Payward reports 11.96M-share stake in Eightco Holdings (OCTO)

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Payward, Inc. reports beneficial ownership of 11,959,427 shares of Eightco Holdings Inc. That holding represents 3.6% of the common stock, calculated using 333,821,681 shares outstanding as of March 20, 2026. The Schedule 13G lists sole voting and dispositive power over all 11,959,427 shares. The filing is signed by Arjun Sethi, Co-CEO, on March 24, 2026.

Insights

Institutional Ownership Analyst

Small passive stake disclosed: 11,959,427 shares, 3.6%.

Payward, Inc. reports beneficial ownership of 11,959,427 shares, equating to 3.6% of the class using 333,821,681 shares outstanding as of March 20, 2026. The filing shows sole voting and dispositive power.

Because the stake is below 5% and filed on a Schedule 13G form, this disclosure is consistent with a passive institutional investor profile; subsequent filings would show changes in percentage or voting intent.

Corporate Governance Advisor

Disclosure signals non-activist position with clear voting authority recorded.

The filing specifies sole voting and sole dispositive power for all reported shares, which documents who can vote these shares at shareholder meetings. The percentage basis uses the issuer-provided outstanding share count as of March 20, 2026.

Stake size (3.6%) is below common reporting thresholds for activist intent; governance impact will depend on any future increases disclosed in amended filings.

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Eightco Holdings Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

22890A302

(CUSIP Number)

03/17/2026

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

Rule 13d-1(b)

Rule 13d-1(c)

Rule 13d-1(d)

schemaVersion:

SCHEDULE 13G

CUSIP Number(s): 22890A302

1

Names of Reporting Persons

Payward, Inc.

2

Check the appropriate box if a member of a Group (see instructions)

(a)
(b)

3

Sec Use Only

4

Citizenship or Place of Organization

WYOMING

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With:

5	Sole Voting Power 11,959,427.00
6	Shared Voting Power 0.00
7	Sole Dispositive Power 11,959,427.00
8	Shared Dispositive Power 0.00

9

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

11,959,427.00

10

Check box if the aggregate amount in row (9) excludes certain shares (See Instructions)

11

Percent of class represented by amount in row (9)

3.6 %

12

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

CO

Comment for Type of Reporting Person: The percentage presented in row 11 in the table above is calculated using 333,821,681 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Public Shares"), of Eightco Holdings Inc. (the "Issuer") outstanding as of March 20, 2026, which amount was provided by the Issuer.

SCHEDULE 13G

Item 1.
(a)	Name of issuer: Eightco Holdings Inc.
(b)	Address of issuer's principal executive offices: 101 Larry Holmes Drive, Suite 313, Easton, Pennsylvania 18042
Item 2.
(a)	Name of person filing: Payward, Inc.
(b)	Address or principal business office or, if none, residence: 1603 Capital Ave., Suite 517B, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001
(c)	Citizenship: Wyoming
(d)	Title of class of securities: Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
(e)	CUSIP Number(s): 22890A302
Item 3.	If this statement is filed pursuant to §§ 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:
(a)	Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o);
(b)	Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);
(c)	Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);
(d)	Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8);
(e)	An investment adviser in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
(f)	An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
(g)	A parent holding company or control person in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
(h)	A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);
(i)	A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);
(j)	A non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution:
(k)	Group, in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).
Item 4.	Ownership
(a)	Amount beneficially owned: See Item 9 of cover page.
(b)	Percent of class: See Item 11 of cover page. Calculated using 333,821,681 Public Shares outstanding as of March 20, 2026, which amount was provided by the Issuer.
(c)	Number of shares as to which the person has:
	(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: See Item 5 of cover page.
	(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: See Item 6 of cover page.
	(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: See Item 7 of cover page.
	(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: See Item 8 of cover page.
Item 5.	Ownership of 5 Percent or Less of a Class.
	Ownership of 5 percent or less of a class
Item 6.	Ownership of more than 5 Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
	Not Applicable
Item 7.	Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.
	Not Applicable
Item 8.	Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
	Not Applicable
Item 9.	Notice of Dissolution of Group.
	Not Applicable

Item 10.

Certifications:

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under ?? 240.14a-11.

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Payward, Inc.

Signature:	/s/ Arjun Sethi
Name/Title:	Arjun Sethi / CO-CEO
Date:	03/24/2026

FAQ

What stake did Payward, Inc. disclose in Eightco Holdings (OCTO)?

Payward, Inc. disclosed beneficial ownership of 11,959,427 shares, representing 3.6% of the class. The percentage is calculated using 333,821,681 shares outstanding as of March 20, 2026.

Which voting and dispositive powers does Payward report for OCTO shares?

Payward reports sole voting power and sole dispositive power over all 11,959,427 shares. Those powers are listed on the cover page of the Schedule 13G.

When was the ownership figure for OCTO calculated and filed?

The ownership percentage uses shares outstanding as of March 20, 2026, and the Schedule 13G is signed on March 24, 2026 by Arjun Sethi, Co-CEO.

Does the filing indicate Payward is an activist investor in OCTO?

No. The Schedule 13G filing and the 3.6% stake are consistent with a passive institutional holding. The filing does not state activist intent or plans to influence management.

How is the percent ownership for OCTO calculated in the filing?

The percent is calculated using the issuer-provided figure of 333,821,681 Public Shares outstanding as of March 20, 2026, per the filing's cover-page comment.