Worldcoin's US Rollout Targets 7,500 Orbs as Global Verifications Exceed 13.5 Million

Worldcoin, the digital identity project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is significantly expanding its operations in the United States, aiming to deploy 7,500 iris-scanning Orb devices across the country. This ambitious rollout comes as the project reports over 13.5 million human verifications globally, a figure achieved with approximately 1,000 devices worldwide to date. Jake Brukhman, a prominent figure in the crypto space, stated on social media, > "I am pretty sure @worldcoin users will surge in the next few months as US rollout and device proliferation continues. The current 13.5m verifications has been orchestrated on merely ~1000 devices in the world."

The US expansion, which began around May 1, 2025, sees Orbs being established in key innovation hubs including Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco, with plans to open a new Orb manufacturing facility in Richardson, Texas. This strategic move into the US market is partly attributed to a more favorable regulatory environment for cryptocurrency and digital assets. Tools for Humanity, the company behind Worldcoin, also teased a smaller, smartphone-like "Orb Mini" for future deployment.

Worldcoin's core mission is to establish a "proof-of-humanity" system, designed to differentiate real individuals from artificial intelligence bots in an increasingly AI-driven digital landscape. The project rewards participants with its native WLD cryptocurrency tokens in exchange for an iris scan, which generates a unique World ID. Beyond crypto distribution, World ID is being integrated into various applications, including partnerships with Visa for a debit card, Match Group for age verification on platforms like Tinder, and Razer for gaming.

Despite its rapid expansion and growing user base, Worldcoin faces substantial regulatory scrutiny and privacy concerns globally. Several countries have either banned or launched investigations into its operations, citing issues with biometric data collection, informed consent, and data security. Kenya's High Court, for instance, ordered the deletion of collected biometric data in May 2025, while Indonesia suspended operations due to licensing issues. Spain, Hong Kong, Portugal, and Brazil have also imposed restrictions or bans, and South Korea levied an $830,000 fine for data collection violations.

Critics argue that the financial incentives offered for iris scans may compromise the voluntary nature of consent, particularly in economically vulnerable regions. Worldcoin, however, maintains that its operations comply with legal requirements and utilizes privacy-preserving technologies like zero-knowledge proofs to protect user data. The project's long-term vision includes the potential for World ID to facilitate universal basic income (UBI) in a future shaped by advanced AI.