee is David Li of Web3Port, based mostly on an evaluation of LinkedIn data and previous convention appearances.
I’ve recognized "Dave Lee" (@LeeDave_Aqua), the pseudonymous particular person behind Aqua 1 Basis, which final month introduced a $100 million take care of Trump's World Liberty Monetary. I imagine it's vital to know who’s paying the US president.https://t.co/6DIpCPm54v
— Jacob Silverman (@SilvermanJacob) July 14, 2025
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Aqua1 Responds To Silverman: Threatens Authorized Motion
Following the publication of the report, Aqua1 issued an announcement on X claiming it “operates independently and has no fairness, monetary, or operational ties to any unrelated entity.” It warned that it could pursue authorized motion towards any defamatory or factually incorrect reporting.
Whereas the assertion appeared to disclaim ties to Web3Port, it didn’t point out the agency by identify and failed to deal with whether or not Web3Port qualifies as a associated entity.
One in all Silverman’s key findings was that Aqua1 and Web3Port shared the identical server IP tackle, together with a number of different crypto-linked domains. Initially, Aqua1 ignored this level. Nonetheless, when pressed on social media, Lee responded by claiming Aqua1 has “no ties by any means to different groups or entities.”
“The shared IP was merely on account of transitional internet hosting in the course of the early levels. I introduced over the CTO and core IT member after I left,” Lee wrote on X.
“After many makes an attempt to succeed in Dave, his colleagues, and WLF, I did get an e-mail final night time,” Silverman mentioned in a leaked message alternate. “It didn’t comprise any denials in any respect or present any readability on the specifics of my reporting.”
Aqua1 Official Assertion
We have now observed latest on-line hypothesis concerning Aqua1 and its workforce, which has led to some public misunderstanding. To stop the unfold of misinformation, we want to make clear the next:
Crew Background
Dave Lee joined Aqua1 as co-founder…
— Aqua1 Basis (@Aqua1Fndn) July 15, 2025
In a screenshot of the e-mail Silverman obtained, Lee outlined ongoing developments in stablecoins, real-world property, and initiatives within the Center East. The message acknowledged that particular particulars have been topic to regulatory and compliance restrictions and couldn’t be disclosed publicly at the moment.
“Nonetheless, if there are any particular factors you’d wish to make clear, we’re glad to do our greatest to offer factual data and assist correct reporting. We worth constructive dialogue and are open to ongoing engagement,” the e-mail screenshot learn.
Nonetheless, at no level all through the back-and-forth exchanges between Lee and Silverman did Lee tackle whether or not he is similar David Li affiliated with Web3Port.
WLFI Crypto Rumoured to Be Going Reside For Buying and selling Very Quickly
Solely 7 hours stay for the $WLFI governance vote to make the token tradable.
As soon as accredited, it will allow public market buying and selling for the primary time.
Any insights on when the preliminary alternate itemizing may happen? pic.twitter.com/8bRAdv1sDl— Cryptoprofilers (@Cryptoprofilers) July 16, 2025
There are only a few hours remaining for the governance vote put to WLFI crypto holders on whether or not to make the token tradable. It’s at present at 99.94% in favour of enabling WLFI for buying and selling, and as soon as this vote concludes, a date will doubtless be introduced for WLFI to be listed on the exchanges.
A Binance itemizing appears a foregone conclusion, contemplating the shut ties between World Liberty Monetary, its USD1 stablecoin, and its being constructed on Binance’s BNB Good Chain. The shut ties between the 2 companies are clear, so traders can anticipate a list on the world’s largest crypto alternate on day one.
Coinbase is one high-profile alternate that will not record WLFI on day one because of the ongoing tensions between Binance and its co-founder, CZ, and the World Liberty Monetary challenge. There are rumours that Coinbase orchestrated a latest Bloomberg hit piece on WLFI crypto and CZ, though the alternate has denied these claims.
Nonetheless, apart from Coinbase, merchants can anticipate day-one listings for WLFI on Binance, ByBit, OKX, and different top-tier exchanges because of the hype and demand surrounding this token launch. Exchanges will wish to safe their share of the assumed liquidity that may pour into WLFI at launch.
Keep watch over the official World Liberty Monetary social media channels for a date and time for when WLFI crypto will go stay for buying and selling.
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