Wall Street tech expert Dan Ives is making headlines by stepping into the world of cryptocurrency. Ives, known for his role as head of technology research at Wedbush Securities, has joined Eightco Holdings (OCTO) as the new chairman of the board. This move marks a major shift in direction for Eightco as it begins focusing heavily on Worldcoin (WLD), a digital token connected to OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman’s identity project called “World.”

On Monday, Eightco revealed a major $250 million private funding deal. The company plans to use this money to buy and hold large amounts of Worldcoin, making it the main asset in its corporate treasury. The deal is expected to be finalized by September 11, at which point Eightco also plans to change its stock ticker from “OCTO” to “ORBS.”

Dan Ives explained his decision by saying he sees Worldcoin and the World ID project as a vital tool for the future of AI. One of the biggest challenges in artificial intelligence is verifying whether users are human. Ives believes Worldcoin is leading the way in solving this issue by offering a reliable system for digital identity and authentication.

This strategy mirrors what other tech-forward companies have done in the crypto space. For example, MicroStrategy became well-known for putting massive amounts of money into Bitcoin. Similarly, earlier this year, crypto analyst Tom Lee joined BitMine Immersion Technologies, which saw its stock price skyrocket over 800%. BitMine also invested $20 million into Eightco as part of its “Moonshot” investment plan.

Worldcoin launched in 2023 with the goal of creating a global identity system called “World ID.” Users who join and verify their identities receive tokens as rewards. The project now has a market cap close to $1 billion and is often compared to major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. It’s attracting attention from investors looking for high-risk, high-reward crypto opportunities.

Keywords: Dan Ives, Eightco Holdings, Worldcoin, WLD, World ID, cryptocurrency investment, AI authentication, digital identity, blockchain, Sam Altman, OpenAI, private placement, crypto treasury strategy, ORBS ticker symbol, BitMine Immersion Technologies, MicroStrategy model.