Eightco Raises $125 Million from Bitmine, Ark Invest and Tom Lee Joins Board

Eightco Holdings has secured $125 million in funding from Bitmine Immersion Technologies, Ark Invest, and Payward—the parent company of crypto exchange Kraken—as the firm expands its investments in artificial intelligence, blockchain infrastructure, and digital consumer platforms.

Bitmine Chairman Tom Lee will join Eightco’s board of directors, while Ark’s Chief Futurist Brett Winton will serve as a board advisor, as the company also announces strategic investments in OpenAI and MrBeast’s Beast Industries.

Funding Round Details and Investor Participation

Investment Structure

Eightco announced on March 11, 2026, that it had raised $125 million from a consortium of prominent investors. Bitmine Immersion Technologies led the round with a $75 million commitment, while Ark Invest and Payward each contributed $25 million. The fresh capital follows Bitmine’s previous $20 million investment in Eightco as part of its “moonshot” strategy, which allocates a small portion of its balance sheet to high-upside projects.

Leadership Changes

As part of the investment agreement, Bitmine Chairman Tom Lee will join Eightco’s board of directors, and Ark Invest’s Chief Futurist Brett Winton will be added as a board advisor. Eightco Chairman Dan Ives, known for his bullish commentary on the tech sector, stepped down from his position after being appointed in September 2025.

Lee stated: “Bitmine invested in ORBS as we believe this company sits at the center of some of the most important future needs and developments for AI.” He noted the “tremendous synergy between Proof of Human (Worldcoin), the OpenAI foundational models, and connectivity to the greatest content creator in the world, MrBeast.”

Strategic Investments in OpenAI and Beast Industries

AI and Content Creator Focus

Eightco disclosed that it has closed an initial $50 million strategic investment into OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research organization. The firm also completed a $25 million investment into Beast Industries, the company of YouTube star Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast. Bitmine separately invested $200 million in Beast Industries earlier this year.

“These investments position ORBS as a hub at the center of key frontier AI technologies and content creation, expanding its portfolio to include ownership stakes in world-leading innovators,” Eightco said in a statement.

Ark’s Perspective

Cathie Wood, CEO of Ark Invest, commented on the investment: “ORBS is taking on a unique initiative at the intersection of AI, blockchain, and creator-driven platforms. At ARK Invest, we focus on technologies that have the potential to transform the global economy.” A $25 million position in Eightco would place the firm inside Ark’s top 70 holdings.

Ark and Bitmine maintain interconnected investments, with Wood’s firm holding an active position of approximately $169 million in Bitmine stock across its ETFs, making Bitmine the firm’s 25th largest holding.

Market Performance and Company Background

Stock Reaction

Shares in Eightco jumped 12 percent on Thursday to 90 cents following the announcement, before experiencing a slight after-hours decline of 2.6 percent to 88 cents. The stock has fallen over 92 percent in the past six months amid a broad market downturn affecting crypto-related equities, and is down approximately 46 percent year-to-date.

Company Evolution

Eightco, originally an e-commerce inventory management platform, made its first significant crypto play in September 2025 when it announced it would buy and hold Worldcoin, sending its share price surging 3,000 percent in a single day. The firm previously raised $250 million to create a digital asset treasury centered on Worldcoin, the proof-of-humanity project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

Eightco maintains positions in Worldcoin and Ethereum, citing a long-term belief in the “ERC-20 protocol”—the technical standard for creating assets on the Ethereum blockchain. The company describes its strategy as expanding “into investing in technology shaping the next generation of artificial intelligence, blockchain infrastructure, and global digital consumer platforms.”

Bitmine and Ark’s Interconnected Positions

Cross-Investments

Ark Invest maintains a significant position in Bitmine stock, valued at approximately $169 million across its ETFs, demonstrating the deepening ties between the investment firms. This interconnection provides additional validation for Eightco’s strategic direction.

Moonshot Strategy

Bitmine’s investment approach includes allocating portions of its balance sheet to high-potential ventures, similar to Google X’s model of investing in ambitious projects. The Eightco investment represents a continuation of this strategy, which also includes stakes in Beast Industries and other frontier technology companies.

FAQ: Eightco Funding and Strategic Investments

Q: How much funding did Eightco raise and from whom?

A: Eightco raised $125 million, with Bitmine contributing $75 million, and Ark Invest and Payward each providing $25 million. This follows Bitmine’s previous $20 million investment in Eightco.

Q: What strategic investments has Eightco made with the new capital?

A: Eightco has completed a $50 million strategic investment in OpenAI and a $25 million investment in Beast Industries, the company of YouTube star MrBeast. These investments aim to position Eightco at the intersection of AI and digital content creation.

Q: Who is joining Eightco’s board as part of the funding?

A: Bitmine Chairman Tom Lee will join Eightco’s board of directors, and Ark Invest’s Chief Futurist Brett Winton will serve as a board advisor. Dan Ives has stepped down as chairman.

Q: How has Eightco’s stock performed following the announcement?

A: Eightco shares jumped 12 percent to 90 cents following the news, though they remain down significantly—over 92 percent in the past six months and approximately 46 percent year-to-date.