- Regulatory scrutiny from multiple countries affects Worldcoin’s market value.
- Ethical debates over biometric data collection followed.
- Worldcoin’s ambitious global digital identity project faces backlash.
As the crypto sector matures, Worldcoin (WLD) promised to be a game-changer with its ambitious global digital identity project. However, the hype surrounding its revolutionary iris scan technology has seen a wave of regulatory challenges. This has led to a significant market setback, with the cryptocurrency experiencing a 45% slide in August 2023.
Worldcoin’s Struggle Amid Controversies
As of Monday, August 28, 2023, Worldcoin (WLD) traded at $1.23, a significant drop from the start of the month. The cryptocurrency, which traded at $2.3 on August 1, has since plummeted 45%. The reasons behind the drop are likely connected to the increased regulatory scrutiny of the project.
Worldcoin, a project aiming to provide a global digital identity through iris scans, has been under the microscope by regulators. Launched on July 24, it initially offered an airdrop of 25 $WLD tokens to participants willing to undergo an iris scan.
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As of August 15, over 16 million people had registered on the platform. However, this rapid expansion has led to scrutiny from governments worldwide, including Kenya, France, Germany, and the UK.
Worldcoin’s mission revolves around the concept of a “World ID,” a unique identifier generated through an iris scan. This ID is stored on the Worldcoin blockchain, ostensibly to safeguard user privacy. The World App serves as a user credential storage and a cryptocurrency wallet.
While the idea promises to solve the problem of bots on the internet, it also raises ethical questions. In particular, questions concerning the exploitation of economically disadvantaged populations.
Global Reactions and Regulatory Scrutiny
On August 3, 2023, the Kenyan government took a firm stance against Worldcoin by not only banning its technology but also conducting raids on its Nairobi offices. This move was a significant blow to Worldcoin’s expansion plans in Africa, where the project has seen significant success.
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In Europe, Worldcoin has faced a barrage of investigations from multiple countries. France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have all initiated inquiries into the project. Namely, the countries focused their investigations on data privacy and the implications of collecting biometric data for financial gain.
Following that scrutiny, more countries started investing in Worldcoin. On August 11, Argentina joined the countries investigating the project.
On the Flipside
- Despite regulatory challenges, Worldcoin has managed to attract significant investment. Most recently, the project has raised $115 million from investors.
- On July 20, Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin shared his views on Worldcoin and the problem it aims to solve.
Why This Matters
For crypto traders, the regulatory issues for Worldcoin will significantly impact its price. Namely, the project’s success relies on navigating regulatory issues in hundreds of jurisdictions.
Read more about Worldcoin’s controversial practices unveiled by an insider:
Worldcoin Whistleblower Exposes Troubling Practices
Read more about Ben Armstrong’s recent split with BitBoy crypto:
Ben Armstrong’s Exit from BitBoy Crypto: What Led to the Split?
