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. Nevertheless, the inspiration left a number of essential questions unanswered. Nevertheless, amid the entire drama, there are sturdy rumours that the WLFI crypto token will go dwell for buying and selling both this week or subsequent.
On Monday, Silverman revealed his investigation, claiming to have discovered hyperlinks between the Aqua1 Basis and Web3Port by way of 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) maintain 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, referred to as Dave Lee on X, is definitely David Li, whose profile on the outreach platform ContactOut lists him as a associate and senior challenge supervisor at Web3Port.
Aqua1 Basis got here underneath scrutiny in late June after it bought $100 million price of governance tokens from World Liberty Monetary, a cryptocurrency challenge backed by former US President Donald Trump and his household.
The investigation raised considerations that the entity supporting the president’s DeFi initiative could have ties to Web3Port, a agency accused of manipulating cryptocurrency costs.
Lee tried to distance himself from Web3Port, stating that he left his former function at his “earlier employer” resulting from “basic variations in imaginative and prescient and technique.” Nevertheless, 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 important reporting on Trump and his connections to the cryptocurrency business. Final week, he revealed an article in The Nation titled “Does Trump’s Largest Crypto Backer Exist?” which raised doubts in regards to 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 obscure web site, suspended social media accounts, and a determine recognized solely as “Dave Lee.” In a follow-up investigation on his web site, he mentioned that Lee is David Li of Web3Port, primarily based on an evaluation of LinkedIn data and previous convention appearances.
I’ve recognized "Dave Lee" (@LeeDave_Aqua), the pseudonymous individual behind Aqua 1 Basis, which final month introduced a $100 million cope with Trump's World Liberty Monetary. I imagine it's essential 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 will 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 title and failed to deal with whether or not Web3Port qualifies as a associated entity.
One among Silverman’s key findings was that Aqua1 and Web3Port shared the identical server IP handle, together with a number of different crypto-linked domains. Initially, Aqua1 ignored this level. Nevertheless, when pressed on social media, Lee responded by claiming Aqua1 has “no ties in any respect to different groups or entities.”
“The shared IP was merely resulting from transitional internet hosting through 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 achieve Dave, his colleagues, and WLF, I did get an electronic mail final night time,” Silverman mentioned in a leaked message change. “It didn’t comprise any denials in any respect or present any readability on the specifics of my reporting.”
Aqua1 Official Assertion
We’ve seen current on-line hypothesis concerning Aqua1 and its group, which has led to some public misunderstanding. To forestall the unfold of misinformation, we want to make clear the next:
Workforce Background
Dave Lee joined Aqua1 as co-founder…
— Aqua1 Basis (@Aqua1Fndn) July 15, 2025
In a screenshot of the e-mail Silverman acquired, Lee outlined ongoing developments in stablecoins, real-world belongings, and initiatives within the Center East. The message acknowledged that particular particulars had been topic to regulatory and compliance restrictions and couldn’t be disclosed publicly presently.
“Nevertheless, if there are any particular factors you’d prefer to make clear, we’re completely happy to do our greatest to offer factual info and assist correct reporting. We worth constructive dialogue and are open to ongoing engagement,” the e-mail screenshot learn.
Nevertheless, at no level all through the back-and-forth exchanges between Lee and Silverman did Lee handle whether or not he is identical David Li affiliated with Web3Port.
WLFI Crypto Rumoured to Be Going Dwell For Buying and selling Very Quickly
Solely 7 hours stay for the $WLFI governance vote to make the token tradable. As soon as authorised, this may allow public market buying and selling for the primary time. Any insights on when the preliminary change itemizing would possibly 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 presently 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 change on day one.
Coinbase is one high-profile change that will not checklist 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 current Bloomberg hit piece on WLFI crypto and CZ, though the change has denied these claims.
Nevertheless, other than 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 need to safe their share of the assumed liquidity that can pour into WLFI at launch.
Regulate the official World Liberty Monetary social media channels for a date and time for when WLFI crypto will go dwell for buying and selling.
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