Crypto
What Is Worldcoin? Here’s What To Know About The Eyeball-Scanning Crypto Project Launched By OpenAI’s Sam Altman
Topline
Worldcoin, the ambitious cryptocurrency and digital ID project spearheaded by OpenAI chief Sam Altman, launched on Monday after years in development, promising to verify users’ identity by scanning their eyes and potentially solving one of the more pressing problems posed by recent advances in artificial intelligence that have made it harder to tell whether something was made by humans or an algorithm.
Sam Altman cofounded Worldcoin.
Getty Images
Key Facts
At the heart of the Worldcoin project is an eye-scanning “orb,” which must be used in-person and gives users a unique digital identity to verify they are a real human and not a bot.
A cryptocurrency—which can be used once a user has verified their identity and is also named Worldcoin—and an app that allows users to make payments, purchase and transfers with it, as well as other digital assets, are also key parts of the project.
After collecting more than 2 million users during a beta period, Worldcoin on Monday said it is now going to ramp up its eyeball-scanning operations to 35 cities across 20 countries.
The Worldcoin cryptocurrency token has also been issued to eligible people taking part in the beta and is now tradable, the project said.
Several exchanges have now listed the token or stated their intention to do so, including Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange by trading volume.
Alex Blania, who cofounded Worldcoin with Altman, said the need to prove a person is real is “no longer a topic of serious debate” in the age of AI, adding that Worldcoin hopes to build a “privacy-first, decentralized and maximally inclusive” way of addressing this problem.
What We Don’t Know
The Worldcoin cryptocurrency is not currently available in the U.S., the Financial Times reported. It’s not clear when, or if, this will change, and comes amid a broader push by U.S. regulators to crack down on digital assets amid growing concerns it helps facilitate fraud and speculation. Altman told the FT the “U.S. does not make or break a project like this,” though he did say the group did not anticipate the project would become a “world minus the U.S. coin.”
Tangent
Since its informal launch several years ago, the Worldcoin project has had its fair share of critics. Key concerns revolve around the use of biometric data—the eye scans—to verify users’ identity, particularly the privacy risks involved with collecting, storing and using such data. To some, the fact that the project incentivized early users to sign up in exchange for some of the cryptocurrency functioned as an outlandish bribe. Given that a key use of the blockchain, the technology underpinning cryptocurrencies and other distributed networks, is to obscure one’s identity, others disagree with the very premise of Worldcoin being used to identify people in such a personal and precise manner.
What To Watch For
Altman said he hopes to get 2 billion users signed up to Worldcoin now the platform has formally launched. It’s unclear how quickly the company will be able to scale, particularly given the need for in-person appointments. Worldcoin’s website says it is actively onboarding orb operators in additional locations and that 2,000 orbs have been manufactured.
Crucial Quote
Altman said a project like Worldcoin “feels especially important in the AI era” when it’s becoming increasingly difficult to tell the work of humans and machines apart. “Like any really ambitious project, maybe it works out and maybe it doesn’t, but trying stuff like this is how progress happens,” Altman said. “In either case, we especially love our haters, it gives us energy, please keep it coming!
Further Reading
Sam Altman’s Worldcoin begins international rollout (FT)
AI Could Cause Human ‘Extinction,’ Tech Leaders Warn (Forbes)
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Cetus Protocol has relaunched just two weeks after a significant hack that compromised its concentrated liquidity market maker pools. Normal Users’ LP Functions to Resume Cetus Protocol, a leading decentralized exchange (DEX) and concentrated liquidity market maker (CLMM) on the Sui and Aptos blockchains, has relaunched just two weeks after a sophisticated hack severely impacted […]
The crypto space isn’t short on trading platforms—but most feel like clones, offering the same tired features with little innovation. That’s why a few standout exchanges are turning heads with faster onboarding, smarter interfaces, and actual value for traders who want more than just a place to swap tokens.
Whether it’s uncovering meme coin gems before they pump, accessing AI token markets with low fees, or earning passive rewards without jumping through hoops, these platforms are doing things differently—and they’re worth a closer look.
KCEX
KCEX stands out as a beginner-friendly and low-fee crypto exchange that is quickly gaining traction in the trading community. Known for its ease of use and wide range of trading pairs—including Bitcoin, Ethereum, meme coins, and AI-related tokens—KCEX provides a streamlined experience for both new and experienced traders.
One of its biggest strengths is its extremely low spot and futures trading fees, which can lead to significant savings over time. The platform also supports advanced trading strategies with leverage options that go up to 125x, allowing users to explore more aggressive positions if desired.
KCEX is a globally accessible, no-KYC exchange, making it quick and easy to join, and ideal for those who value privacy and efficiency.
Source – Jacob Crypto Bury on YouTube
MEXC
MEXC is recognized as a highly user-friendly cryptocurrency exchange, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced traders. It offers an intuitive interface with easy access to a wide range of features, including a vast number of trading pairs—possibly one of the highest among major exchanges.
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Best Wallet
Best Wallet has quickly emerged as one of the most intriguing projects in the decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape, offering a sleek, functional, and user-friendly experience that caters to both novice and experienced crypto users.
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Beyond the basics, Best Wallet stands out with its commitment to user insights and early market opportunities. The wallet integrates crypto insights and updates that could help users stay ahead of emerging trends and potentially uncover early-stage alphas.
This intelligence-driven approach makes it more than just a place to store assets—it becomes a tool for smarter investing. The project also boasts a well-structured roadmap that is actively being implemented.
Its growing user base, already in the hundreds of thousands, signals strong traction and rising confidence within the crypto community. Importantly, the team appears highly engaged, especially on social platforms like X (formerly Twitter), where updates and announcements are frequent, further cementing its credibility.
Best Wallet is not just another crypto wallet; it’s a full ecosystem designed for convenience, security, and opportunity. Users interested in combining DeFi tools with intuitive design and anonymous features may find it a powerful addition to their crypto toolkit—provided it’s supported in their region.
Bitunix
Bitunix is emerging as a strong contender in the global crypto derivatives exchange space. Known for its solid team and innovative offerings, the platform provides a competitive trading environment with good liquidity and relatively low fees—though not the lowest in the industry.
One of Bitunix’s standout features is its support for flexible and fixed-term APR options, particularly appealing for users interested in locking in stablecoins like Tether.
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The user interface has a distinctly tech-forward aesthetic, although it may appear somewhat cluttered compared to other platforms like MEXC or KCEX. Still, Bitunix offers a robust and user-friendly experience that suits both novice and experienced traders.
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