- Worldcoin’s new blockchain, World Chain, is to debut this summer as a layer-2 Ethereum network, prioritizing users with a retina-scanned “World ID.”
- Transitioning to its own blockchain gives Worldcoin enhanced control and the potential for lower user costs while targeting verified human user identification.
- World Chain will use OP Stack for reduced transaction fees, offering benefits like prioritized access for verified users over bots, and enhancing network efficiency.
Sam Altman’s startup, Worldcoin, known for using retina scans to offer a unique crypto identity, is set to launch its own blockchain. Named World Chain, this layer-2 Ethereum network, expected to debut this summer, will favor users who participate in its retina scan for a “World ID” digital passport.
This initiative continues Worldcoin’s ongoing aim to establish a “verified humans” network that aims to distinguish real users from bots in an era dominated by sophisticated AI technologies.
Previously, the World ID protocol by Worldcoin functioned merely as a decentralized app comprising smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. The transition to its own blockchain could provide the developers with more control and flexibility over the project, possibly lowering costs for participants.
Tools For Humanity, the organization behind Worldcoin, announced that verified humans will have preferred access to block space over bots, along with some complimentary gas. They highlighted that this will also provide developers an opportunity to connect with millions of users through applications that offer tangible real-world value.
World Chain will utilize the OP Stack, a framework for building blockchains that has gained popularity among startups and was used by Coinbase for its Base network. Operating as a layer-2 “rollup,” World Chain will group user transactions and forward them to Ethereum for permanent recording. This method will enable World Chain to charge users lower fees than those incurred directly on Ethereum.
“All of these blockchains are putting a lot of work into reducing gas fees so that the network is more accessible, but what that means is you start seeing a lot more bot activity. That just ends up actually driving fees super high for humans, and the networks get clogged.”
Tiago Sada, the head of product, engineering and design, Tools For Humanity
Worldcoin has become known (or infamous, based on viewpoint) for its “orb” — a device resembling a shiny, spherical bowling ball equipped with a lens specifically for scanning eyeballs. This orb sets Worldcoin apart from other digital services by verifying that each account holder is indeed a human and not a robot, and it ensures that one person cannot hold multiple accounts. This focus on “proof of personhood” is particularly relevant as AI applications become more widespread.
Tools For Humanity, the team behind Worldcoin, has actively showcased the orb at various conferences, events, and pop-up shops for live eyeball scans. The project reports that it has successfully registered over 10 million users from more than 167 countries.
Currently, the primary interface for interacting with Worldcoin is the World App, a cryptocurrency wallet that integrates with certain major protocols and provides unique features to users who have undergone the orb scan. The app connects to the OP Chain, a layer-2 Ethereum blockchain that was developed using the OP Stack. Worldcoin ranks as the second-largest protocol on OP Chain in terms of transaction volume, and its WLD token holds the largest market cap on the platform, trailing only behind ETH and the native OP coin of the network.
