Maelstrom Sees Worldcoin as AI Market Sleeper, Forecasts WLD Rally to $5
Worldcoin’s native token WLD could be poised for a significant breakout as investors search for ways to gain exposure to the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence sector, according to investment firm Maelstrom.
In a research note released Wednesday, Maelstrom analyst Lukas Ruppert argued that WLD represents one of the most overlooked AI-linked opportunities in crypto markets. The firm projects the token could rise to $5 by August, representing a substantial increase from its current price near $0.50.
The bullish outlook comes amid growing enthusiasm surrounding major AI companies preparing for public market debuts. OpenAI reportedly submitted confidential IPO paperwork to U.S. regulators in May and is targeting a September 2026 listing, while rival Anthropic recently filed its own confidential prospectus after reaching a valuation approaching $1 trillion.
The AI-driven rally has already pushed major U.S. equity indexes to new highs, with technology and data storage firms benefiting from surging investor demand. However, Maelstrom contends that Worldcoin has yet to fully participate in this trend despite its close ties to the AI ecosystem.
Worldcoin, co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, aims to build a global identity and financial network capable of distinguishing humans from AI-generated entities. Its WLD token serves as the foundation of that ecosystem.
According to Ruppert, one factor weighing on WLD has been the aftermath of a $65 million private token sale completed earlier this year. Many investors who purchased tokens through the over-the-counter deal reportedly hedged their positions by opening short trades in futures markets, creating persistent downward pressure on the asset.
Maelstrom believes that pressure may soon ease. One catalyst is a scheduled reduction in Worldcoin’s token release program, with daily unlocks expected to decline by roughly 43% beginning July 24. Lower token issuance could reduce sell-side pressure and improve market dynamics.
Another potential catalyst involves publicly traded company Eightco, which already holds hundreds of millions of WLD tokens and maintains a sizable cash reserve. Ruppert suggested that additional purchases by the company could amplify upward momentum in an asset that remains heavily shorted.
The analyst also highlighted the disparity between AI company valuations and Worldcoin’s market capitalization. While leading AI firms command valuations measured in hundreds of billions or even trillions of dollars, WLD’s fully unlocked valuation remains near $2 billion, leaving what Maelstrom describes as considerable room for appreciation.
The optimistic forecast arrives as WLD has emerged as one of the strongest-performing digital assets among major cryptocurrencies in recent days, posting gains of roughly 60% over the past week. Maelstrom argues that if investor appetite for AI exposure continues to grow, Worldcoin could become an increasingly attractive alternative within the crypto sector.