Worldcoin to Launch Eye-Scanning Devices, raising $135 million to deploy its iris-scanning Orbs to over 180 million Americans by year-end. Led by Sam Altman, the blockchain project aims to redefine digital identity verification with its ambitious rollout. This article explores the funding, U.S. expansion, and the biometric crypto project’s challenges.
$135 Million Boost for U.S. Expansion
Worldcoin to Launch Eye-Scanning Devices after securing $135 million from Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and Bain Capital Crypto. World Assets, a subsidiary of the World Foundation, sold WLD tokens at market price to fuel the initiative. The token sale increases WLD’s circulating supply, potentially impacting mid-term price volatility, though the market responded positively, with WLD surging 15% post-announcement and 58% over the past month, per CoinGecko data. Despite a $1.85 billion market cap, WLD remains 75% below its all-time high.
The funding empowers Worldcoin, rebranded as World, to overcome past skepticism tied to privacy concerns. The biometric crypto project, co-founded by OpenAI’s Sam Altman, leverages iris-scanning Orbs to create unique digital IDs, positioning it as a pioneer in digital identity verification. The capital will support infrastructure to deploy Orbs nationwide, targeting over half of the U.S. population in 2025.
Discover: $130M Raised by NewLimit in Biotech Breakthrough
U.S. Welcomes Worldcoin’s Orbs
Worldcoin to Launch Eye-Scanning Devices in the U.S., a market previously restricted due to regulatory and privacy concerns. The Orb, a bowling ball-sized device, scans irises to generate World IDs, enabling users to access the World App, claim WLD airdrops, and engage with an expanding ecosystem of mini-apps. This marks a significant shift, as the U.S., a digital technology stronghold, now embraces Worldcoin’s biometric crypto project.
The project aims to verify 180 million Americans, which is over half the U.S. population. This marks the largest digital identity verification effort in internet history. Users receive 16 WLD tokens for scanning their irises. Early app sign-ups also get a 150 WLD “pioneer grant,” worth about $150. Moreover, partnerships with Visa for a debit card and integrations with Stripe, Match Group, and Razer expand the World App’s real-world utility.
Global Ambitions Amid Privacy Backlash
WLD daily price movement, screenshot from CoinMarketCap taken at 5 PM on May 22, 2025.
Worldcoin to Launch Eye-Scanning Devices globally, building on its 26 million users and 12.5 million verified World IDs across 100+ countries. However, the biometric crypto project faces scrutiny in nations like Kenya, India, Brazil, France, Germany, the UK, Hong Kong, and Spain over privacy concerns. Critics, including Edward Snowden, warn of biometric data risks, despite Worldcoin’s claim that iris images are deleted post-processing, storing only cryptographic hashes.
Online sentiment is mixed: some X posts hail Worldcoin’s innovation, while others question its data practices. Backed by Altman’s vision to prepare for an AI-driven future, Worldcoin aims to create a “self-sustaining” protocol, potentially supporting universal basic income. The iris-scanning Orbs are central to distinguishing humans from AI, a pressing need as artificial intelligence advances.
Conclusion
Worldcoin to Launch Eye-Scanning Devices in the U.S., fueled by $135 million from a16z and Bain Capital. Targeting 180 million Americans, the biometric crypto project redefines digital identity verification despite privacy concerns. With a $1.85 billion market cap and global reach, Worldcoin’s iris-scanning Orbs signal a bold step toward a blockchain-based identity future.
