Worldcoin Raises $135 Million for US Iris ID Expansion

Worldcoin, a biometric identity system, has successfully raised $135 million through a token sale. This funding will be used to expand its iris-based identification technology across the United States. The investment round, which was announced on May 21, 2025, includes participation from notable firms such as Andreessen Horowitz and Bain Capital Crypto, who purchased WLD tokens at market prices. The primary goal of this expansion is to increase the adoption of Worldcoin’s technology, which assigns a digital ID to users after scanning their irises, thereby aiding in identity verification in the current AI-driven environment.

The capital raised will facilitate the deployment of Orb devices nationwide. These devices are instrumental in the project, which began in six US cities, including Los Angeles and Miami, on May 1, 2025. This initiative follows a favorable shift in crypto regulations, which has paved the way for broader acceptance and implementation of biometric identification systems. Worldcoin aims to establish a universal identity system, and the investment will bolster the infrastructure of World ID, a blockchain verification service. This service is already being integrated into various applications, with companies like Visa and Tinder playing a significant role in its adoption.

Worldcoin’s expansion efforts are not without challenges. Kenya’s High Court ruled on May 5, 2025, that Worldcoin’s operations in the country were illegal due to violations of the Data Protection Act of 2019. The court ordered the deletion of all biometric data collected from Kenyan individuals within a week. This ruling came after advocacy groups, including the Katiba Institute, fought the matter in court for two years. The court’s decision highlighted concerns over informed consent and the ethical implications of using financial incentives to collect biometric data. Approximately 350,000 Kenyans had enrolled in Worldcoin, receiving cryptocurrency tokens valued at $55 each after having their irises scanned. The Data Protection Commissioner’s Office will oversee the data deletion process to ensure compliance.

Following Kenya’s ruling, Indonesia also suspended Worldcoin’s activities, citing suspicious behavior and legal violations. Investigations into Worldcoin’s use of biometric data are ongoing in several countries, including South Korea, Germany, and Spain. These regulatory hurdles have raised questions about the ethical implications of using financial incentives to collect biometric data, particularly in developing countries. Worldcoin maintains that its Orb devices convert eye scans into coded information and then erase the original data to protect privacy. However, reports of unofficial iris scans in countries like Cambodia have fueled concerns about data security and privacy.

Despite these regulatory challenges, Worldcoin continues to expand its global presence. The project covers over 160 countries and has an active user base of two million daily. More than 70 million transactions have been processed through its World App, a crypto wallet. The favorable regulatory environment in the US has facilitated Worldcoin’s growth in the region, but the company faces ongoing difficulties in other parts of the world. Collaborations with Fireblocks and Alchemy have enhanced Worldcoin’s infrastructure, focusing on improving safety and scalability for the World ID system. The ultimate goal is to align Worldcoin’s identity system with financial and government systems globally.