The Future of Digital Identity? Worldcoin’s Eye-Scanning Tech Enters US Market

TLDR

Worldcoin (now rebranded as “World”) has launched in six major US cities with plans for 7,500 Orbs nationwide by end of 2025 New users receive 16 WLD tokens for iris scans, while early adopters get 150 WLD “pioneer grants” World App now offers crypto-backed loans, prediction markets, and Visa debit card integration Partnerships include Match Group for age verification and Razer for gaming identity verification Despite growing to 12 million users globally, World faces ongoing privacy concerns and regulatory challenges

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Worldcoin, the digital identity and cryptocurrency initiative co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has launched operations in six major US cities as part of its nationwide expansion. The project, now rebranded as “World,” aims to create a system for distinguishing humans from AI in our increasingly automated digital world.

Worldcoin (WLD) Price

The launch brings Worldcoin’s distinctive “Orbs” – spherical biometric devices that scan users’ irises – to Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco. Users who complete an iris scan at these locations receive 16 WLD tokens as an incentive.

Early adopters who previously signed up through the World App are eligible for larger rewards. These “pioneer grants” of 150 WLD tokens are being distributed to users who downloaded and registered with the app before the US launch.

🚨 Latest: Sam Altman’s Worldcoin project officially launches in the U.S., offering $WLD tokens to users creating World IDs.

Also, Coinbase adds $WLD to its listing roadmap.

Nice bull flag on the 4hr Chart… pic.twitter.com/qHwCFxUDfU

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To support this expansion, Worldcoin plans to deploy 7,500 Orbs across the United States by the end of 2025. A new manufacturing facility in Richardson, Texas, will produce these devices domestically to reduce supply chain dependencies.

Expanding Functionality and Partnerships

The World App has received major updates to increase its utility beyond basic identity verification. Users can now access crypto-backed loans through Morpho and engage in decentralized prediction markets powered by Kalshi.

A newly integrated Visa debit card allows users to convert their WLD tokens to traditional currency for everyday purchases. Tools for Humanity, the company behind Worldcoin, announced this partnership with Visa at a San Francisco press event dubbed “At Last.”

World is also forming strategic partnerships across various industries. In Japan, it has teamed up with Match Group to pilot age verification systems on dating apps like Tinder. In the gaming sector, a partnership with Razer focuses on integrating World ID for player verification and account security.

The World mobile app now offers over 150 mini-apps. Additional ID integrations are being launched with Stripe, Match Group, and Razer’s gaming platform, expanding the ecosystem where World ID can be used.

Privacy Concerns and Regulatory Challenges

Despite its growing user base, now exceeding 12 million people globally, Worldcoin continues to face scrutiny over its handling of sensitive biometric data. Critics argue that even anonymized biometric information could be vulnerable to misuse or security breaches.

In response to these concerns, Worldcoin maintains that it does not store raw biometric data. The company claims it has implemented advanced cryptographic protections to secure users’ personal identifiers.

Regulatory challenges remain a hurdle for the project. WLD tokens are currently restricted in New York State due to unresolved legal and compliance issues. However, the company has found a more favorable regulatory environment under the current administration, which has taken a less stringent approach to cryptocurrency oversight.

The biometric verification system has faced resistance from governments outside the US. Despite this pushback, Worldcoin has managed to verify 12 million humans from over 100 countries on its Ethereum-based World Chain.

According to Sam Altman, World’s orbs and cryptocurrency are meant to solve for “trust in the age of AGI” (Artificial General Intelligence). The implicit goal is to address potential societal impacts of advanced AI systems like those developed by OpenAI, Altman’s other company.

In Altman’s vision, Worldcoin could potentially serve as a form of universal basic income for individuals whose jobs might be replaced by AI technologies. This positions the project not just as an identity solution but as a potential economic safeguard in an AI-driven future.

The price of WLD tokens has experienced volatility since its 2023 debut. Reports indicate it was trading below its initial price prior to the recent US launch announcement.

With the US expansion now underway, Worldcoin’s success will likely depend on its ability to balance innovation with privacy protections while navigating the complex regulatory landscape of digital identity and cryptocurrency.

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