Key Highlights
- On Friday, Eightco purchased an extra $40 million worth of equity in OpenAI.
- The company’s cumulative OpenAI investment has reached $90 million.
- Investor Tom Lee was appointed to Eightco’s board of directors in recent months.
- Bitmine has committed $75 million in capital to Eightco, as per reports.
- The firm holds the largest publicly disclosed position in WLD tokens, according to sources.
Eightco, the Nasdaq-traded company with ties to prominent investor Tom Lee, has boosted its ownership stake in OpenAI with a fresh $40 million purchase. This latest transaction brings the firm’s cumulative investment in the artificial intelligence powerhouse to $90 million. The strategic move reflects Eightco’s broader ambition to position itself at the intersection of AI innovation and cryptocurrency assets associated with the World network.
Fresh capital deployed into OpenAI stake
On Friday, Eightco Holdings Inc. announced the completion of a $40 million equity acquisition in OpenAI. The AI research organization, known for developing ChatGPT and led by co-founder Sam Altman, has become a key holding for the publicly traded firm. With this recent purchase, Eightco’s aggregate OpenAI investment now totals $90 million.
According to Eightco, the strategy centers on bridging the gap between private technology ventures and public market investors. CEO Kevin O’Donnell characterized the investment as a significant opportunity for the company and its stakeholders. “We believe our investment in OpenAI represents a transformative opportunity not only for ORBS, but for our shareholders,” O’Donnell stated.
Eightco $ORBS said it is adding another $40 million to OpenAI, bringing its total investment to $90 million. The company said the OpenAI position now makes up about 30% of its treasury, alongside large holdings in WLD, ETH, and cash/stablecoins.
— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) March 20, 2026
O’Donnell emphasized that retail investors typically face barriers when attempting to access high-growth private technology firms, which are usually reserved for institutional players. Through its public market presence, Eightco aims to democratize this access for everyday shareholders. The firm’s stock is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol ORBS.
Lee’s involvement amplifies investor interest
Market observers have taken particular notice of Eightco due to its association with Tom Lee, a well-known figure in investment circles. Lee’s recent appointment to Eightco’s board has heightened visibility around the company. Additionally, Lee serves as chairman of Bitmine Immersion Technologies, which has injected $75 million in funding into Eightco.
This relationship positions Eightco within an interconnected web of artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency investments. Beyond its OpenAI holdings, the company maintains approximately $24 million in Ethereum assets. Eightco has also allocated $25 million toward Beast Industries, the media enterprise established by content creator Jimmy Donaldson, widely recognized as MrBeast.
The timing of Eightco’s OpenAI acquisition aligns with sustained investor enthusiasm for artificial intelligence ventures. Publicly traded companies with stakes in private AI firms often generate significant market interest due to limited direct investment opportunities. Eightco appears to be leveraging this dynamic to craft its investment identity.
World ecosystem investment strategy continues
Eightco maintains deep connections to World, the cryptocurrency initiative also backed by Sam Altman. According to available data, the firm holds the most substantial public position in WLD, the project’s native digital asset. In the previous year, Eightco established a WLD treasury following a $250 million private placement round.
The company now controls 10% of WLD’s entire circulating supply. World operates on a proof-of-humanity framework, wherein participants obtain verification credentials by completing biometric eye scanning procedures to confirm their human identity.
Altman is a co-founder of Tools for Humanity, the primary development organization behind the World project. This connection situates Eightco in proximity to both OpenAI and the broader World infrastructure. Friday’s disclosure demonstrates that Eightco is actively expanding its footprint across Altman-affiliated technology ventures, while Lee’s involvement provides an additional dimension of market relevance.
