OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has officially launched his biometric crypto project World in the United States, marking a major expansion into one of the world’s most closely watched crypto markets. Previously known as Worldcoin, the rebranded platform is now live in six cities: Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco, the company announced on April 30.
World offers users WLD tokens in exchange for scanning their iris and facial features via the project’s signature device, the Orb—a polished metallic scanner that generates a unique digital identity called World ID. That ID serves as proof of “humanness,” allowing verified access to platforms like Telegram, Discord, Reddit, Shopify, and even Minecraft.
After previously delaying its U.S. launch due to regulatory concerns, the company now appears more confident, reportedly bolstered by the Trump administration’s more crypto-friendly stance.
World also revealed a partnership with Visa to release the World Visa Card later this year. Verified users will be able to spend WLD and other cryptocurrencies on everyday purchases.
Despite its ambitions, World continues to face global scrutiny. Regulators in Spain, Portugal, and other nations have temporarily suspended the project over privacy and biometric data concerns. The company insists all personal data is encrypted and anonymized, with no raw iris data stored.
World ID to Power Safety on Dating Apps
In a new initiative aimed at real-world adoption, World is expanding into online dating. Match Group, the parent company of Tinder, Hinge, Match.com, and Plenty of Fish, has announced a pilot program to integrate World ID as a form of user verification.
The goal is to combat fake profiles and scams by allowing users to verify their identity through biometric authentication. With increasing concerns around trust and safety in digital spaces, Match Group hopes blockchain-based identity will offer a safer dating experience.
World is also partnering with Kalshi, a prediction market platform, and Morpho, a decentralized lending protocol—showcasing its ambition to become a universal Web3 identity layer.
Originally launched in 2019 as Worldcoin, the platform rebranded to World in 2024 to reflect its broader identity and infrastructure goals beyond cryptocurrency. Since then, the project has drawn over 26 million users, with 12 million Orb verifications completed worldwide.
WLD Token Rallies, Then Retreats After U.S. Launch
World’s U.S. debut briefly boosted investor sentiment. The WLD token surged 15% following the launch announcement, but that rally quickly reversed. At the time of writing, WLD is down over 5% on the day, trading slightly above $1—a sharp drop from its March 2024 all-time high of $11.74, according to CoinGecko.
Despite the token’s volatility, the project’s integration with Visa, Stripe, and Match Group signals growing interest in merging biometric ID with real-world crypto utility.
Quick Facts
- World has launched in six U.S. cities, offering WLD tokens in exchange for iris scans.
- The project has partnered with Visa, Stripe, and Match Group to expand digital ID use cases.
- World says biometric data is securely encrypted and not stored in identifiable form.
- With 12 million global verifications, the project aims to build a universal digital identity system.
