Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) has closed a $125 million institutional funding round to accelerate expansion into AI, blockchain infrastructure, and global digital consumer platforms. Bitmine led with $75 million, while ARK Invest and Payward—parent company of Kraken—each committed $25 million.
Initial Deployments: OpenAI, MrBeast and Worldcoin
Eightco has already invested $75 million in initial strategic bets, including $50 million in OpenAI and $25 million in MrBeast and Beast Industries. The company also retains positions in Worldcoin (co-founded by Sam Altman) and Ethereum, signaling a long-term commitment to blockchain infrastructure. By investing across AI foundational models, blockchain projects, and content platforms, Eightco aims to capture synergies at the intersection of these high-growth sectors.
Board Reshuffle: Bitmine Chairman Joins, ARK Futurist as Advisor
Leadership changes accompanied the funding. Tom Lee, Chairman of Bitmine, joins Eightco's board; Brett Winton, Chief Futurist at ARK Invest, serves as a board advisor. Dan Ives stepped down as Chairman to support the company's strategic pivot. Tom Lee stated: "Bitmine invested in ORBS as we believe this company sits at the center of some of the most important future needs and developments for AI." Stakeholders stress the company's unique position at the nexus of AI, blockchain infrastructure, and creator-driven platforms, aligning with emerging Proof of Human technology, AI content verification, and decentralized platforms trends.
Market Reaction: Stock Down 18% in a Week, Bearish Sentiment
Despite the capital injection, market sentiment turned bearish. From Thursday to press time, the stock dropped from $1.10 to $0.90, a decline of roughly 18%, with investors continuing to offload shares. If the week closes on a red candlestick, downward pressure may extend into the next trading week. The $125 million provides resources to expand its portfolio and strengthen its foothold in frontier technologies, but short-term price action reflects persistent negative outlook among traders.