Worldcoin Expands in Asia and U.S. Amid Rising Privacy and Regulatory Backlash

Sam Altman’s cryptocurrency identity platform Worldcoin has achieved impressive momentum, attracting $135 million in investment while rapidly expanding its presence in Asia and America. This growth trajectory, however, comes amid rising concerns about the project’s approach to collecting and storing users’ biometric data.

Worldcoin (WLD), a crypto identity and payments project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has recently raised $135 million in a private token sale. According to data from Brave New Coin, WLD currently trades for US$1.24 and is up ~10.72% in the last 24 hours.

The Worldcoin pitch is that it can authenticate user data without storing the data or relying on a centralized authority. Users must scan their iris using a piece of hardware exclusively built by Worldcoin called the ‘Orb’. Compatible apps that would like to connect with users can plug into the Orb network to make solutions specific for users and avoid possible red flags like bots.

Leading venture firms Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and Bain Capital Crypto participated in the round, which will fund infrastructure and user growth.

The funding coincides with Worldcoin’s rollout to U.S. users and a wave of new verifications in Asia. Singapore now reports 100,000 World ID users, while Japan and South Korea each saw over 10,000 new verifications in April 2025 alone. Additional expansions are underway in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

In late April, it was announced that US residents can now get their irises scanned to claim WLD tokens as part of an airdrop. Iris scanning orbs are being set up in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco. Those in the US who pre-registered for the Worldcoin have also been airdropped 150 WLD, US$186 based on today’s prices.

Despite its momentum, Worldcoin has faced multiple regulatory setbacks over its use of biometric data. In late 2024, German and Spanish data protection authorities ruled that Worldcoin’s iris collection practices violated GDPR.

Spain’s data protection agency ordered the deletion of all collected data, citing security concerns and insufficient user consent. Security audits have also criticized the protocol for weak cryptographic standards and insufficient data deletion protocols, raising red flags about data permanence and misuse.

WorldCoin has also recently faced setbacks in Asia. In early May 2025, Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital announced the suspension of Worldcoin’s operating permit due to alleged violations of electronic system regulations. The Ministry cited concerns that Worldcoin’s local operators did not have the necessary valid permits and were operating with permits that belonged to another entity. They have said the suspensions are to “mitigate potential risks to the public,” with local operators being summoned for clarification.

In 2024, South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission has fined the project over user complaints regarding biometric collection practices.

Critics warn that Worldcoin’s biometric focus could disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, especially in jurisdictions lacking strong data protection laws. The project’s promises of non-custodial design are also being tested as it scales across different legal environments.

In 2022, an investigation revealed a collection of unethical practices to pressure the most vulnerable populations into signing up for Worldcoin, and have their eyeball scanned in exchange for money they desperately needed

Worldcoin claims that its system is built to ensure personal data is not stored after verification, relying on zero-knowledge proofs and privacy-preserving technology. The company emphasizes that the World ID is not just for crypto rewards but also aims to create a decentralized identity system that can be used for voting, distinguishing humans from bots online, and universal basic income distribution in the future.