Worldcoin’s native token WLD has entered a sharp rebound phase, with price action and investor attention converging around the broader artificial intelligence boom and upcoming public listings in the sector.
The token traded near $0.52 on June 4, according to HodlFM data, after posting a 21.01% daily gain and a 62.25% increase over seven days. Trading volume reached approximately $1.49 billion, while market capitalization stood close to $1.77 billion, before leveling off at $1.64. The move placed WLD among the strongest performers in the top 100 digital assets during a period when several major cryptocurrencies showed weaker momentum.
AI IPO momentum spills into crypto narratives
Interest in Worldcoin has intensified as major artificial intelligence firms prepare for public market debuts. OpenAI filed a confidential IPO prospectus with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 22, targeting a September 2026 listing and aiming to raise $60 billion at a valuation that could reach $1 trillion. Anthropic followed with its own confidential filing after securing a $65 billion funding round that valued the company at $965 billion.
Maelstrom researcher Lukas Ruppert tied WLD’s potential upside directly to this wave of AI capital formation.
“The AI mega IPOs are coming — and it appears the market has overlooked one of the cleanest proxies,” Ruppert said Wednesday.
The firm argued that while capital has aggressively pursued private AI exposure, the same level of attention has not reached liquid crypto assets linked to the theme. Worldcoin, co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, sits at the intersection of digital identity and artificial intelligence, which strengthens its positioning in this narrative.
Price structure shifts after months of decline
WLD’s recent gains followed a prolonged downtrend that began earlier in 2026. Losses accelerated in March after a private token sale raised $65 million through over-the-counter transactions. Of that amount, $25 million remains locked for six months.
The structure of that sale created pressure in derivatives markets. Some investors hedged exposure by shorting WLD perpetual futures contracts before receiving their tokens. Maelstrom described this dynamic as a “textbook short overhang,” which contributed to downward pressure in subsequent months.
Recent price action suggests that dynamic has begun to unwind. TradingView data shows WLD rising more than 118% over the past 30 days, with a breakout above a long-standing descending channel that had capped rallies since late 2025. Technical indicators place immediate resistance between $0.55 and $0.56, with a potential move toward $0.64 to $0.65 if momentum continues.
Short liquidations also played a role. A break above the $0.40 level triggered forced buying from bearish positions, which added to upward pressure.
Supply changes and treasury demand come into focus
Two structural factors could shape the next phase of price action. The first involves token supply. Worldcoin plans to reduce its daily token unlock rate by approximately 43% on July 24, lowering emissions from about 5.1 million WLD to roughly 2.9 million. This change could reduce routine selling pressure, although sustained gains will depend on demand.
The second factor centers on institutional accumulation. Eightco Holdings, a publicly traded company, reported holding 283.45 million WLD tokens as of May 27, along with roughly $144 million in cash and stablecoins. The company already controls about 8.3% of the circulating supply.
On-chain activity and adoption signals strengthen case
Blockchain data supports the shift in sentiment. Whale transactions exceeding $100,000 reached their highest levels of 2026, while active addresses climbed above 1,300. New wallet creation also accelerated, which indicates broader participation beyond early holders.
Exchange flow data showed negative net flows during the rally, with tokens moving off exchanges into private wallets. This pattern often aligns with accumulation behavior.
Ecosystem developments added further support. Integration of Oku Trade into the World App introduced token swapping and reward incentives, with users able to earn up to 100 WLD.
Outside the crypto sector, a partnership with Thirty Seconds to Mars drew attention to World ID technology. The band plans to use the system to filter ticket-buying bots, which provides a real-world use case tied to digital identity verification.
Regulatory history and market risks remain
Despite the rally, Worldcoin continues to face regulatory scrutiny. Authorities in France, Portugal, Spain, Hong Kong, Brazil, South Korea, and Kenya have examined the project over biometric data and privacy concerns. The World Network has responded by emphasizing privacy protections and user-controlled data systems.
Market risks also persist. The relative strength index approached 69 on daily charts, which sits near overbought territory. Such conditions often precede consolidation phases. A failure to break above current resistance levels may slow momentum.
Broader crypto market conditions add another variable. WLD has outperformed during a period of weakness in major assets, but sustained divergence may prove difficult if overall risk appetite declines.
Price targets reflect asymmetric positioning
Maelstrom projected that WLD could reach $5 by August, which implies a significant increase from current levels. The firm framed the token as an “asymmetric upside” opportunity, given its smaller unlocked market capitalization compared to private AI firms valued in the hundreds of billions.
“Capital is aggressively chasing Anthropic and OpenAI exposure,” Ruppert said, adding that WLD remains “a small cap, when it comes to AI valuations.”
The forecast remains a market call rather than a guaranteed outcome. Current price action shows a transition from recovery into expansion, but confirmation of a sustained trend will depend on continued demand, reduced supply pressure, and the broader trajectory of AI-driven investment flows.
Roman Zaika
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