Wedbush’s Dan Ives Joins Eightco to Lead $250M Worldcoin Strategy

Veteran tech analyst Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities has joined blockchain firm Eightco Holdings to lead a $250 million investment strategy around Worldcoin. The project, backed by Sam Altman, is betting on biometric identity as a gateway to crypto adoption.

Background on the Appointment

Ives is best known for his analysis of U.S. technology stocks, including Apple and Tesla. At Wedbush, he built a reputation for sharp calls and became a regular media voice on innovation. By moving to Eightco, he shifts from market analyst to corporate strategist. The appointment highlights both his conviction and the firm’s ambition in blockchain.

Eightco confirmed that $250 million will be allocated to Worldcoin and affiliated ecosystem ventures. The company has not disclosed the full breakdown. Executives said the plan includes token purchases, infrastructure support, and seed funding for biometric authentication apps. In addition, capital will flow toward developers building on Worldcoin’s identity layer.

Why Worldcoin, and Why Now

Worldcoin launched in July 2023 with the aim of providing a universal digital identity. Users sign up through iris-scanning devices known as Orbs. Its token, WLD, powers both the identity system and a payments layer. As of September 2025, WLD trades at $4.80 with a market cap near $820 million. Volumes remain volatile due to regulatory debates and privacy concerns.

For Eightco, the bet is on digital identity becoming central to blockchain adoption. “Worldcoin has potential to become a global standard for decentralized authentication,” Ives said in a statement. “Our capital will focus on building infrastructure and developer adoption that can scale the vision.”

Analyst and Regulatory Views

Market analysts are cautious. “Dan Ives brings credibility and connections, but Worldcoin faces enormous hurdles,” said Sarah McLeod, managing director at TokenMetrics. “Privacy regulators in Europe have already raised concerns about biometric storage. Adoption is uneven. Nevertheless, Eightco’s capital could accelerate progress in regions more open to identity-linked crypto systems.”

Regulators echo the warning. James Carter, a former U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission official, told Financyze that any large investment in biometric-linked tokens must prioritize transparency and compliance. Without that, projects risk bottlenecks and bans.

Market Context

The move comes at a turbulent time for digital assets. Bitcoin trades at $111,500 after a volatile summer. Ethereum hovers near $5,250, both up more than 40% year-to-date. Stablecoins continue to dominate activity. Tether alone processes more than $50 billion daily. In contrast, identity-focused tokens such as Worldcoin remain a small fraction of overall market volume.

Despite that, Worldcoin draws disproportionate attention. In Latin America and Africa, Orb sign-ups have surged as unbanked populations view biometric wallets as an entry point to finance. Adoption in the U.S. and Europe has lagged. Regulators there cite surveillance and data misuse as major risks.

Implications for Eightco

Eightco manages just under $1 billion in assets. The $250 million allocation means Worldcoin will consume roughly one-quarter of its deployable capital. Therefore, the strategy could significantly impact the firm’s performance.

Ives will lead a team tasked with sourcing partnerships, guiding token purchases, and working with developers. According to insiders, allocations will be staged over multiple quarters. The goal is to avoid liquidity shocks in WLD’s relatively thin markets.

Industry Response

Industry leaders believe the appointment will draw attention. “Dan Ives is a household name for institutional investors,” said Michael Chu, head of research at Delphi Digital. “His presence at Eightco will put Worldcoin on the radar for hedge funds and family offices that might otherwise dismiss it.”

Others stress that funding is only one piece of the puzzle. “Biometric systems require global trust,” said Priya Menon, privacy researcher at the London School of Economics. “Even with $250 million in backing, resistance in large economies could limit uptake. Adoption depends as much on governance as on funding.”

Closing Insight

Eightco’s hire of Dan Ives signals confidence in Worldcoin’s long-term role. If successful, the project could position itself as a standard for decentralized identity and push biometric wallets into mainstream finance. If unsuccessful, it will deepen skepticism about whether blockchain identity systems can scale in the face of privacy concerns and strict oversight.

Markets reacted modestly. Worldcoin’s price has held steady since the news, though trading volumes rose 18% in the past 24 hours. Investors appear to be weighing the credibility boost from Ives’s appointment against unresolved structural risks.