WLD down 97% from ATH: World Foundation raises capital amid regulatory pressure in Thailand
The World Foundation, the organization behind Sam Altman's project, has raised $65 million through an over-the-counter (OTC) sale of native WLD tokens.
According to an official statement on X, the transaction was conducted by the World Assets division with four major counterparties over the past week.
The first settlement tranche was recorded on March 20 of this year at an average price of approximately $0.27 per WLD token. Preliminary estimates suggest that roughly 239 million tokens changed ownership under the agreement. The raised funds are intended for key operational expenses, including research and development (R&D) and the production of Orb devices. The capital will also support the overall growth of the World ecosystem amid high market turbulence. This step is critically important for ensuring the long-term viability of the ambitious biometric project.
Asset Distribution Mechanism and Deal Structure
During the execution of the OTC deal, the World Foundation applied a combined asset transfer scheme. Of the total funds raised, $25 million worth of tokens are subject to a mandatory six-month lockup period. The remainder of the sold assets became immediately liquid for buyers, creating certain risks for market supply.
The current sale price of $0.27 represents a significant discount compared to previous funding rounds. In May of last year, the project raised $135 million from giants such as Andreessen Horowitz and Bain Capital Crypto at a price of approximately $1.13 per token. This sharp decline in the entry cost for new investors highlights changing market conditions for the project. The direct injection of liquidity allows the organization to continue scaling its hardware infrastructure.
Market Reaction and Upcoming Asset Unlocks
The market reacted to the news of the sale by hitting a new all-time low for the asset. Immediately following the announcement, WLD quotes briefly dropped to $0.24 before stabilizing around $0.27. Currently, the token is trading 97% below its all-time high of $11.82, recorded in March 2024.
Additional price pressure is expected from a massive community token unlock scheduled for July 23. According to DefiLlama, the unlock will affect approximately 52.5% of the total supply of 10 billion WLD. Investors are showing caution, anticipating a potential supply glut on open exchanges in the short term. The weak price dynamics correlate with general uncertainty regarding the token's long-term utility.
Regulatory Hurdles and Operational Risks
Parallel to its financial difficulties, World is facing tightening scrutiny from government regulators worldwide. Last October, Thai authorities raided an iris-scanning facility associated with the project. The country’s Securities and Exchange Commission, along with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, alleged possible violations of digital asset laws.
The incident resulted in arrests, and an investigation into the project's unlicensed activities is ongoing. Similar probes and operational bans have been initiated in Indonesia, Germany, Kenya, and Brazil. Regulators' primary concerns involve the methods of processing sensitive biometric data and the lack of necessary operating permits. These factors create serious reputation and legal barriers to the World Foundation's global expansion.
Supply Dynamics and Market Outlook
The current OTC deal confirms the foundation's willingness to raise capital even at a 76% discount to previous investment rounds. The sale of 239 million tokens increases the circulating supply, which, combined with the July unlock of 5.25 billion WLD, places critical pressure on liquidity books. Statistics show a month-over-month (MoM) decline in the asset's value amid a lack of new growth drivers beyond R&D operational funding.
Investors should note that a 97% correction from highs often indicates a prolonged phase of holder capitulation. The practical significance of this news lies in the signal of the foundation's operational cash shortage, forcing it to sell assets at "fire-sale" prices. Further price movement will depend on the project's ability to resolve disputes with regulators in Southeast Asia and Latin America.
Recently we wrote that WLD is trading at $0.2745, up 9.06% for the day and well below the MA-20 ($0.3368), MA-50 ($0.3694), and MA-200 ($0.6881), highlighting persistent weakness relative to short-, medium-, and long-term averages.
Latest Worldcoin News
- Forex
- Crypto