In 2025, no crypto project is stirring more excitement—and controversy—than Worldcoin. Founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the project is building a biometric identity network powered by blockchain and its native token, WLD. While critics call it dystopian, millions of users are lining up to scan their irises for free crypto and digital identity access. At 3minread.com, we explore how Worldcoin is rewriting the rules of decentralized finance, public data, and the future of global economics.

The Orb and the Promise of a Global Identity

Worldcoin wants to prove you’re human—and reward you for it.

At the heart of Worldcoin is a sleek silver device called the Orb, which scans your iris and creates a unique "World ID" to verify your identity as a real human. Once verified, users gain weekly drops of WLD tokens and access to a range of blockchain applications, including DeFi tools, voting platforms, and cross-border wallets.

In theory, it’s a solution to a growing problem: as AI bots flood the internet, how do we verify real human users? In practice, the idea is catching fire. Over 12 million people have now scanned with the Orb in 2025, despite backlash from privacy advocates and governments. Whether you call it innovation or invasion, Worldcoin is impossible to ignore.

WLD Token’s Meteoric Rise

Worldcoin’s native token is now one of the top 20 cryptos by market cap.

The WLD token launched quietly, but in 2025 it has exploded. Rising more than 500% since January, it’s become a favorite among retail investors, airdrop hunters, and even hedge funds looking to ride the identity tech trend. With weekly distributions to millions of users and growing utility within Worldcoin’s apps, WLD has real momentum.

What makes it different from meme coins or hype tokens is its real-world use case. WLD isn’t just a reward—it’s a key to access a digital economy that includes secure voting, borderless finance, and airdrop eligibility. The token’s velocity is rising, but so is its value—making it one of the surprise breakout stars of 2025.

Data, Privacy, and the Dystopian Debate

Worldcoin’s biggest critics fear it’s building a biometric surveillance empire.

While adoption surges, not everyone is applauding. Privacy watchdogs across Europe and Asia have launched formal investigations, and several countries have suspended Orb operations. The core concern? That Worldcoin could become a global biometric database, vulnerable to misuse or breach.

The company insists that it does not store iris images, only hashes, and that all biometric data is deleted after verification. Still, the optics of scanning people’s eyes in exchange for tokens has led many to question whether crypto’s future should look like this. It’s the biggest ethical debate the crypto industry has seen since Bitcoin itself.

Building the Infrastructure for a Universal Basic Income

Worldcoin’s long-term goal is far bigger than just identity—it’s about income.

Sam Altman has positioned Worldcoin as a potential foundation for universal basic income (UBI) in a world dominated by AI. As jobs vanish to automation, Worldcoin could deliver digital, borderless income to every verified human, using WLD as the reward layer of a new global safety net.

In several African and Latin American nations, pilot programs are already testing this vision—sending WLD directly to citizens' wallets via the World App. Combined with decentralized governance, this makes Worldcoin not just a crypto project but a global economic experiment. One that could, if successful, change everything about how money and identity work.

What’s Next for Worldcoin?

With lawsuits, expansions, and new tech—Worldcoin is just getting started.

Looking ahead, Worldcoin plans to roll out AI-integrated ID verification, expand its developer ecosystem, and launch World DAO—a decentralized governance body that lets WLD holders vote on key decisions. Meanwhile, legal battles are heating up, with regulatory pressure from the EU, India, and Brazil all threatening its expansion.