Sam Altman's ambitious cryptocurrency project, World, which utilizes iris scanning technology, has officially arrived in the United States. This marks a significant expansion for the controversial but intriguing initiative, which has been operational in select international markets for some time. The US launch, announced on Wednesday, follows a period of addressing regulatory considerations and privacy concerns related to the collection of biometric data.
World's core concept revolves around creating a unique digital identity for individuals by scanning their irises with specialized devices called "orbs." This process generates a unique "IrisCode," designed to prevent duplicate registrations and verify human identity in the digital realm. The project aims to combat online fraud and bots by providing a secure, verifiable form of identification.
To encourage adoption and participation, World is offering incentives for users who undergo the iris-scanning process. Individuals who scan their eyes at a World orb are eligible to receive 16 Worldcoin (WLD) tokens. Furthermore, those who have already registered with the World app can claim a "pioneer grant" of 150 WLD. The WLD cryptocurrency can be managed, transferred, and traded within the dedicated World wallet app. The app also includes a private chat service allowing users to send WLD or other digital currencies.
Taking a significant step towards bridging the gap between cryptocurrency and traditional finance, World is collaborating with Visa to introduce a debit card. This innovative card will facilitate the conversion of WLD into fiat currency at the point of sale, making Worldcoin much more practical for everyday transactions.
The iris-scanning procedure itself is designed to be quick and efficient, taking approximately 30 seconds to scan a user's face and iris and generate their unique IrisCode. This streamlined process helps ensure that each individual can only register once. World orbs are being rolled out at various physical locations across several major US cities, including Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Nashville, Miami, and San Francisco. To enhance accessibility and portability, the company has also developed a smaller version of the orb, the "orb mini," which resembles a smartphone.
The World wallet app is also undergoing expansion, with plans to incorporate over 150 mini-apps, including one from the prediction market Kalshi. Strategic partnerships with prominent companies such as Stripe, Match Group (the parent company of Tinder), and the gaming platform Razer are set to integrate Worldcoin into a wider range of platforms and services, further increasing its utility and reach.
Sam Altman co-founded World in 2019, initially under the name Worldcoin, with the ambitious vision of establishing a decentralized global identity system. The core idea was to leverage iris scans and blockchain technology to create a more trustworthy and secure digital ecosystem by providing users with a verifiable identity. As more World orb locations become available across the US, more people will have the opportunity to register and claim their free WLD tokens, potentially expanding the reach of this unique project.
