Worldcoin, started in 2019 by Tools for Humanity and backed by major investors like a16z, Khosla Ventures, and Reid Hoffman, aims to solve a pressing digital problem – verifying whether someone online is truly a real, unique human. Sam Altman, Alex Blania, and Max Novendstern lead the project, which launched to the public in mid-2023.
Since then, it has scaled across countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, using a token-based system and a biometric device known as the Orb. The core technology behind Worldcoin is a privacy-preserving system that provides individuals with a World ID, proving their humanity without revealing private data. Its native token, WLD, plays a role in distribution, access, and potentially governance, with ambitions to serve as a financial and identity tool at a global scale.
One Scan, One ID, No Duplicates Allowed
Worldcoin’s method for identifying users begins with an iris scan conducted using a proprietary device called the Orb. Each scan happens once per person, and the system allows no duplicates. The biometric scan creates a credential stored on the user’s device, which is never sent to a central server. This credential – called World ID – functions as proof that the person is human and unique.
Once someone is verified, World ID enables them to access apps and services without handing over personal documents. Financial tools, age-restricted platforms, and identity-dependent services can be accessed through this process. Some early integrations have involved companies such as Visa and Match Group. Tests with these firms are exploring how identity checks can be done while keeping data under user control.
The project targets common online problems caused by bots or impersonation. From fake reviews to fraudulent accounts and AI-generated spam, digital systems have long suffered from automated misuse. Worldcoin’s solution allows platforms to identify real people without tracking or profiling them. It gives each user a digital stamp of uniqueness while preserving anonymity.
Read also: Worldcoin Surges Following Launch of World ID Credentials
Token Grants Roll Out With Identity Verification
WLD is the network’s native token and is issued as part of user participation. Once verified, a person receives token grants. Out of the total 10 billion token supply, just over 22% – or approximately 110 million – was in circulation by early 2025. Most tokens are earmarked for public distribution, while investor and developer shares follow a vesting schedule.
The goal is to align incentives across users, developers, and early backers. People in areas with limited access to banks or formal finance may benefit most, as the tokens give them an entry point to broader digital systems. Ownership of tokens also reflects a stake in the project’s growth.
Ideas under development include small-scale universal basic income models and digital dividends. These are not live yet, but form part of the long-term goal: a global, fair identity and value distribution system. The one-person-one-claim model ensures no duplication or abuse, and future uses may include voting in decentralized networks, DeFi features, or even staking rewards tied to user activity.
12M Scanned Irises as World ID Surged in 2025
By the middle of 2025, over 12 million people had already scanned their irises to create a World ID. Earlier in the same year, that number was only a fraction of the total. In the U.S., deployments took place in San Francisco, Miami, and Nashville, while London became the first major rollout location in the U.K. in June 2025.
To continue expansion, Tools for Humanity has partnered with local NGOs and fintech companies. One such deal involves Visa, where a debit card linked to World ID balances is being developed. Stripe and other service providers are also considering ways to integrate human-verification features into their systems to curb fraud.
On dating apps like Tinder, Match Group is running trials to let users confirm they are human through World ID. This helps avoid impersonation without exposing personal data. Cross-chain compatibility is another feature in development, which would allow users to operate across Ethereum, Optimism, and possibly other blockchain networks in the future.
