Eightco's WLD Stake Surges 3% as Firm Shifts from Biometric Controversy to Blockchain Infrastructure

Worldcoin (WLD) surged 3% on Nov. 18, 2025, as Eightco revealed it holds a massive 1.3 billion WLD tokens, equivalent to roughly $1.2 billion at current prices, according to multiple sources. This disclosure, made through a regulatory filing, has sparked renewed interest in the cryptocurrency, which has struggled to gain mainstream traction despite its biometric data collection model. The move comes as Eightco, a major WLD holder, seeks to solidify its position in the decentralized identity verification space, leveraging its stake to influence network governance and development priorities.

The announcement follows a broader trend of institutional investors and major corporations disclosing large cryptocurrency holdings, a strategy aimed at stabilizing volatile markets through perceived long-term commitment. Eightco's position in WLD, however, contrasts with its recent strategic pivot away from the token's core use case-biometric data monetization-which has drawn regulatory scrutiny and public backlash. The firm has instead focused on blockchain infrastructure projects, including partnerships with enterprise clients seeking to integrate decentralized identity solutions.

Meanwhile, Intuit Inc. (INTU) announced a landmark $100 million-plus multi-year partnership with OpenAI to integrate its financial tools with ChatGPT, marking a significant expansion of AI-driven services in the fintech sector. Under the agreement, Intuit will deploy OpenAI's frontier models to enhance its GenOS platform, powering AI agents across TurboTax, QuickBooks, Credit Karma, and Mailchimp. The collaboration will also enable ChatGPT users to access personalized financial insights, such as tax refund estimates, credit card recommendations, and business expense analyses, directly within the chatbot interface.

Intuit CEO Sasan Goodarzi emphasized the partnership's potential to redefine customer engagement, stating, "Combining our financial data and AI capabilities with OpenAI's models will give users the tools to make smarter financial decisions." The deal, one of the largest in OpenAI's growing ecosystem of enterprise partners, underscores the chatbot maker's strategy to monetize its technology through industry-specific integrations. OpenAI has previously partnered with PayPal, Walmart, and Shopify to embed transactional and commerce features into ChatGPT.

The news sent Intuit's shares up 3.4% in premarket trading, adding approximately $4 billion to its market capitalization. Analysts noted that the partnership aligns with Intuit's broader push to differentiate its AI offerings, particularly as competitors like Xero and Sage expand their own generative AI capabilities. The company has already raised prices on QuickBooks and payroll services following the launch of its AI agent platform in July.

In other market developments, Ondas Holdings (ONDS) continued its upward trajectory, rising 9.45% after Oppenheimer upgraded its rating to "outperform" with a $12 price target. The stock's surge followed strong third-quarter results, including a 582% year-over-year revenue increase driven by military and public safety contracts. Meanwhile, SWAN Capital LLC bolstered its stake in the Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIGI), purchasing 35,964 additional shares in the third quarter, increasing its position to 89,590 shares valued at $8.02 million.