World Launches Super App With Crypto Payments and Chat

World, the biometric identity project co-founded by Sam Altman, officially rolled out a major update to its platform today. The company, formerly known as Worldcoin, is positioning the new release as a "super app" that integrates secure messaging with enhanced financial services, aiming to distinguish real users from automated bots in an era of AI-generated content.

New Messaging and Financial Tools

The update introduces World Chat, an end-to-end encrypted messaging service. According to the company, the messenger utilizes security standards comparable to Signal. To address the need for identity verification, the app features color-coded speech bubbles that indicate whether a contact has been verified through the World system, providing a visual cue for user authenticity.

Beyond communication, the platform has significantly upgraded its digital wallet capabilities. Users can now:

• Receive paychecks directly into the World App.
• Transfer funds from traditional bank accounts.
• Convert fiat currency into cryptocurrency.
• Send and request crypto assets with functionality similar to peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo.

Notably, these financial features do not require users to undergo the project’s biometric authentication process.

Scaling the Verification Network

During an event at the company’s San Francisco headquarters, Altman and CEO Alex Blania emphasized that the project’s core mission remains the creation of a privacy-preserving economic model. "It’s really hard to both identify unique people and do that in a privacy-preserving way," Altman noted during the presentation.

Tiago Sada, chief product officer, explained that the addition of social features is a strategic move to foster a more interactive ecosystem. "What we kept hearing from people is that they wanted a more social World app," Sada said. The goal is to evolve beyond simple verification into a daily-use utility, which could help address the company’s primary challenge: adoption.

While Altman has expressed long-term goals of scanning one billion people, current figures from Tools for Humanity, the startup behind the project, indicate that fewer than 20 million individuals have been verified. The process involves using an Orb—a specialized device that captures a unique, encrypted digital code from a person’s iris.

Lowering Barriers to Entry

To reduce friction in the signup process, the company is moving toward more accessible hardware. Following the April announcement of "Orb Minis"—handheld devices intended for home use—the company is exploring ways to integrate its sensor technology into mobile devices or point-of-sale systems. By making verification less cumbersome, World aims to accelerate its growth and establish its web3-based model on a global scale.

For more details on the evolution of the platform, the company has shared additional information regarding the development of its chat and payment infrastructure.