Sam Altman’s eye-scanning project Tools for Humanity is launching a cryptocurrency in the US. Those who scan their eyes will receive 16 WLD. For downloading the app, 150 WLD will be given to a crypto wallet.
Sam Altman’s eye-scanning project Tools for Humanity is launching a cryptocurrency in the US. Those who scan their eyes will receive 16 WLD. For downloading the app, 150 WLD will be given to a crypto wallet.
Over the past few years, millions of people around the world have agreed to let metal balls scan their eyes in exchange for a blockchain-based ID and cryptocurrency called Worldcoin. World was first launched as Worldcoin in July 2024.
According to WIRED, the device and app combination scans a person’s iris, creates a unique user ID, stores that information on a blockchain, and uses it as a form of identity verification. It’s believed that if enough people around the world use the app, it could potentially thwart fraudsters.
Worldcoin (WLD) will be available in most of the US for the first time, including through exchanges like Coinbase. Those who scan their eyes will receive 16 WLD. Meanwhile, people who have downloaded and already registered with the World app in the US will receive a «pioneer grant» of 150 WLD in their wallet.
Tools for Humanity, a startup co-founded by Sam Altman, is also working with Visa to release a debit card that converts WLD to fiat currency at checkout. Altman, who is currently the chairman of Tools for Humanity, announced the news alongside CEO Alex Blania at a press event in San Francisco on Wednesday, dubbed «Finally.»
World’s Orbs will be available for iris scanning at physical World Space locations in Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville and San Francisco, as well as at Razer stores. Last year, Tools for Humanity revamped the orb’s physical design, and on Wednesday introduced a smaller «mini orb» that resembles a smartphone.
The company will open six Apple-style stores in U.S. cities, including one in San Francisco, where the floor was polished around a wooden structure with eight balls on Wednesday night. The balls will also be available at Razer stores. Future scanning locations could include cafes and college campuses, the company said.
World said it is opening an Orb assembly line in Richardson, Texas, with a US manufacturer, and estimates that 7,500 devices will be installed in the US by the end of this year.
The startup’s goal is to make World ID the primary method of verifying people online. The idea is that as artificial intelligence develops, systems like World ID will become necessary to distinguish between what is generated and what is not. In Altman’s vision, Worldcoin could also serve as a form of universal basic income for people whose jobs have been replaced by AI.
The company says the debit card will allow you to spend World currency anywhere Visa is accepted. Cardholders «can earn enhanced rewards for subscriptions to AI services and apps,» which could encourage subscriptions to services like ChatGPT Plus, an upgrade from OpenAI for $20 per month.
Aside from the upcoming Visa debit card, the primary use case for Worldcoin is the World wallet app, which allows users to send WLD and other cryptocurrencies to each other via private chat tied to World IDs. The World mobile app also offers over 150 mini-apps, including a new app from the Kalshi prediction marketplace. World is also launching ID integrations with Stripe, Match Group, the parent company of Tinder, and gaming platform Razer.
The World is being updated to support more financial transactions, making it useful for people who aren’t immersed in cryptocurrency. The new version will support more stablecoins, a type of cryptocurrency that’s pegged to fiat currency. The company is also partnering with payment processor Stripe so people can use the World app to make payments on websites that support Stripe.
