Arthur Hayes Dumps WLD Just Days After Bullish AI Prediction

Arthur Hayes and his investment firm, Maelstrom, to sell part of its holdings Worldcoin (WLD) sparking questions among crypto investors.

This is because the sell-off occurred just days after Hayes published a bullish thesis about the potential for an explosion in the valuations of artificial intelligence (AI) companies through a wave of large IPOs in the next few years.

It is this contradiction that makes the market pay attention to the transaction.

If Arthur Hayes remains optimistic about the future of AI, why is he reducing his exposure to a crypto project that has long been synonymous with the AI ​​narrative?

WLD Sold After AI Thesis IPO Worth Hundreds of Billions of Dollars

Source: X/@CryptoHayes

Days before the sell-off, Arthur Hayes published a view that the wave of AI company IPOs had the potential to be one of the biggest investment themes of the next cycle.

He believes the market could see the birth of AI companies valued at hundreds of billions of dollars in the next few years.

This narrative has led many investors to associate Worldcoin with the growth potential of the AI ​​sector.

Read also:OpenAI Files IPO, New Round of AI Race Begins

The reason is simple. Worldcoin, founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is often seen as one of the crypto projects most closely aligned with the development of AI and digital identity technology.

But that relationship doesn't necessarily mean WLD will be the primary beneficiary of any AI developments.

It is this difference between narrative and business realization that investors are starting to notice.

WLD's Million-Dollar Sale Sparks New Questions

Circulating on-chain data shows that Maelstrom sold some of its WLD holdings amidst the volatile market conditions.

For experienced investors, selling by large investors does not always mean a bearish view.

There are various reasons behind this, ranging from profit-taking, portfolio risk management, to capital rotation to other assets considered to have a more attractive risk-return ratio.

Therefore, the more important question is not “did Arthur Hayes sell?”, but “why did he sell when the AI ​​narrative was still strong?”

Read also:The Biggest IPO in History? Interesting Facts Behind SpaceX

WLD's FDV Still Reaches Tens of Billions of Dollars, but the Risk of Unlocking WLD Coins Hasn't Disappeared

One factor that often concerns investors regarding Worldcoin is its tokenomics structure.

Although WLD's circulating market capitalization appears lower, its diluted valuation or Fully Diluted Valuation (FDV) has reached tens of billions of dollars in various market phases.

This happens because the number of tokens in circulation is still much smaller than the total maximum supply.

For investors, this condition creates additional risks in the form of future token unlocks.

When new tokens enter the market, selling pressure can increase if demand does not grow at the same pace.

This is one reason why some analysts remain cautious about WLD even though the AI ​​narrative is still very popular.

The AI ​​2026 narrative is still strong, but WLD is not yet a major winner.

Looking at industry developments, the AI ​​theme remains one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world.

Companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI, and various other AI startups continue to attract large amounts of investment.

Interestingly, however, WLD's price performance hasn't always moved in line with market enthusiasm for the AI ​​sector as a whole.

This shows that investors are starting to demand more than just a narrative relationship with AI.

The market is now more focused on adoption, utility, and the ability of projects to generate real economic value.

In other words, the popularity of AI does not automatically guarantee an increase in the price of WLD.

US$1 Support and US$5 Target Become Key Levels for WLD

WLD Coin to IDR via Bitrue Market

From a technical perspective, the US$1 area is an important psychological level for WLD.

If the price is able to stay above this area, the opportunity for recovery towards the US$2 range is still open.

This area could be an initial target if market sentiment improves again.

Meanwhile, a more aggressive bullish target is around US$5. To reach that level,

WLD requires a combination of rekindling AI sentiment, increased network activity, and new capital inflows into the crypto market.

Conversely, losing key support could open up room for a deeper correction before the next uptrend forms.

Read also:Top 10 AI Crypto Coins to Watch in 2026

Did Arthur Hayes Really Leave WLD?

The biggest mistake investors make is to treat every sell-off as a total change in investment outlook.

To date, there has been no indication that Arthur Hayes has abandoned the entire AI thesis he previously developed.

What is seen is more like a risk management step and portfolio adjustment amid market uncertainty.

In the investment world, selling part of a position is often different from canceling all faith in a sector.

Therefore, Maelstrom's actions are more appropriately viewed as a signal that even bullish investors are still actively managing risk.

Conclusion

Arthur Hayes' WLD sell-off generated some interesting headlines, but it doesn't necessarily invalidate his previous AI thesis.

What's more important for investors is to understand that the big narrative and short-term price movements often don't go in the same direction.

Worldcoin still holds a unique position thanks to its ties to Sam Altman and the AI ​​ecosystem.

But to be a major winner in the AI ​​theme, the project needs to prove that its economic value can grow as fast as the popularity of its narrative.

For investors, the focus should not be solely on who is selling or buying, but on whether the fundamentals and long-term investment thesis remain intact.

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FAQ

Why did Arthur Hayes sell WLD?

There has been no official statement, but it is likely related to risk management or portfolio rebalancing.

Is Arthur Hayes still bullish on AI?

Yes, there is no indication that he abandoned his previously published AI thesis.

What does Worldcoin have to do with AI?

Worldcoin was founded by Sam Altman, who is also the CEO of OpenAI.

Does WLD still have the potential to rise?

It's still possible, especially if AI sentiment and Worldcoin adoption continues to grow.

What is the biggest risk to WLD right now?

High valuation, future token unlock, and reliance on the power of AI narrative.