Crypto news

Worldcoin: Sam Altman’s Iris Scanner Hits the U.S. – Trump to Thank or Just Coincidence?

BBG News
  • Worldcoin debuts in the U.S. as crypto regulations loosen under Trump’s shadow.
  • WLD token rockets up 111% after U.S. expansion—investors can’t resist the hype.

In the curious, twisty world of crypto, the U.S. has recently taken a sharp turn. Thanks to President Trump’s presidency (we can almost hear the groans from some), the once-tight regulatory grip is loosening like a poorly tied shoelace. And who should pop up in the middle of this crypto-symphony but Sam Altman, wearing his OpenAI CEO hat with a suspiciously shiny grin?

Sam Altman Launches “World”—and No, It’s Not a Sci-Fi Movie

In an unexpected move, Altman’s Tools for Humanity has thrust its iris-scanning crypto initiative, now dubbed “World,” into the U.S. spotlight. Gone are the days of bureaucratic red tape under President Biden’s regime, and now, cities like Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco are officially “orbified”—welcome to the world of biometric finance. All you need is to show your eyeball, and voilà, you get some WLD tokens. A small price to pay for human existence, right?

The whole thing was kept at bay in the U.S. while Biden’s team waved their regulatory flags, but now, thanks to Trump’s apparent blessing of financial chaos, World is allowed to flourish. The concept? Verify your humanity through the slightly creepy process of scanning your iris and receive shiny tokens in return. Welcome to the future, folks—privacy concerns, anyone?

Altman and Tools for Humanity’s CEO Alex Blania shared their deep thoughts in a letter, talking about how Worldcoin provides a “privacy-preserving digital identity” and, if you’re lucky enough to be in a place with looser laws, some WLD tokens. How sweet of them, right?

“Worldcoin consists of a privacy-preserving digital identity (World ID) and, where laws allow, a digital currency (WLD) received simply for being human. We hope that, where the rules are less clear, such as in the U.S., steps will be taken so more people can benefit from both.”

Trump vs. Biden—Let the Regulatory Battle Begin!

While Altman’s words are vague enough to be considered almost politically neutral (ha!), the industry can’t help but wonder if Trump’s laissez-faire approach to crypto regulations has anything to do with this sudden shift. Let’s be real: under Biden’s watch, crypto was regulated like a toddler with a butcher’s knife. Now, with Trump’s “free market” mindset running wild, the U.S. is practically rolling out the red carpet for digital chaos.

But don’t just take our word for it. Antoni Trenchev, cofounder of Nexo, made sure to kiss the ring of Trump in a statement:

“Thanks to the vision and leadership of President Donald J. Trump, his administration, and his family, the United States is once again a place where innovation is championed, not stifled.”

Trump’s grand vision? Fewer crypto rules, less oversight, and, for some bizarre reason, more opportunities for crypto firms to operate unhindered. Agencies like the SEC and CFTC have practically folded their arms, and even the Justice Department dissolved its crypto crime unit (let’s all pretend that’s not concerning).

What’s Next? A Crypto Renaissance?

With these fresh winds blowing in, crypto giants like OKX and Nexo are reuniting with the U.S., pushing out their chests like crypto knights ready for battle. The stage is set for Worldcoin to make its grand entrance, but here’s the catch: while Altman’s dream is to onboard billions with the iris scan, the project has only verified about 12 million humans globally. A long way to go before Worldcoin becomes the next global phenomenon, right?

And yet—here’s the kicker—the market seems to like it. The WLD token has soared over 111% since April, making whales and investors giddy with excitement. At $1.08 per token, the currency is seeing steady daily gains. Is this the dawn of a new financial age, or just another flash-in-the-pan crypto experiment? Time will tell.

Read More

2025-05-01 13:51

Previous post I’m a Human Piñata
Next post You Won’t Believe What Tesla’s Board Just Said About Elon Musk’s Future 🚗🤯