Worldcoin (WLD) Surges After $135M Funding Led by a16z, Expansion Plans and Investor Confidence Fuel 31% Rally
Worldcoin’s native token, WLD, surged as much as 31% after securing a $135 million investment led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and Bain Capital Crypto. Unlike traditional venture rounds, the deal involved a direct purchase of liquid WLD tokens at spot price, immediately increasing circulating supply without lock-ups or preferential terms. The funds are earmarked for global expansion, including deploying 7,500 iris-scanning Orbs and targeting up to 180 million U.S. users by year-end. Worldcoin has already launched in six major U.S. cities, reporting over 26 million global users and 12.5 million Orb-verified IDs. The project is broadening its ecosystem with services like token-backed loans, prediction markets, and an upcoming Visa card integration. Notably, a recent 37 million WLD token unlock, worth $35 million, did not result in significant sell pressure; WLD has rebounded 164% since early April and outperformed the broader crypto market in the past week. However, the project continues to face regulatory scrutiny over privacy in regions like Germany, Brazil, and Singapore. Analysts view this funding as a sign of strong venture capital confidence in biometric identity and AI-linked crypto projects, potentially signaling a turnaround in sentiment. The news underscores Worldcoin’s ambition to become a leading digital identity platform in the crypto asset space and may have implications for WLD price action and digital identity trends.
Bullish
The $135 million direct investment into Worldcoin (WLD) by top venture capital firms such as a16z and Bain Capital Crypto, executed at spot price with no lock-ups, signals strong institutional confidence and a decisive vote of support for the project’s long-term prospects. This move not only boosts Worldcoin’s liquidity but also validates its expansion efforts, particularly in the U.S., as it aims to scale its iris-scanning biometric verification network. The absence of significant sell pressure following a large token unlock, alongside robust user growth and new ecosystem features, suggests renewed market optimism and defies recent bearish cycles. The price rebound of 164% since April and outperforming the wider market further support a bullish outlook for WLD. However, traders should be mindful of ongoing regulatory scrutiny in key jurisdictions, which may affect long-term risk, but for now, sentiment and momentum remain strongly bullish.