Sam Altman’s Worldcoin project is facing a shortage of orbs, biometric imaging devices used for iris scans to verify a person’s identity in exchange for tokens. The startup behind Worldcoin, Tools for Humanity, is reportedly increasing production of silver orbs to meet the high demand. The World App, which provides access to Worldcoins, currently has 10 million users in 160 countries, with Worldcoin processing over seven transactions per second. The orbs are being produced in a German factory and have advanced sensors to prevent counterfeit “World IDs” to ensure that each digital identity is linked to a genuine individual.
Worldcoin has been dealing with unexpected queues for eye scans as people are flocking to have their eyes scanned in exchange for Worldcoins. The large crowds surrounding each orb have posed logistical challenges that require an increased security team and experienced managers for crowd control. Sign-ups for Worldcoin are restricted in certain countries due to regulatory and privacy concerns, with US individuals unable to use, purchase, or access the coins. The startup has also temporarily halted orb-verification services in India, Brazil, and France.
Last week, Worldcoin unveiled a new blockchain on the Ethereum protocol called World Chain, aimed at bringing all humans “unchain.” The developer preview of World Chain is expected to be released soon, followed by the full launch later this year. Worldcoin’s user transactions account for about 44% of the activity on Optimism, an Ethereum Layer-2 scaling solution, making the project the largest application on the network. The team believes that with the scale and growth rate of the community, it is time to graduate to a dedicated network.
The swift uptake of Worldcoin since its introduction less than a year ago in July has led to the shortage of orbs, with between 300 and 500 orbs currently available. The orbs are intended to prevent multiple accounts or identities within the Worldcoin system. Despite the startup’s efforts to increase orb production, the unexpected demand has led to queues for eye scans and the need for stronger security and management teams. The orbs are crucial in verifying a person’s identity and ensuring that each digital identity issued by Worldcoin is authentic.
The orbs used by Worldcoin are essential for verifying a person’s identity through iris scans, with each individual receiving an initial payment of 10 Worldcoins followed by additional payments every two weeks. Worldcoin’s goal is to enroll every individual globally into its financial system, with the World App currently having millions of users across multiple countries. The project’s growth and rapid adoption have led to its status as one of the top crypto wallets worldwide. Worldcoin’s orbs are crucial in ensuring the security and authenticity of digital identities issued within the system, despite the challenges posed by unexpected demand and the need for stricter security measures.
