Sam Altman’s Worldcoin Blockchain ID Verification Project Goes Live
- CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, has launched the native token of his blockchain ID verification project, Worldcoin.
- The project was met with some controversy over its gathering of individuals’ iris scan data – which is more unique than fingerprints.
- The WLD token however is not available to US customers due to regulatory concerns.
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI which created ChatGPT, has launched his much-discussed crypto project ‘Worldcoin’ with the release of its native token – WLD. The project, which has been the subject of some amount of controversy, uses biometric iris scans to create an identity verification protocol based on the layer 2 Ethereum blockchain, Optimism.
Many were quick to point out the security concerns surrounding soliciting iris scans (which are an even more unique aspect of one’s identity than their fingerprints) to a private company. Those who gave their iris scans to Worldcoin were compensated in BTC. The WLD token however will not be available to users in the US, reportedly due to a lack of regulatory clarity. Regardless, the Worldcoin verification service will soon be available in 35 different cities. Time will tell whether its WLD token will see a hype-fueled lift.
(About Sam Altman)
Sam Altman is an American entrepreneur, investor, and the CEO of OpenAI. Born on April 22, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois, Altman is best known for his involvement with Y Combinator, one of the most prominent startup accelerators in the world. Altman joined Y Combinator in 2011 and became its president in 2014. Under his leadership, Y Combinator has nurtured and funded numerous successful startups, including Dropbox, Airbnb, Reddit, DoorDash, and many others. Beyond his work at Y Combinator, Altman is a respected figure in the tech and startup community.