World digital identity token sale

In late July 2026, the World Foundation announced a $52.5 million private sale of its WLD cryptocurrency, with tokens locked for 12 months. The fundraising, led by Pantera Capital and backed by investors including Bain Capital Crypto, Eightco Holdings, Selini Capital and Susquehanna Crypto, is earmarked for expanding World ID, the biometric iris‑scan system that verifies unique humans. By that point the network counted over 39 million members, more than 18 million verified, and had integrated with services such as Zoom, Docusign, Tinder, Okta and Vercel.

Two days later, a follow‑up report clarified that the sale was co‑founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Tools for Humanity chief Alex Blania, and that proceeds will go to the Cayman‑based World Foundation to fund broader adoption and further development of the Orb verification devices. The report also referenced an earlier $135 million raise in May 2025 and noted a recent staffing reduction at Tools for Humanity. Both pieces highlight World’s aim to let online platforms distinguish real users from AI‑generated accounts without exposing personal data, responding to rising concerns about automated bot activity as generative AI expands.