WLFI partner AB Network linked to sanctioned Cambodian scam-related companies, reports say

ME News report. On April 9 (UTC+8), AB network, which has partnered with the Trump-supported crypto project World Liberty Financial, has a “blockchain-themed resort” project planned in East Timor that involves three individuals sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department. These individuals are linked to Cambodia’s Prince Group, which has been accused of operating a global scam network. Company records show that the major shareholder of the development company, Yang Jian, was sanctioned last October for allegedly collaborating with Prince Group CEO Chen Zhi. The three sanctioned individuals have been removed from the project after the sanctions were announced, and there is currently no evidence indicating that illegal funds flowed into the development project or that AB network has a direct connection to Prince Group.

In November last year, AB network announced a partnership with World Liberty Financial, granting permission to use the stablecoin USD1 on its blockchain. World Liberty Financial said it has conducted due diligence on AB and that it was not informed about the resort project or the sanctioned individuals related to the East Timor project. Its lawyers said claims that there is a connection to the sanctioned persons are “baseless and untrue.”

According to the FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report, the U.S. lost nearly $21 billion last year to online scams, including more than $11 billion in losses related to cryptocurrency-related fraud. The U.S. government seized $15 billion worth of Bitcoin from Chen Zhi last year. Cambodian authorities arrested Chen Zhi this January and extradited him to China. Currently, the maximum total supply of USD1 on the World Liberty Financial blockchain held by AB network is about $3.6 million, with holders numbering only about 3,000 people. (Source: ODaily)