Worldcoin (WLD) gained more than 60% over the past week, according to Maelstrom analyst Lukas Ruppert. Ruppert argued that Worldcoin remains undervalued compared to major AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, both preparing for public market debuts at valuations approaching or exceeding hundreds of billions of dollars. The project was co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and aims to create a global digital identity and financial network capable of distinguishing real humans from AI-generated bots, positioning WLD as a crypto-based proxy for AI adoption.
Maelstrom Analyst Cites Undervaluation Relative to AI Sector
Maelstrom analyst Lukas Ruppert stated in a recent research note that Worldcoin may be one of the most overlooked ways for investors to gain exposure to the AI sector. Ruppert pointed to growing excitement surrounding major AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic. OpenAI confidentially filed for an initial public offering in May and is reportedly targeting a valuation of up to $1 trillion, while Anthropic recently achieved a valuation of approximately $965 billion after a new funding round. The surge in AI-related investments helped push major US stock indices to record highs.
Despite this enthusiasm, Maelstrom believes Worldcoin's valuation is still relatively small compared to the broader AI sector. Ruppert argues that Worldcoin's positioning as a global digital identity network gives WLD a unique role as a crypto-based proxy for AI adoption.
Two Catalysts Identified for Potential Price Gains
Ruppert identified two potential catalysts that could drive the token higher in the coming months. The first relates to a private token sale completed earlier this year. Worldcoin raised $65 million through an over-the-counter sale of WLD tokens, with a portion of those tokens remaining locked for six months. Many buyers reportedly hedged their exposure by opening short positions in perpetual futures markets, which created what Ruppert described as a large short overhang. Ruppert stated that if buying pressure increases, those short positions could potentially be forced to close, adding more upward momentum to the price.
A second catalyst could emerge from changes to Worldcoin's token release schedule. On July 24, the daily token unlock rate is expected to decrease by approximately 43%, which Ruppert stated could potentially reduce one of the key sources of selling pressure that has weighed on the market throughout much of the year.
Eightco Holdings and Supply Dynamics
Another factor attracting attention is publicly traded company Eightco (ORBS), which already holds approximately 283 million WLD tokens and reportedly has around $144 million in cash available on its balance sheet. Maelstrom believes additional purchases from the company could tighten available supply and amplify any bullish momentum.
WLD Price Climbs 68% Over Seven Days
Over the past seven days, WLD climbed from below $0.31 to a high near $0.55 before consolidating around $0.51. The move represents a gain of roughly 68% during the period, making it the best-performing cryptocurrency among the top 100 digital assets by market capitalization. Trading volumes surged above $3 billion over the past 24 hours.
While WLD is still far below its all-time high of $11.78, the recent rally suggests that traders are viewing the token as a way to gain exposure to the AI narrative that dominates both traditional financial markets and the cryptocurrency sector.
FAQ
What did Worldcoin do over the past week?
Worldcoin (WLD) gained more than 60% over the past week as investor interest in artificial intelligence-related assets accelerated, according to Maelstrom analyst Lukas Ruppert.
Why does Maelstrom believe Worldcoin is undervalued?
Maelstrom analyst Lukas Ruppert argued that Worldcoin is undervalued compared to major AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, which are preparing for public market debuts at valuations approaching or exceeding hundreds of billions of dollars. Ruppert stated that Worldcoin's positioning as a global digital identity network gives WLD a unique role as a crypto-based proxy for AI adoption.
What are the two catalysts Maelstrom identified for Worldcoin?
Ruppert identified two catalysts: a potential short squeeze from a $65 million private token sale completed earlier this year, where buyers reportedly hedged exposure by opening short positions in perpetual futures markets, and a 43% reduction in the daily token unlock rate scheduled for July 24.
