Worldcoin’s Challenge: Encouraging Users to Embrace Iris Scanning for Crypto
The number of new signups for the contentious Worldcoin cryptocurrency project has decreased significantly compared to the 2 million rolls it had before launch.
On July 24, the contentious cryptocurrency project Worldcoin went public, allowing clients to scan their iris at approved places in 20 nations and get 25 Worlcoins (WLD), the project’s native token.
The project started with 2 million pre-signups, but enthusiasm appears to have waned after the official launch. Users seemed eager on the first day, with Hong Kong having the most significant number of signups. The city provided three designated Orbs where users’ irises were scanned, and they were given a “world ID.”
A South China Morning Post article claims that the three designated locations in Hong Kong each got roughly 200 signups on the first day, making it the most among the 20 nations featured in the launch.
Heather Huang, one of the city’s Orb operators, stated that the entire number of signups on the first day in Hong Kong accounted for roughly half of the total quantity Worldcoin witnessed throughout its new markets.
According to Orb operator data, Hong Kong accounted for roughly 600 signups (200 signups per Orb location). As a result, with 600 rolls accounting for approximately half of all new registrations across 20 countries, the total number of expected signups across all markets is around 1000.
Cointelegraph contacted Worldcoin after the project’s debut to confirm the exact amount of signups but has yet to get a response.
The significant difference in signups before and after the debut implies a lack of interest. However, the early on-boardings were also contentious, with one MIT report claiming that the project’s architects lured the first million using various deceptions, financial gifts, and other means, particularly in developing nations where data regulations are weak.
Many well-known names in the crypto field, like Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, have expressed concern about the project. In its defense, the project claims that it does not gather personal information and may destroy biometric data upon user request.
