- World locks down $135M funding from Andreessen Horowitz, Bain Capital for its digital identity push.
- World ID’s iris-scanning tech verifies users; aims for U.S. growth & AGI-era human proof.
- Tools for Humanity, with Sam Altman, builds World for a self-running Web3 identity future.
Digital identity project World just secured $135 million in fresh funding. Top-tier venture firms Andreessen Horowitz and Bain Capital Crypto led the investment, signaling strong backing for World’s ambitious global expansion plans. This capital injection directly addresses surging demand for its World IDs, which use iris-scanning technology to verify a person’s humanity.
The company will use the funds to accelerate infrastructure development for the World Network across the U.S. and internationally. Currently, the project reports over 26 million users, with 12.5 million World IDs already issued through its Orb verification process. This new backing reinforces World’s vision of building a self-sustaining digital identity protocol fit for the modern digital age.
Funding Fuels U.S. and International On-Ramp for World ID
The move reflects growing investor confidence in the platform’s potential, especially as it expands across major U.S. cities like Los Angeles, Miami, Austin, and San Francisco. Besides Andreessen Horowitz and Bain Capital Crypto, firms such as Selini Capital, Mirana Ventures, and Arctic Digital also contributed in a previously disclosed round.
This funding will support the physical expansion of Orb devices, the core tool that verifies users by scanning their irises. Each scan grants users a unique World ID. This ID is how users can clearly prove they’re real people in a digital scene increasingly crowded by bots and deepfakes.
World Preps Iris ID For Human Verification In Age Of AI
World’s vision extends beyond digital identity. It aims to prepare society for a future shaped by artificial general intelligence (AGI). As technology advances, the need to clearly distinguish between human users and machines becomes urgent. Hence, World sees its biometric identity system as a foundation for safe digital interaction in the AGI era.
Related: Worldcoin (WLD) Gains 25% in a Week as Visa, Tinder Japan Back Biometric Push
Moreover, World anticipates that its network will eventually operate independently through protocol fees. This model could make it one of the first self-sustaining platforms in the Web3 space. The firm, which began as Worldcoin, launched its WLD token in July 2023. As of May 21, the token trades at $1.13.
Experienced Investors, Strong Vision Propel World’s Digital Identity Goal
Tools for Humanity, the company building the World project, previously raised $115 million in May 2023. That round was led by Blockchain Capital with participation from a16z crypto and Distributed Global.
Related: Why Are Worldcoin, Hedera & Algorand Suddenly Pumping Together?
With Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, among its co-founders, World has both technical leadership and long-term vision backing its mission.
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