Worldcoin Launches World Chain, a Blockchain Designed for Humans

OpenAI founder Sam Altman's Worldcoin, a crypto startup known for its unique eye-scanning "World ID" protocol, is launching its own blockchain, World Chain, to enhance its network and provide priority to "verified humans" over bots. This move will grant greater control and flexibility to the developers and potentially reduce costs for users. By building on Ethereum's OP Stack framework, World Chain aims to address the issue of bot activity, which currently constitutes a significant portion of on-chain transactions.

Worldcoin Unveils World Chain, a Dedicated Blockchain for Human-Centric Crypto

Amidst the burgeoning era of artificial intelligence (AI), Worldcoin, the crypto startup founded by OpenAI pioneer Sam Altman, is making a bold move to ensure the integrity of its network by launching its own independent blockchain, World Chain. The layer-2 network, set to debut this summer on the Ethereum platform, will prioritize transactions from "verified humans," aiming to mitigate the rampant bot activity that plagues the digital realm.

World ID: A Digital Passport for Real-World Identity

Worldcoin's innovative solution, the "World ID" protocol, has hitherto operated as a decentralized application on Ethereum, utilizing smart contracts to facilitate a unique and irreplaceable digital identity. The transition to World Chain marks a significant step, granting developers greater autonomy and versatility while potentially reducing transaction costs for users.

"World Chain's architecture will grant priority to transactions initiated by verified humans over bot-generated activities," declared Tools For Humanity, the development team behind Worldcoin, in a comprehensive statement. "This strategic move will not only enhance security but also enable app developers to target real-world users, fostering a practical and human-centric ecosystem."

OP Stack Foundation: Boosting Efficiency and Accessibility

World Chain's infrastructure will leverage the advanced OP Stack, a blockchain-building framework gaining popularity among developers. This framework, notably utilized by Coinbase for its Base network, enables the bundling of transactions from numerous users and efficient processing on the Ethereum blockchain. The result is a scalable and cost-effective solution that addresses the rising issue of high transaction fees.

"While blockchains invest heavily in reducing gas fees to enhance accessibility, the unfortunate consequence is a surge in bot activity," explained Tiago Sada, head of product, engineering, and design at Tools For Humanity. "This phenomenon ultimately clogs the networks, driving fees even higher for legitimate human transactions."

Combating Bot Dominance: Human Prioritization on World Chain

Sada further emphasized that an estimated 50-90% of current on-chain transactions are automated. "World Chain, while open and permissionless, will prioritize block space for transactions submitted by verified humans, expediting their processing," he stated.

The Orb: Eyeball Scanning for Unparalleled Identity Verification

Worldcoin's unique claim to fame lies in its captivating "orb," an orb-shaped device that employs a sophisticated lens to scan eyeballs. This device, groundbreaking in its design, ensures that every account holder is a verified human, eliminating the possibility of multiple accounts under the same identity.

The project's unwavering focus on "proof of personhood" holds immense significance in the face of the rapid development and proliferation of AI applications. Tools For Humanity has meticulously deployed the orb across conferences, events, and pop-up shops, conducting in-person eyeball scans and on-boarding over 10 million users from 167 countries.

World App Integration: Seamless Crypto Wallet Experience

Currently, the Worldcoin experience centers around the World App, a dedicated crypto wallet seamlessly integrated with various popular protocols and offering exclusive features for users who have undergone orb scanning. The app utilizes the OP Chain layer-2 network, the birthplace of the OP Stack.

Worldcoin's presence on OP Chain is significant, with the project boasting the second-largest protocol by transaction volume and the largest market cap for its WLD token after ETH and the native OP coin.

World Chain: Scaling, Speed, and Cost Optimization

The establishment of World Chain marks a transformative step for Worldcoin. "This independent network will enable us to continue onboarding users at the unprecedented scale we have achieved," asserted Sada. "Existing users will enjoy faster and more affordable transactions, enhancing the overall user experience."

Beyond Universal Basic Income: Digital Identity's Paramount Importance

Worldcoin's initial concept revolved around the concept of universal basic income, with users receiving WLD tokens and a verified World ID account in exchange for retinal scans. However, as AI has reshaped the digital landscape, Worldcoin has gradually shifted its focus towards broader goals surrounding digital identity.

The new network will embed bot screening into its core architecture, facilitating the integration of World ID into various wallet apps beyond the World App. Additionally, World Chain elevates WLD to a first-class currency alongside Ethereum's ETH, enabling users to pay network fees using either asset.

Addressing Privacy Concerns: Continuous Evolution and Transparency

Worldcoin's journey has not been without its trials and tribulations. Following its debut in 2021, the project faced criticism over privacy concerns stemming from the use of the orb. Despite assurances from Worldcoin's creators regarding the rigorous encryption of biometric data, the project has struggled to fully dispel these concerns.

An unflattering exposé by the MIT Technology Review alleged that Tools For Humanity had exploited underprivileged communities during its rollout, offering free tokens in exchange for sign-ups during the testing phase. The report highlighted "deceptive marketing practices, excessive data collection, and a lack of meaningful informed consent."

Resilience and Innovation: Adapting to the Changing Landscape

Undeterred, the Worldcoin team has remained steadfast in its pursuit of innovation, releasing a series of updates and integrations to address concerns and enhance user experience. New options have emerged that no longer require eye scans, and advanced encryption techniques have been implemented to mitigate privacy apprehensions.

These enhancements have fueled Worldcoin's growth, surpassing 70 million transactions to date. Even Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum who initially issued a critique of Worldcoin, has acknowledged the project's progress and praised its efforts to address privacy concerns in a recent blog post.

As AI continues to transform the world and the crypto market flourishes, Worldcoin stands poised to make a significant contribution to the field of human-centric crypto with its groundbreaking blockchain, innovative identity verification protocols, and relentless commitment to innovation and user protection.