Chiara Bianchi
World, the human-verification blockchain initiative co-founded by Sam Altman, has officially announced its expansion into the United States. The project, which rewards users with WLD tokens in exchange for verifying their identity through a World ID, is launching operations in Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco.
This U.S. debut marks a major leap forward for World’s mission to differentiate real humans from AI-generated bots, a goal that becomes increasingly urgent as artificial intelligence continues to blur the line between authentic and synthetic online interactions.
Identity in the Age of AI: A Critical Global Challenge
Unlike other verification protocols, World positions itself as “the real human network,” claiming over 26 million users globally, with nearly 12 million verified as unique individuals. The platform, formerly known as Worldcoin, aims to build a global identity layer for the internet.
The project has faced scrutiny from privacy watchdogs in various countries, but insists it does not store biometric data from its eye-scanning Orbs. Instead, it simply verifies a user’s humanity and discards the scan afterward.
World Card and New Use Cases: Payments, Dating, and Predictions
As part of its broader U.S. rollout, World will introduce a Visa debit card that lets users spend WLD and other digital assets directly from their World App wallet. Merchants will receive fiat currency, making it easier for everyday consumers to use crypto without complex conversions.
The platform is also entering new industries:
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Online Dating: Through a partnership with Match Group, the project is testing identity verification on Tinder in Japan, aiming to ensure dating profiles belong to real people seeking authentic connections.
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Prediction Markets: World App users can now engage with Kalshi, a regulated prediction platform, via an integrated Mini App.
Toward a Billion Verified Users: Mini-Orbs and Gaming Integration
World is preparing for global scalability with the introduction of Mini-Orbs, smaller versions of the original eye-scanning devices. These tools will enable faster and more widespread human verification — a necessity as the platform targets 1 billion users.
In a notable collaboration, World is teaming up with gaming brand Razer to bring identity checks to physical locations and help players determine if they’re competing against actual people in online environments.
U.S. Crypto Climate Becomes More Welcoming
World’s expansion coincides with a shift in U.S. regulatory sentiment. Under the new Trump administration, the government appears more supportive of crypto innovation, creating a favorable environment for projects like World to thrive.
