World Launches in U.S. With New Identity Verification Tools and Payments

World, a decentralized identity verification project founded by Sam Altman, launches in the U.S. with a new device for identity checks and a debit card for WLD payments. Users can earn WLD tokens through identity verification in six cities. Despite privacy concerns and legal issues in several countries, the company implements measures for personal data security. WLD token prices have seen some fluctuation recently.

In a significant move for the crypto world, World, co-founded by OpenAI’s Sam Altman, has officially launched in the U.S. This comes nearly two years since its inception. The project introduced a new smartphone-like device designed for identity verification, alongside a debit card meant for WLD payments. This marks an important step for the decentralized identity verification project as it aims to establish its presence in the American market.

An exciting aspect of this launch is that it enables U.S. residents to earn WLD tokens by verifying their identities and creating a World ID. Initially, users in six cities, namely Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco, can participate in this initiative. The new platform seems prepared to take off with these initial locations as a testing ground.

Additionally, World is gearing up to introduce a Visa card that will enable purchases using WLD tokens and other digital currencies. This card is expected to hit the U.S. market later this year, potentially expanding the payment options for users. The integration of traditional payment methods with crypto is something many are watching closely.

During the launch event, marked as the “At Last” event in San Francisco, the company showcased the “Orb Mini.” This is described as a compact, portable version of their existing Orb devices, which can be deployed to distinguish between human users and artificial intelligence. It’s a crucial part of their broader strategy in enhancing identity verification.

World primarily focuses on identity verification through iris scanning, which creates a digital ID that enables users to claim free WLD tokens. However, it has faced criticism related to privacy issues, and its operations are currently banned in regions such as Hong Kong, Kenya, and Spain for these very reasons. Addressing these concerns, World has introduced a feature allowing users to retain personal custody of their data, ensuring it stays on their devices and not on World’s servers or with any third parties.

As for market performance, at the latest update, WLD tokens are valued at approximately $1.04, reflecting a drop of about 3.37% over the past 24 hours. This comes after the token had reached a brief peak of $1.17, indicating some volatility within the market. The developments surrounding World and its offerings certainly add to the ongoing dynamics of the cryptocurrency landscape.