Table of Contents

What Is “World,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s Project?

Why It’s Considered Necessary in the Generative AI Era and How It Differs from Other Cryptocurrencies

Quick summary first

World (formerly Worldcoin) is a large-scale project that combines “proof of personhood,” currency, ID, and apps. It was co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and is developed and operated by a company called Tools for Humanity.

As generative AI spreads, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish “humans” from “bots (AI)” on the internet, and World’s key proposal to address this is World ID, a digital identity based on iris recognition.

At the same time, World also provides a token (cryptocurrency) called WLD, plus a financial network including World App and World Chain, and a major difference from other cryptocurrencies is that biometric authentication + ID + currency are tightly bundled together.

On the other hand, many risks have been pointed out, including privacy concerns around handling very sensitive personal information (iris scans), centralization and price volatility of the token, and criticism from regulators.

Who this explanation is likely most useful for

People who use generative AI or LLMs at work and are interested in “how to distinguish humans from AI”
Engineers or planners who want to compare cryptocurrency / Web3 / digital ID projects
Anyone who has seen World referral codes or campaigns and wants to “understand the mechanism and the risks properly”
Product or security owners considering “human-only modes” or anti-bot measures in their own services

1. What is World, in a nutshell?

1-1. What the project actually is

World (formerly Worldcoin) started out with the concept of a “new digital currency + global ID to be distributed to all of humanity.”

The main players are:

Tools for Humanity (TFH)
- Founded in 2019
- Co-founders: Sam Altman, Max Novendstern, Alex Blania
- Offices: San Francisco and Munich
- Products:
  - Orb (iris-scanning device)
  - World App (wallet and ID app)

1-2. Component structure

World consists roughly of the following four components:

World ID
- A “one-person-one-ID digital identity” based on iris scans (the iris of the eye).
- Used for logins and for proof of personhood.
WLD token
- A cryptocurrency running on an Ethereum L2 (ERC-20-type).
- A portion is distributed for free (as an incentive) to users in certain regions who complete verification.
World App
- A mobile wallet and ID app.
- Lets you manage and send WLD and other crypto assets and some fiat currencies, and use your World ID.
World Chain
- A concept for a new blockchain built around World ID users.
- Described as aiming to be a spam-resistant chain that assumes “one human, one account.”

In 2024 the project was rebranded from Worldcoin to World (World Network), signaling a shift toward a stronger focus on “ID + network.”

2. Why World is claimed to be necessary in the generative AI era

2-1. The core concern: AI is becoming truly human-like

One of the motivations Sam Altman gives for starting World is the idea that
“as AI becomes indistinguishable from humans, we’ll need an underlying infrastructure to verify who’s actually human on the internet.”

Concretely:

With advanced generative AI,
- in text, images, audio, video, chatbots—AI can convincingly pretend to be human.
On social media, forums, online voting, reviews, games, and more,
- there’s a risk that large numbers of bots (automated accounts) could distort public opinion and markets.
In the future, AI agents autonomously carrying out transactions and negotiations is increasingly realistic.

In this context, World argues that we’ll need infrastructure to answer the question:

“Is there really a single human behind this account?”

and that this is the role of “proof of personhood.”

2-2. Approaches to “proof of personhood”

The idea of proof of personhood is not unique to World. Other projects include, for example:

BrightID (uses social graphs—connections on social networks—for verification)
Proof of Humanity (on-chain registration backed by video proof and recommendations from existing users)

So other projects that aim to prove someone is human do exist.

However, World’s stance is that:

In the AI era, attackers will be very sophisticated and can even fake social graphs.
Therefore, you need hard-to-replicate biometric features like iris patterns plus dedicated hardware (the Orb).

In other words, World takes a fairly aggressive position compared to most other projects.

2-3. Another goal: Building an infrastructure for UBI

Altman has long argued that “if AI explodes productivity, some kind of basic income / redistribution will be needed.”

Within World, the idea is that if you have:

an ID (World ID) that can count each person exactly once, and
a currency (WLD) designed to be distributed globally,

then taken together they might serve as part of the infrastructure for UBI in the AI era.

3. World’s mechanics in more concrete terms

3-1. The Orb and World ID

Users go to an Orb, a shiny silver device installed on the street or in certain locations.
The Orb scans their face and iris, generating numerical features (an “iris code”).
Using that data, the system checks whether this person is already registered.
If not, it issues a World ID as a “unique human ID.”

World says that:

The raw iris image is encrypted and deleted from the Orb, and
The only thing retained server-side is a one-way-transformed iris code, designed so it cannot be reversed to identify the person.

To respond to EU rules, they also announced in 2024 a move to a new storage scheme using secure multi-party computation (MPC).

That said, once biometric information is compromised, you can’t take it back,
so privacy experts and regulators are scrutinizing whether the protections are truly sufficient.

3-2. World App and World Chain

World App
- Manages your World ID.
- Lets you send/receive WLD, other crypto assets, and some fiat currencies.
- There’s also a “super app” vision: messaging, payments, ID logins, and more in one place.
World Chain
- A chain built on the concept of a “humans-only blockchain.”
- Mechanisms are being explored such as prioritizing slots for World ID users and raising spam resistance.

3-3. Features of the WLD token and tokenomics

An Ethereum L2 token (technically ERC-20).
At launch, circulating supply was a small fraction of the total max supply, which drew attention.
Roughly 10% each is allocated to investors and employees, so early holder concentration is high.
During 2023–24, there were criticisms around lock-up unlocks and foundation sales timing, likened to “insider selling.”

On this front, many observers say that World’s tokenomics look quite different from Bitcoin’s emphasis on decentralization or community-driven tokens.

4. How World differs from other cryptocurrencies

4-1. Compared with Bitcoin and Ethereum

Bitcoin and Ethereum:

Anyone can create as many wallets as they like (Sybil accounts are assumed).
There’s no built-in concept of “one human, one account.”
Their core purposes are:
- BTC: decentralized value storage and payments.
- ETH: a smart contract platform.

With World / WLD:

It is designed strongly in tandem with World ID.
Economics are envisioned based on “the number of unique humans.”
Token distribution is characterized by gradual airdrops of WLD to iris-verified users, inspired by the UBI idea.

4-2. Compared with other proof-of-personhood projects

BrightID / Proof of Humanity
- Use social graphs, referrals, video proof, and “being connected to other humans.”
- No dedicated hardware is required, so costs are relatively low.
- On the flip side, scalability and security trade-offs are often discussed.
World
- Uses dedicated devices (Orbs) and iris scans, an inherently heavy approach.
- In exchange, it aims at a design where it’s much harder for one person to create many identities.
- Rolling out physical devices worldwide inherently makes it a capital-intensive project, not a lightweight grassroots one.

4-3. Scale and funding

World has raised over $250 million in funding, and by 2025 it was reported to have around 400 employees.

Backed by well-known VCs (a16z, Khosla, Reid Hoffman, etc.).
Announced collaborations with Visa, Stripe, Match Group (Tinder), and others.
Rollout in multiple US cities (San Francisco and more).

In this sense, its scale is far larger than that of a typical “startup + Web3” project, which sets it apart from many other crypto efforts.

5. Expected use cases and benefits (the future World envisions)

World itself describes roughly the following major use cases:

Bot prevention / humans-only mode
- For social networks, forums, games, dating apps, etc.:
  - Offer modes where only World ID holders can participate.
  - This would significantly reduce spam accounts and bots.
- There have already been announcements of pilot integrations, e.g. with the game company Razer and with dating services.
Online voting and governance
- In DAO or community voting scenarios:
  - You may want to guarantee “one person, one vote.”
  - With conventional approaches, mass wallet creation made this hard to enforce.
- With World ID, it becomes more feasible to approximate “one person, one vote.”
UBI and airdrop infrastructure
- To redistribute AI-generated wealth:
  - You need a way to count people without duplicates.
- World ID + WLD could serve as a “per-human” distribution mechanism.
Licenses for AI agents
- In 2025, World also spoke about a vision where World ID could grant an AI agent a “license” to act as a human’s proxy.
- For instance:
  - Agents that shop, book reservations, and gather information on your behalf.
  - To audit whether they’re engaging in fraud, it might be important that
    - there is always a real human identity behind each agent, tied via World ID.

6. Major concerns and criticisms

While World promotes a “bright future,” it also faces strong criticism and serious concerns. To keep things balanced, let’s unpack them carefully.

6-1. Handling of biometric information

Iris scans are even more irrevocable than face photos or fingerprints.
Once leaked or repurposed, the person has almost no way to “change” them.
World emphasizes that
- Iris images are deleted and only encrypted codes are stored, and
- They migrated to an MPC scheme in 2024 to align with GDPR in the EU.

Still, privacy experts worry about:

The possibility of re-identification,
Future repurposing of the data, and
The quality of user consent, among other points.

In practice:

Kenya suspended World’s activities and ordered deletion of collected data.
In Indonesia, operations were also temporarily halted over licensing and related issues.

In short, there have been several clashes with regulators across different countries.

6-2. Token centralization and market manipulation accusations

Only a small fraction of the total supply is in circulation, and the foundation and early investors hold large portions.
Critics note cases where large sales by the foundation coincide with price runs, leading to sharp drops, and
They point to patterns where positive announcements are followed soon by big unlocks, raising “pump and dump” suspicions.

World responds that operations adhere to stated lock-ups and policies, but
critics maintain that the project looks heavily centralized despite “decentralization” rhetoric.

6-3. Ethical and social concerns

Especially early on, World focused heavily on collecting iris scans in regions like Africa and the Global South, in exchange for relatively small amounts of tokens.
- This was criticized as “buying highly sensitive biometric data cheaply from economically vulnerable populations.”
There is also a more fundamental question:

“Is it really right to address AI-induced problems (bots, disinformation) by layering on another high-risk technology (iris biometrics)?”

This ethical tension remains at the core of many criticisms.

7. Important Notes on Referral Codes and WLD Rewards

Your question mentions a campaign where you can receive WLD by entering an invitation code.
While World itself runs such programs, here are some key points to understand before using them.

7-1. Token Value Is Inherently Volatile

WLD is a cryptocurrency whose market price constantly fluctuates.
Even if an offer states “Get XX WLD,”
- Its future value could rise significantly or fall sharply.
Don’t judge a gift campaign as “a good deal” based solely on its face value.
- price volatility and lock-up conditions
- your own risk tolerance
  must be calmly considered.

7-2. The Dual Incentive of “Orb Authentication + Invitation Code”

World implements an incentive structure where:
- WLD earned through Orb authentication
- Additional WLD obtained via invitation code
  This constitutes a dual incentive design.
While this is a common marketing tactic,
- Excessive focus on “wanting WLD” can lead to underestimating biometric data risks and regulatory compliance, so caution is advised.
If you still wish to join via an invitation code, please use “56BA7IK” (limited to 10 people).
Find an Orb

7-3. Security and scam prevention

Downloading apps or signing up anywhere other than official sites or app stores carries phishing risks.
Fake sites may pose as referral landing pages and try to capture:
- wallet private keys, or
- personal information.
Always check the browser URL and official publisher in app stores, and
- avoid accessing links from random DMs or unknown social media accounts.

7-4. Legal, tax, and regulatory aspects

Depending on your country or region:
- acquiring cryptocurrency itself may fall under specific regulations, and
- it may also be treated as taxable income.
For tokens received as incentives, like WLD,
- some jurisdictions require you to treat them as income at fair market value at the time of receipt.
If the amounts involved are non-trivial, it is wise to consult a tax professional or legal expert.

8. World’s future direction: Where is it heading?

From here on, this section mixes current public information with some cautious speculation.

8-1. Geographic expansion

In May 2025, World officially launched in several US cities, including:
- Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, San Francisco, and others.
By 2025, reports estimate roughly:
- 33 million World App users,
- of which around 15 million have completed World ID verification.

At the same time:

Kenya, Indonesia, and other countries have issued suspensions or data deletion orders, and
Ongoing engagement with regulators will likely have a major impact on whether the project can succeed.

8-2. Diversifying verification methods

World has mentioned plans that “in the future, World ID could also be issued using only government IDs such as passports.”
This could appeal to people who say:
- “I don’t want iris scans, but I am interested in the ID concept itself.”

However:

Handling government IDs is also heavily regulated and varies by country,
So reaching this goal will require strong alignment with national governments and won’t be easy.

8-3. Integration with AI agents and web services

In 2025, World announced a vision where World ID is linked to AI agents as authorization for them to act on behalf of humans.
There are also moves to integrate with existing large-scale services:
- Trials with Razer’s game servers for “humans-only modes,”
- Identity checks for dating apps (Match Group),
- A Visa-branded debit card concept, etc.

8-4. Rough scenario-based outlook

Here is one possible way to frame scenarios:

Optimistic scenario
- Dialog with regulators progresses, and non-iris methods such as passport verification supplement World ID.
- Major platforms adopt World ID for “humans-only modes.”
- WLD maintains a role as a base token for UBI and incentive programs.
Middle (arguably most likely) scenario
- World finds niche use in certain countries and industries but falls short of becoming “global infrastructure for all humans.”
- It competes and co-exists with other proof-of-personhood projects and government ID systems.
- The token remains highly volatile but retains some market capitalization.
Pessimistic scenario
- Strong backlash against the combination of biometrics and crypto:
- Regulations, scandals, and market downturns coincide,
- Token value and network usage shrink significantly.

Regardless of which scenario plays out, the underlying question of how to prove “humanness” in an AI-saturated world won’t go away.
Many experts think that the proof-of-personhood trend will continue in some form, even if World itself does not ultimately dominate.

9. How should individuals relate to World? Key points to think about

Finally, here are some guidelines for dealing with World-type projects more generally.

Separate “ID” from “currency”
- Evaluate World ID as a proof-of-personhood system, and
- WLD as an investment / speculative asset.
  These really should be assessed independently.
Do not underestimate biometric risk
- Once given, this is information you may be stuck with for life.
- Don’t decide “just because you get some tokens.”
- Instead, ask whether you understand the risks and agree with the underlying philosophy.
Check legal and tax classification
- Regulatory and tax treatment varies widely by country.
- If large amounts are involved, get professional advice before committing.
Treat campaigns and referral codes as “extras”
- Referral programs are just a marketing tactic.
- The crucial question is whether you are joining with clear understanding of the project and its risks, not just because it “gives you free tokens.”

10. Conclusion

World is a massive project that combines “proof of personhood, currency, and an ID network,” co-founded by Sam Altman.
In a world where generative AI is making it harder and harder to know who is human,
- tackling the hard problem of proof of personhood head-on is ambitious and intellectually interesting.
At the same time,
- there are serious concerns around the privacy risks of iris scanning, and
- the centralization, price volatility, and regulatory friction around its token design.
  So it is not a project one can simply endorse with “it sounds cool, so it’s fine.”
When deciding whether to get involved personally,
- it’s best to understand both the vision and the risks,
- and make choices not because “you get tokens,” but because you genuinely agree with the system’s aims and are comfortable with the trade-offs.