Worldcoin Jumps as OpenAI Explores Iris Scans for Social App

Worldcoin (WLD) surged more than 16% in a straight line after a Forbes report said OpenAI is developing a social network designed to tackle the growing bot problem online using “proof of personhood.”

According to the report, the project is still in the early stages and has a team of fewer than 10 people. Sources said OpenAI is evaluating biometric verification methods, including Apple’s Face ID and World’s iris-scanning technology.

Sponsored

OpenAI’s Social Network Report Sparks Market Reaction

WLD rose to around $0.53 within hours of the story, marking one of its strongest single-day moves in recent months. 

Trading volume also spiked as investors reacted to the potential validation of World’s core identity thesis.

World Network, formerly Worldcoin, focuses on proving that a user is a real and unique human without relying on traditional identity documents. 

Its system uses a device known as the Orb to scan a person’s iris and generate a cryptographic proof called World ID. 

The project says it does not store raw biometric images, instead converting them into privacy-preserving identifiers used to prevent duplicate identities.

Sponsored

The idea behind this approach is proof of personhood. 

Unlike KYC, proof of personhood does not aim to identify who someone is. It aims to confirm that each account belongs to one real human. 

This has become increasingly relevant as AI-generated bots flood social platforms, governance systems, and token distribution mechanisms.

Sponsored

The Bot Problem Is Forcing Platforms to Rethink Identity

Over the past year, World Network has expanded its infrastructure and pushed for broader adoption of World ID. At the same time, it has faced regulatory scrutiny in several regions over biometric data collection. 

These pressures have slowed deployments in some markets but also sharpened the debate around digital identity and privacy.

The OpenAI report arrives as major platforms openly struggle with bots. 

Sponsored

Earlier this month, X updated its API and algorithm rules to block so-called InfoFi crypto projects that financially reward posting and engagement. 

X said those incentives had fueled bot activity and low-quality content, worsening the platform’s spam problem.

Together, these developments highlight a broader shift. Platforms are moving from reactive moderation toward stronger identity and participation controls. 

Proof of personhood has emerged as one of the few proposed solutions that does not rely on full identity disclosure.

While OpenAI has not announced a product or timeline, the market reaction shows how sensitive crypto investors remain to signals that large technology firms are taking decentralized identity and human verification seriously.