Worldcoin Funding Fuels a bold push as World, formerly Worldcoin, secures $135 million from Andreessen Horowitz and Bain Capital Crypto. The capital aims to deploy iris-scanning Orbs to verify digital identities for over 180 million Americans in 2025, marking a historic biometric identity verification effort. This article explores the blockchain identity project’s resurgence and its implications for the digital identity landscape.
A $135 Million Power Boost
Worldcoin Funding Fuels a significant comeback for the blockchain identity project co-founded by Sam Altman. World Assets, a World Foundation subsidiary, raised $135 million by selling WLD tokens at market prices to Andreessen Horowitz and Bain Capital Crypto, increasing the token’s circulating supply. The announcement, made on May 21, 2025, triggered a 15% WLD price surge within hours and a 58% gain over the past month, per CoinGecko data. Despite this, WLD’s $1.85 billion market cap remains 75% below its all-time high.
The digital identity landscape benefits from this influx, enabling World to scale its infrastructure. The funds will support the deployment of Orb devices, which scan irises to issue unique World IDs, ensuring biometric identity verification for distinguishing humans from bots in an AI-driven era. Online sentiment on X reflects optimism about the funding, though some traders warn of volatility due to the increased token supply.
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U.S. Market Opens for Orb Verification
Worldcoin Funding Fuels a landmark expansion into the U.S., previously restricted due to privacy and regulatory concerns. The Orb, a bowling-ball-sized device, verifies identities by scanning irises, granting users access to the World App, WLD airdrops, and a growing ecosystem of mini-apps. World’s goal to reach 180 million Americans—over half the U.S. population—in 2025 represents the largest biometric identity verification initiative in internet history.
This U.S. rollout follows World’s April 2025 debut in six U.S. cities, including Los Angeles and Miami. With regulatory barriers easing, the blockchain identity project aims to integrate its technology into daily digital interactions, from finance to social platforms. However, X posts highlight concerns about compliance costs and potential privacy risks, echoing global criticisms.
Global Challenges and Vision
WLD daily price movement, screenshot from CoinMarketCap taken at 5 PM on May 22, 2025.
Worldcoin Funding Fuels resilience despite global pushback. Countries like Kenya, India, Brazil, and Germany have restricted Orb use over privacy fears, citing risks of biometric data misuse. Yet, World maintains that its zero-knowledge proofs and local data processing safeguard user information, with no iris images stored. Over 26 million users globally, including 12.5 million with Orb-verified World IDs, underscore the digital identity landscape’s demand for such solutions.
Led by Sam Altman, whose OpenAI revolutionized AI, World aspires to create a self-sustaining Web3 protocol through transaction fees. The blockchain identity project aligns with emerging needs to combat deepfakes and Sybil attacks, as noted by Bain Capital Crypto’s Stefan Cohen.
Conclusion
Worldcoin Funding Fuels a transformative push to verify 180 million Americans, redefining the digital identity landscape. With $135 million from Andreessen Horowitz and Bain Capital Crypto, World’s Orb-driven biometric identity verification scales rapidly despite global privacy debates. As the blockchain identity project navigates challenges, its vision for a secure, human-centric internet positions it as a pivotal force in the digital identity landscape.