Worldcoin Suspends Orb Verification Function in Key Markets

According to a report by Moneycontrol, Sam Altman’s Worldcoin has suspended its offline Orb verification function for users in India, Brazil, and France.

Surprisingly, this comes only a few months after the firm which is co-founded by OpenAI’s CEO, expanded the launch of the helmet-shaped eyeball-scanning device in various regions.

Many people suspect that the unexpected retreat may be an issue of regulatory challenges in key markets. 

Worldcoin Launch Orb Verification Tool

Orb which was designed by Worldcoin is a five-pound chromatic helmet that scans individuals’ eyeballs to verify their identities. Worldcoin came up with the concept as an onboarding alternative for residents in regions where traditional ID tools are not prevalent. During its initial launch, the company boosted the adoption of the offline boarding process by offering local Orb operators USDC as a reward.

Fast forward to October, Worldcoin announced its plan to switch the reward payment method for the Orb operators from USDC to WLD, its native token. This went into full implementation in November even though the availability of the token was subject to certain restrictions, with tokens not accessible to individuals or companies located in the United States or other restricted territories.

Worldcoin Voice Commitment to Regulatory Compliance 

The sudden withdrawal from India, Brazil, and France has raised questions about regulation issues. However, a Worldcoin spokesperson identified as Lily Gordon highlighted the company’s commitment to complying with regulatory frameworks available in different jurisdictions. Worldcoin is also keen on providing users with transparent and secure services.

Per a statement from Tools for Humanity, the foundation overseeing Worldcoin’s development, the expansion of the orb verification tool was initially meant for “limited time access” in various markets. This is a shocking revelation considering that there was so much buzz around the rollout of the technology especially when it began to roll out pop-up kiosks attracting crowds in India. 

Challenges Faced by Worldcoin 

Meanwhile, Altman had previously voiced his concerns on certain challenges faced by Worldcoin, although they were operational hurdles. The first challenge that he mentioned was the production of orbs. Specifically, he explained that it requires a massive infrastructure, a secure supply chain, and significant financial investment to complete the design of this patented hardware component.

Next, he talked about “biometrics resistance”, revolving around the reluctance or skepticism that some individuals may have when encountering Worldcoin’s biometric identity verification system for the first time. All these may have contributed to its exit from India, Brazil and France.