SAN FRANCISCO —World, an organization co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has rolled out an updated version of its World App that adds native messaging, payments and third-party applications, the company said in a blog post.
The new version of the app began rolling out Dec. 12 in more than 100 countries, according to World.
World is best known for its Orb, an eyeball-scanning device that generates a unique digital identity for users. Those IDs allow individuals to access World ID credentials and the organization’s associated cryptocurrency, Worldcoin.
World Chat Debuts
The updated app introduces World Chat, a built-in messaging feature that allows users to text friends, create group chats, and share photos and videos. Messages from users who have verified their identity through an Orb scan appear in blue bubbles, while messages from unverified users appear in gray, the company said.
The app also expands its payments capabilities, allowing users to send and request digital assets directly within chats, split bills in group conversations, and send payments as gifts with custom animations, according to World. Transfers are described by the company as borderless, instant and free.
In some countries, the app provides access to virtual accounts powered by Bridge, a financial infrastructure provider, World added.
Support for ‘Mini-Apps’
In addition, the company said the new World App now supports so-called “mini apps” that can run inside message threads, enabling interactive experiences without leaving the chat interface. Third-party services available through these mini apps include prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket, along with games and savings tools, the company said.
“The World App brings together proof of human, borderless finance and an open platform — all in one place,” World said in the post. “Where humans connect, transact and build together.”
Worldcoin was founded in 2019 by Altman and Alex Blania with the goal of creating a global digital identity system tied to cryptocurrency access. The project relies on biometric verification through the Orb to establish what it calls “proof of human.”
Why App Was Launched
In 2023, the organization launched the World App as a digital wallet designed to support World ID authentication, distribute Worldcoin tokens and enable global digital payments.
World initially launched its products outside the United States amid heightened regulatory scrutiny of the crypto industry under the Biden administration. The company made its U.S. debut in May, as the Trump administration has adopted a more favorable stance toward cryptocurrency and digital assets.
