Arthur Hayes Dumps Worldcoin Days After AI-Fueled Bull Call, Extending Crypto Sell-Off Streak
Arthur Hayes has once again shifted gears on a major cryptocurrency bet, revealing that he has sold his entire Worldcoin (WLD) position only days after his investment firm highlighted the token as one of the strongest ways to gain exposure to the artificial intelligence boom.
The Maelstrom co-founder announced the sale on social media over the weekend, pointing to weakness in the market for pre-IPO SpaceX perpetual futures. Sharing a chart that showed a steep decline, Hayes remarked that the trend was moving in the wrong direction, signaling a loss of confidence in the narrative that had recently supported his Worldcoin thesis.
The move came as a surprise to many traders because Maelstrom had published research earlier in the week arguing that Worldcoin was an underappreciated beneficiary of upcoming AI-related public offerings. The report projected that WLD could climb to $5 by August, sparking a brief rally that pushed the token above $0.60 before momentum quickly faded.
Since then, Worldcoin has erased much of those gains, dropping back toward $0.40. Hayes’ decision to exit the position has intensified scrutiny over his rapidly changing outlook on several digital assets.
The investor had previously suggested he intended to keep his WLD holdings through the anticipated public listing of SpaceX, expected later this month. His sudden exit has prompted criticism from market participants who questioned why he abandoned the position before the event he had previously cited as a potential catalyst.
Worldcoin is only the latest token affected by Hayes’ recent portfolio reshuffle. Earlier this year, he expressed strong optimism about Hyperliquid’s HYPE token, forecasting significant upside and calling it one of the best-performing opportunities among leading cryptocurrencies. However, he later liquidated the position, citing macroeconomic concerns including rising energy costs, geopolitical tensions, and shifting market dynamics tied to major AI-related listings.
Hayes also reversed course on Zcash after previously projecting substantial gains for the privacy-focused cryptocurrency. Following the disclosure of a serious flaw affecting the network’s privacy infrastructure, he sold his ZEC holdings and declared that his favored trio of HYPE, ZEC, and NEAR had effectively lost their investment appeal.
Despite the aggressive selling, Hayes has shown signs of selectively re-entering positions. Blockchain data recently indicated that a wallet linked to him accumulated nearly 34,000 HYPE tokens worth roughly $2 million after the asset experienced a sharp decline following his earlier sale.
The latest developments underscore Hayes’ increasingly tactical approach to the market, where bullish narratives can quickly give way to risk-off decisions as macro conditions and sector-specific catalysts evolve.