Circle Shareholder Files Derivative Lawsuit Against Trump and World Liberty Financial

On October 22, 2026, J. Benjamin Greenberg, a former Circle software engineer and shareholder, filed a derivative lawsuit against Donald Trump and World Liberty Financial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The lawsuit alleges that cryptocurrency transactions linked to the UAE violated the Foreign Emoluments Clause, resulting in improper financial benefits that harmed Circle's competitive position in the stablecoin market. Circle, the issuer of USDC, stated that it did not initiate or authorize the lawsuit, which seeks recovery of profits and damages for the company.