During a recent event focused on the World network, co-founders Altman and Blania downplayed the role of cryptocurrency, which is the foundation of their biometric-scanning Orb, instead highlighting the blockchain service, digital asset management, and virtual communication tools offered by the network. Blania, speaking at a press briefing, expressed World’s ambition to establish the “largest finance network” globally in the future.
In an interview with WIRED, Blania shared insights about regular meetings held at Altman’s residence that drew inspiration from the success of PayPal. The co-founders envision creating a token-driven distributed network similar to the digital payment transformation led by Peter Thiel and Max Levchin, which reshaped online commerce and generated significant wealth for its pioneers.
The World app currently offers free services, including the eye-scanning feature. Backed by venture capital, Tools for Humanity aims to scale its operations in the identity verification market by leveraging biometric data. Blania mentioned that the company might eventually derive revenue from processing fees. Due to unclear regulations concerning cryptocurrency within the United States, the organization is currently concentrating its expansion efforts outside the U.S., as per a spokesperson. In the U.S., however, the Orb and app will scan and store the iris data but will not generate a crypto token.
Two and a half years earlier, the Worldcoin project faced scrutiny over allegations of deceptive and exploitative recruitment practices for iris scanning. At that time, Blania attributed these issues to the organization’s nascent “startup” phase. In his discussions with WIRED, Blania detailed ongoing efforts to ensure a more stringent consent process, including establishing an operational team in each market where World operates and providing explanations within the World app regarding its functionality. He emphasized that no data is centrally stored.
In 2023, investigations by governments in Germany, Brazil, India, South Korea, and Kenya were launched into the service due to concerns about the storage and usage of biometric data. This led to the suspension of Worldcoin enrollment in Kenya and fines in South Korea, while the company itself paused its services in India, Brazil, and France. Blania expressed optimism about relaunching operations in Kenya soon.
Addressing questions at the press briefing regarding World’s focus on Latin American markets, such as their partnership with Rappi for delivery-equipped Orbs, Blania dismissed the notion of prioritizing this region over others. He explained that limited resources necessitate a natural sequencing in their expansion strategy. He also highlighted substantial growth in markets like Argentina while reaffirming the company’s global ambitions, referencing the project’s name as “World.”
Following the keynote, Altman briefly entered the press room to greet attendees and apologize for his prompt departure, akin to the actions of a diplomatic figure.
