World, a biometric verification startup co-founded by Sam Altman, has successfully secured $52.5 million through a cryptocurrency token sale directed at select investors. The funding round involved the sale of World’s WLD token under terms requiring investors to maintain their holdings for a full year, underscoring their dedication to the company’s long-term trajectory. Proceeds from the offering will support the World Foundation, a Cayman Islands-based organization tasked with accelerating the expansion of World’s platform.
Leading the investment effort was Pantera Capital, a venture firm specializing in digital assets. Additional participants in the funding round included Eightco Holdings, Bain Capital Crypto, Susquehanna Crypto, and Selini Capital. World operates under San Francisco-based Tools for Humanity, where Alex Blania serves as chief executive officer alongside Altman in a co-founding capacity.
World specializes in identity verification and offers what it markets as “proof of human” authentication tools. The platform’s core offering is the World ID, a digital credential that confirms a user’s human status rather than artificial intelligence or automated bot. Users undergo iris scanning at physical locations called Orbs to obtain full verification. The company previously operated under the name Worldcoin before rebranding amid criticism of the cryptocurrency sector, and has recently announced partnerships with major technology and services companies.
Originally reported by Techcrunch →
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