Key Insights
- Worldcoin launches World ID orb verifications in Austria, expanding its “proof of humanness” technology to Vienna despite regulatory challenges in other European countries.
- The project reports strong user support in existing markets and has implemented new privacy measures, including “Personal Custody” and allowing users to request deletion of biometric data.
VIENNA (MarketsXplora) – The Worldcoin Foundation announced on Wednesday the launch of its World ID orb verifications in Austria, marking a significant expansion of its “proof of humanness” technology in Europe.
The eyeball-scanning orbs are now available at multiple locations in Vienna, allowing individuals over 18 to join the Worldcoin network, which the foundation claims already has 6.3 million participants.
Worldcoin, co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, aims to differentiate between human and non-human actors online by assigning World IDs to individuals who verify their humanity through iris scans. Participants are rewarded with WLD tokens.
“This expansion into Austria represents our commitment to creating a more secure and human-centric internet,” a Worldcoin spokesperson told MarketsXplora.
However, the project has faced regulatory challenges across Europe. Spain recently extended its ban on Worldcoin until the end of the year, pending a GDPR audit, while Portugal ordered a temporary halt to biometric data collection in March.
Despite these hurdles, Worldcoin cites strong support in its existing markets. A 2024 survey in Spain showed 82% of 21,000 World ID holders believed such technologies are crucial for online human verification. Similar positive sentiment was reported in Portugal and Latin American markets.
Addressing privacy concerns, Tools for Humanity, Worldcoin’s primary developer, has implemented several measures. These include a “Personal Custody” initiative preventing new signups from requesting biometric data storage, and allowing existing users to request deletion of their iris codes.
The foundation also announced a developer preview of World Chain, its own Layer 2 network, earlier this month. The mainnet launch is expected later this summer, with the network designed to be permissionless, open-source, and community-governed.
As of Wednesday, Worldcoin’s WLD token was trading at $2.22, down 3% over 24 hours, according to CoinMarketsCap’s price data.
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