- World says WLD distributions comply with local jurisdiction rules
- Indonesia, Germany, Kenya and Brazil have also reviewed the project
- Regulators worldwide are tightening oversight of biometric crypto data
World, the digital identity project led by Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI) and formerly known as Worldcoin, faces renewed regulatory scrutiny in Thailand.
Authorities conducted a raid this week at an iris-scanning location reportedly linked to the platform, underscoring how closely regulators are examining biometrics-based crypto projects around the globe.
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand (SEC), together with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), announced on Friday that they had searched websites connected to a “WLD exchange service.”
Investigators suspect operators may have violated digital asset laws by running an exchange without proper licensing.
According to official listings, World operates 102 “orbs” in Thailand where users scan their irises to obtain a “World ID” in exchange for WLD, the project’s native token.
Each verified participant receives WLD as a reward for proving their identity, but the SEC’s recent intervention raises questions about whether those activities complied with Thailand’s licensing framework.
Thai authorities cite unlicensed digital asset activity
The SEC and CCIB said the raid uncovered evidence that the sites offered exchange-related services without authorization.
Suspects were detained and are expected to face charges under Thailand’s digital asset regulations.
Officials emphasized that any entity providing digital asset services—including token distribution or exchange functions—must obtain a license from the Ministry of Finance and register with the SEC.
World has maintained that it operates only in jurisdictions where its activities are legally permitted.
The company’s website states that “eligibility for the WLD token is geographically and age restricted, among other factors,” and clarifies that it is not responsible for trading of WLD on third-party centralized or decentralized exchanges.
Growing global pressure on biometric crypto models
Thailand’s latest crackdown adds to a wave of investigations into the World project, which launched in July 2023.
Regulators in Germany, Kenya, Brazil, and Indonesia have previously voiced concerns about data privacy and licensing practices.
In May, Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Informatics said it was investigating local World operators for potential registration violations and other suspicious activities.
The company voluntarily paused verification services temporarily while clarifying licensing requirements.
In Germany, data protection authorities warned that biometric data such as iris scans pose serious risks if not properly identified and stored.
Kenya suspended World’s local operations last year, citing privacy and security concerns after thousands queued to scan their irises in exchange for free tokens.
Brazilian officials have similarly called for greater transparency about how World collects and stores biometric information under its verification process.
Worldcoin faces ongoing regulatory compliance challenges
Since launch, World has positioned itself as an ambitious attempt to build a global digital identity network to verify human users in an era of artificial intelligence and deepfakes.
The WLD token is designed to reward people who opt into the system and to help create an ecosystem of verified human users.
However, the project’s rapid expansion strategy—especially in developing markets—has raised alarm among regulators and privacy advocates.
Critics argue that moving quickly into regions with weaker regulatory frameworks exposes vulnerable populations to privacy and legal risks.
Despite these concerns, World continues operations in more than 30 countries, deploying hundreds of orb devices worldwide.
The company says its operations undergo ongoing review to ensure local legal compliance, but the recent raid shows that these processes can be inconsistent across jurisdictions.
Although the Thai SEC did not disclose the scale of the suspected violations, the arrests signal a tougher enforcement stance as the country strengthens regulation of crypto-related businesses.
These developments may push World and similar biometric crypto projects to adopt stricter compliance standards and clearer legal frameworks before further expanding in Asia.