DUBAI, UAE, Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has launched "Build Your AI Future City," a gamified experience for global traders bullish on the AI revolution. From now until September 20, 2026, eligible Bybit users can collect and swap AI-themed digital landmarks symbolizing six companies at the center of the AI supply chain, with a combined prize pool of up to $300,000, including rewards of up to $2,500 per user.
The six "AI Future City" landmarks map to SanDisk, NVIDIA, Marvell, Dell, Oracle and Adobe, all recognized as top players in the AI and semiconductor industry, and with scheduled earnings reports throughout August and September. Prizes for landmark collection and leaderboard rankings are paid out as position airdrops on the six companies' TradFi Perpetual Contracts on Bybit.
Once enrolled, eligible users can trade, refer, and win rewards in three segments:
- "Build Your City": Users can complete simple tasks, such as registering for the campaign, sharing on social media and inviting new users, to collect fragments representing six AI landmarks. Collecting all six unlocks a $1,000 Genesis Grand Prize, available to the first 500 qualifying users on a first-come, first-served basis.
- "Grow Your City": Users compete on a live leaderboard based on the number of qualified referrals, or "AI City Citizens," they bring in. The top 200 ranked users share a prize pool of up to $20,000, with individual rewards of up to $1,400.
- "Citizen Bonus": Referrers and their invitees can additionally earn up to $32 in evergreen referral rewards. In-scope activities include deposit, fiat channel usage and trading volume milestones, independent of the AI Future City mechanics.
AI is reshaping global markets at a pace few sectors have matched, and that window is brief and crucial for global traders. Build Your AI Future City gives global Bybit users a low-friction way to engage with this moment now, turning referral activity into direct exposure to the companies building AI's infrastructure ahead of the curve.
Build Your AI Future City embodies Bybit's broader TradFi and RWA (Real-World Asset) strategy. On top of over 400 assets via Bybit TradFi, its established CFD trading platform, and expanding utilities of tokenized RWA assets on the platform as collateral or yield-bearing instruments, Bybit also introduced TradFi Perpetual Contracts in April 2026. Bybit TradFi Perpetuals have since listed over 200 trading pairs spanning global equities, ETFs, precious metals and crude oil, with coverage across the US and Asia, including unique pre-IPO asset perpetuals.
Trading carries risk, and terms and conditions apply. The event is available to eligible Bybit users globally, subject to regional or account restrictions. For full mechanics, eligibility terms and reward schedules, users may visit: Build Your AI Future City: Invite friends and earn up to $2,500
#Bybit / #NewFinancialPlatform
About Bybit
Bybit is The New Financial Platform.
We believe every person should have access to every financial opportunity on earth. That's why we're building the first intelligent platform that connects anyone, anywhere to the world's finance.
Trusted by more than 80 million users worldwide, Bybit brings together investing, trading, payments, and wealth-building in a single secure and intelligent ecosystem. Through the combination of AI-powered technology, deep global liquidity, robust security, and transparent operations, Bybit makes global finance more accessible, efficient, and empowering for everyone.
Built for everyone. Powered by intelligence. Open to the world.
Learn more at Bybit.com
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Bybit Launches AI Future City Campaign Connecting AI Market Themes With TradFi Perpetuals
Eightco repurchased 14 million shares of common stock in the past two weeks under its previously announced $125 million share repurchase program
Eightco treasury composition as of August 19, 2026: $90M OpenAI equity (indirect), $18M Beast Industries equity, 16,278 ETH, nearly 302 million WLD holdings, and $132M cash and equivalents, totaling approximately $389 million
Eightco recently participated in World Foundation's $52.5M funding round, led by Pantera with participation from Bain Capital Crypto, Selini Capital, Susquehanna Crypto, and additional investors
Eightco provides indirect exposure to some of the most innovative private companies including OpenAI and Beast Industries
EASTON, Pa., Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) ("Eightco" or the "Company") today provided an update on its total holdings, highlighting its position across digital assets and strategic investments in leading private technology companies. Eightco also announced that it has repurchased approximately 14 million shares of its common stock under its previously announced $125 million share repurchase program.
As of August 19, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. ET, ORBS' holdings include a $90 million investment (indirectly, through SPVs) in OpenAI, an $18 million funded investment in Beast Industries, a $1 million investment in Mythical Games, 301,971,219 Worldcoin (WLD) at $0.37 per WLD (per Coinbase), 16,278 Ethereum (ETH), and approximately $132 million in total cash and stablecoins, for total holdings of approximately $389 million.
Top Headlines Driving the News:
Eightco's management believes the Company's treasury portfolio holds some of the most critical components for the future AI and digital financial system. This week's top headlines include:
- OpenAI completed a secondary share sale totaling roughly $7 billion ahead of its anticipated IPO, allowing current and former employees to sell stock at the company's $852 billion valuation (CNBC).
- On August 4, Cloudflare announced Cloudflare Wallets, the programmable wallet for the agentic internet, giving AI agents a wallet and the ability to transact (Cloudflare).
- On August 10, OpenAI announced that it is expanding its Daybreak Cyber Partner Program to make its most capable cybersecurity models available through trusted cybersecurity companies and service providers. Through Daybreak, partners such as Accenture, IBM, CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks, Cisco, Cloudflare, and others can incorporate OpenAI's models into their existing security products and services (OpenAI).
- On August 18, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT for Teens, designed to help teens learn, think critically, deepen understanding, and use AI with confidence. It is intended to provide stronger built-in safety protections for teens, including features to promote healthy use and additional controls for parents (OpenAI).
"We continue to believe ORBS' common shares are undervalued to not only intrinsic value, but also the synergistic value of assets held," said Kevin O'Donnell, Chairman and CEO of Eightco (ORBS). "Our decision to repurchase 14 million shares in the past two weeks reflects the confidence we have in Eightco's strategy, assets and future. We believe these share repurchases are an efficient and effective use of capital and increase shareholder value."
Eightco: Exposure to key mega-trends
Eightco is built around three mega-trends the Company expects to shape the next decade of innovation: artificial intelligence, digital identity, and the creator economy, with positions in each trend through indirect investment in OpenAI (23% of ORBS' treasury holdings), Worldcoin (29%), and Beast Industries (5%).
Artificial Intelligence — OpenAI
Eightco has invested approximately $90 million in special purpose vehicles with exposure to equity interests in the parent company of OpenAI, representing approximately 23% of treasury assets, one of the highest disclosed concentrations of any listed vehicle.
ChatGPT, OpenAI's consumer app, is the #1 consumer AI app worldwide (Sensor Tower). On July 31, 2026, OpenAI announced that its models now reach more than one billion active users and more than two million businesses. Six months after signing up, people send roughly 50 percent more messages each day and use ChatGPT for about twice as many kinds of work.
Digital Identity — WLD Token
Eightco holds nearly 302 million WLD, approximately 8.4% of circulating supply, the largest publicly disclosed institutional position globally and approximately 29% of the Eightco treasury's assets.
Worldcoin is the native token of World, a global Proof of Human network built by Tools for Humanity (co-founded by Sam Altman and Alex Blania) and stewarded by the World Foundation. Its Orb devices issue a privacy-preserving World ID that verifies a user is a unique human, not an AI agent.
Under World's announced business model, applications pay per-verification fees while end-user verification remains free, with both credential issuers and the World protocol monetizing verified-human authentication. World identifies a $6.35 trillion combined addressable revenue opportunity across 13 industries spanning banking, e-commerce, gaming, social media, and agentic AI (per Tools for Humanity).
Creator Economy — Beast Industries
Eightco has invested $18 million in Beast Industries equity, approximately 5% of treasury assets.
Beast Industries operates one of the largest direct-to-consumer reach footprints in the world, with a combined 500 million-plus follower base across platforms, anchored by MrBeast as the most-watched person on YouTube globally. As AI commoditizes content production, distribution and audience trust become increasingly scarce assets.
About Eightco Holdings Inc.
Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) is a publicly traded company executing a first-of-its-kind Worldcoin (WLD) treasury strategy, providing investors single-ticker indirect exposure to three of the defining trends of this cycle: artificial intelligence through its indirect investment in OpenAI, digital identity through its position as the largest public holder of WLD and the Proof of Human protocol, and the creator economy through its equity stake in MrBeast's Beast Industries. Backed by leading institutional investors including Bitmine Immersion Technologies Inc. (NYSE: BMNR), MOZAYYX, World Foundation, Discovery Capital Management, FalconX, Payward/Kraken, Pantera, and GSR, Eightco is building the infrastructure layer for human verification in the agentic AI era.
For more information:
X: @iamhuman_orbs
Website: 8co.holdings
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ORBS stock?
Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) is a publicly traded company on Nasdaq. ORBS provides indirect exposure to OpenAI and Beast Industries, and holds one of the largest publicly disclosed positions in Worldcoin (WLD).
Who owns the most Worldcoin (WLD)?
Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) holds nearly 302 million WLD, approximately 8.4% of circulating supply and the largest publicly disclosed institutional position globally.
What is Proof of Human?
Proof of Human is cryptographic verification that a user is a unique, living person, not a bot or AI agent. It is foundational infrastructure for social networks, banking, agentic commerce, and any system requiring "one person, one account" in the agentic AI era.
How does Eightco (ORBS) relate to Proof of Human?
Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) is the largest publicly disclosed institutional holder of Worldcoin (WLD), the token powering World's Proof of Human network.
Who is the CEO of Eightco Holdings?
Kevin O'Donnell is the CEO of Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS). The Company's Board includes Tom Lee (Managing Partner and Head of Research at Fundstrat, and Chairman of Bitmine Immersion Technologies (NYSE: BMNR)) and, as an advisor to the Board, Brett Winton (Chief Futurist at ARK Invest).
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact could be deemed forward-looking, including, without limitation, statements regarding: the Company's expectations that artificial intelligence, digital identity, and the creator economy will shape the next decade of innovation; management's belief that the Company's treasury portfolio holds some of the most critical components for the future AI and digital financial system; management's belief that ORBS' common shares are undervalued relative to intrinsic and synergistic value; management's belief that the Company's share repurchases are an efficient and effective use of capital that increase shareholder value; statements regarding World's addressable revenue opportunity of $6.35 trillion across industries spanning banking, e-commerce, gaming, social media, and agentic AI; statements that distribution and audience trust become increasingly scarce assets as AI commoditizes content production; statements that the Company is building the infrastructure layer for human verification in the agentic AI era; statements that Proof of Human is foundational infrastructure for social networks, banking, agentic commerce, and systems requiring verified human identity; and statements regarding the Company providing indirect exposure to defining trends through its investments in OpenAI, WLD, and Beast Industries. Words such as "plans," "expects," "will," "anticipates," "continue," "expand," "advance," "develop," "believes," "guidance," "target," "may," "remain," "project," "outlook," "intend," "estimate," "could," "should," "positioned," "view," and other words and terms of similar meaning and expression are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such terms. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company's inability to direct the management or operations of private businesses where it is not a controlling stockholder, including OpenAI and Beast Industries; risk of loss or markdown on the Company's strategic investments, including its indirect position in OpenAI equity (held through special purpose vehicles), its position in WLD, and its position in Beast Industries equity; the Company's ability to maintain compliance with Nasdaq's continued listing requirements; unexpected costs, charges, or expenses that reduce the Company's capital resources or otherwise delay capital deployment; inability to raise adequate capital to fund or scale its business operations or strategic investments; volatility in digital asset prices, including WLD and ETH, which could materially affect the value of the Company's treasury holdings; regulatory changes, future legislation, and rulemaking negatively impacting digital assets, artificial intelligence adoption, or biometric data collection; risks related to the development, adoption, and market acceptance of Proof of Human technology and the World network; uncertainty regarding the pace and trajectory of agentic AI deployment in enterprise and consumer applications; uncertainty regarding OpenAI's product roadmap, business model developments, and any future liquidity events; risks related to Beast Industries' ability to achieve its growth projections; competition in the digital identity and AI infrastructure markets; reliance on third-party sources for the valuation of certain investments; uncertainty regarding MrBeast's continued success and the performance of Beast Industries' creator-driven business model; risks related to the Company's concentrated positions in certain digital assets and private company investments; risks related to the Company's share repurchase program, including the timing, pricing, and amount of any repurchases; shifting public and governmental positions on digital assets or artificial intelligence-related industries; risks related to the timing, features, and commercial reception of OpenAI's model releases; and risks that WLD supply dynamics may not result in anticipated market effects. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause Eightco's actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements herein, see Eightco's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including the risk factors and other disclosures in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 15, 2026, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 15, 2026 and other publicly available SEC filings. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Eightco undertakes no duty to update this information or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect actual results or any change in its expectations.
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Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) Reports Total Holdings of Approximately $389 Million, Includes OpenAI, Beast Industries, More Than 16,000 ETH and Nearly 302 Million WLD Tokens
Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) Reports Total Holdings of Approximately $389 Million, Includes OpenAI, Beast Industries, More Than 16,000 ETH and Nearly 302 Million WLD Tokens
