The projectWorldcoinCo-founded by Sam Altman of OpenAI.10 million verified usersWorldwide, with its digital identity technology based on iris scanning.The milestone was reached after expansion to Brazil and 15 more new countries in early 2026.
Expansion to Brazil
Brazil has become one of the largest Worldcoin markets in Latin America, with more than 400,000 checks carried out in cities such as Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Curitiba.The so-called "Orbs" — biometric devices that scan the iris to create a unique digital identity — are available in shopping centers and popular locations.
Each verified user receives aWorld ID, a digital identity credential that can be used to prove that you are a real human being (and not an artificial intelligence) on online platforms.
Debate on privacy
The project faces criticism from privacy experts and regulatory authorities in various countries. Biometric data collection — specifically iris images — raises questions about secure storage, potential for surveillance and informed consent. Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) has opened an investigation to verify the project’s compliance with the LGPD.
The Worldcoin Foundation claims that iris images are not stored after processing and are converted into unique mathematical codes. However, independent researchers question the irreversibility of this process and call for more transparent audits.
The Future of Digital Identity
Regardless of the controversy, Worldcoin represents one of the biggest bets at the intersection between Web3 and digital identity. “proof of humanity” technology can become fundamental in a world where artificial intelligence generates indistinguishable content from human-produced, making identity verification one of the biggest challenges of the next decade.