Worldcoin rose sharply on June 4 as Maelstrom, the investment firm linked to Arthur Hayes, framed WLD as a liquid crypto trade tied to the AI IPO boom.
- Maelstrom says WLD could reach $5 by August as traders seek liquid AI market exposure.
- Worldcoin rose 62% weekly, while spot trading volume topped $1.49 billion during the latest rally.
- Eightco’s 283 million WLD position and July unlock cut remain central to Maelstrom’s bullish thesis.
The firm said the token may reach $5 by August, a move that would mark a large gain from current levels.
The call came as crypto.news data showed Worldcoin trading near $0.524859, up 21.01% in 24 hours and 62.25% over seven days. Trading volume reached $1.49 billion, while the token’s market value stood near $1.77 billion.
Maelstrom links WLD to the AI IPO wave
Maelstrom researcher Lukas Ruppert said investor demand for private AI exposure has not yet reached WLD in the same way it has reached private-company shares. He linked the token to Worldcoin’s identity network, which was co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
“The AI mega IPOs are coming,” Ruppert said. Maelstrom argued that WLD offers one of the clearer listed crypto routes for traders seeking exposure to the AI and digital identity theme. The firm pointed to OpenAI and Anthropic as key names behind the current AI market cycle.
Maelstrom said WLD trades at a much smaller unlocked market value than private AI companies drawing investor interest. That gap sits at the center of its bullish thesis, although the target remains a market call and not a guaranteed result.
WLD price jumps as market data improves
Worldcoin’s latest rally followed a long decline that started earlier this year. WLD remains far below its all-time high of $11.74 from March 2024, but it has more than doubled over the past month.
crypto.news price data showed WLD rising 118.05% over 30 days. Its 24-hour trading range ran from $0.433749 to $0.559362, showing wide intraday swings during the latest move.
As crypto.news reported, WLD had surged more than 40% since late May as whale transactions, active addresses, and new wallet creation reached 2026 highs. The same report said traders were watching the $0.65 resistance area.
That setup gives the Maelstrom call more market context. WLD has moved from a weak trend into a sharp rebound, but the price still needs more follow-through to confirm a lasting recovery above prior resistance zones.
Short hedges and unlock cuts shape supply
Maelstrom said WLD’s March private sale created a short overhang in perpetual futures markets. Worldcoin sold $65 million in WLD through an over-the-counter round, with $25 million locked for six months.
According to Maelstrom, some buyers may have hedged locked exposure by shorting WLD before receiving all tokens. The firm called this a “textbook short overhang,” meaning short positions may add pressure until the market structure changes.
The second factor is Worldcoin’s scheduled token unlock reduction. Worldcoin will cut daily WLD unlocks by about 43% from July 24.
That change will reduce daily token emissions from about 5.1 million WLD to roughly 2.9 million WLD. Lower emissions may reduce routine selling pressure, although demand must still support any sustained price move.
Eightco holdings and regulatory risks stay in focus
Maelstrom also pointed to Eightco Holdings as a possible source of demand. The Nasdaq-listed company reported about $374 million in total holdings as of May 27.
Eightco said its treasury included 283.45 million WLD, 11,068 ETH, indirect OpenAI exposure, Beast Industries equity, and about $144 million in cash and stablecoins. The company described itself as a public vehicle tied to AI, digital identity, and digital assets.
Maelstrom argued that even a modest new WLD allocation from Eightco’s cash balance may tighten the market. Eightco already holds about 8.3% of WLD’s circulating supply, making it a key name in the WLD treasury trade.
Worldcoin still carries regulatory history. crypto.news reported that World Network faced legal challenges in France, Portugal, Spain, Hong Kong, Brazil, South Korea, and Kenya over biometric data and privacy questions.
World Network has defended its model by pointing to privacy tools and user-side data protections. The project says World ID can help prove that a user is human without exposing personal data.
