Poised to become the world’s most prominent “network of real people”, the project formerly known as Worldcoin aims to establish an identity layer to distinguish unique individuals from automated bots. The protocol relies on custom hardware, known as an Orb, to issue credentials without compromising users’ privacy.
“The world’s technology and proof of human and variations are among the most important building blocks for securing and verifying interactions in an increasingly digitally driven world,” Tom Lee, an Eightco Holdings board member who also serves as chairman of Bitmine, said in a statement.
World said the investment comes as it shifts from building the network to scaling supply.
To date, more than 39 million people have joined the World Network, with more than 18 million people verified by an Orb, World said in the press release about the funding announcement. The network has used more than 475 million World ID credentials since its launch, scaling its capacity alongside the rollout of its updated, enterprise-ready infrastructure, it added.
World, the Sam Altman-backed digital identity project, unveiled in April what it called its most significant upgrade yet to World ID, positioning the system as “full-stack proof of human” infrastructure aimed at consumers, businesses and AI agents.
