The Aqua1 Basis asserted that it operates independently in response to journalist Jacob Silverman’s report, which instructed potential connections to the controversial market maker Web3Port. Nevertheless, the muse left a number of necessary questions unanswered. Nevertheless, amid the entire drama, there are robust rumours that the WLFI crypto token will go stay 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 webhosting 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) hold 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 Beneath-Fireplace 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 accomplice and senior undertaking supervisor at Web3Port.
Aqua1 Basis got here below scrutiny in late June after it bought $100 million price of governance tokens from World Liberty Monetary, a cryptocurrency undertaking backed by former US President Donald Trump and his household.
The investigation raised issues 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 position at his “earlier employer” on account of “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 trade. Final week, he revealed an article in The Nation titled “Does Trump’s Greatest 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 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, 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 take care of Trump's World Liberty Monetary. I consider it's necessary 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 title and failed to handle 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. Nevertheless, 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 throughout 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 e mail final night time,” Silverman stated 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’ve got observed current on-line hypothesis relating to Aqua1 and its crew, which has led to some public misunderstanding. To forestall the unfold of misinformation, we want to make clear the next:
Staff 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 property, and initiatives within the Center East. The message said 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 wish to make clear, we’re completely happy to do our greatest to supply 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 tackle 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 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 presently at 99.94% in favour of enabling WLFI for buying and selling, and as soon as this vote concludes, a date will probably 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 corporations are clear, so traders can anticipate an inventory on the world’s largest crypto alternate on day one.
Coinbase is one high-profile alternate that will not record WLFI on day one as a result of ongoing tensions between Binance and its co-founder, CZ, and the World Liberty Monetary undertaking. There are rumours that Coinbase orchestrated a current Bloomberg hit piece on WLFI crypto and CZ, though the alternate has denied these claims.
Nevertheless, except for Coinbase, merchants can anticipate day-one listings for WLFI on Binance, ByBit, OKX, and different top-tier exchanges as a result of hype and demand surrounding this token launch. Exchanges will need to safe their share of the assumed liquidity that may 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 stay for buying and selling.
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