- World says its WLD distribution complies with jurisdictional rules.
- Indonesia, Germany, Kenya and Brazil have also reviewed the project.
- Global regulators are tightening oversight of crypto biometric data.
World, the digital identity project led by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and formerly known as Worldcoin, has encountered fresh regulatory trouble in Thailand.
Authorities conducted a raid this week at an iris-scanning site believed to be connected to the platform, underscoring growing regulatory scrutiny of crypto projects that rely on biometric data.
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand (SEC), working with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), announced on Friday that it had searched a site linked to “WLD exchange services.”
Investigators suspect the operator may have broken digital asset laws by running an exchange without a license.
According to official data, World maintains 102 “orb” locations across Thailand where users scan their irises to obtain a “World ID” and receive WLD, the project’s native token, in return.
Each verified participant is awarded WLD as compensation for proving their human identity, but the SEC’s recent action raises questions about whether these operations comply with Thailand’s licensing framework.
Thai authorities cite unlicensed digital asset activities
The SEC and the CCIB said the raid uncovered evidence that the site offered exchange-related services without authorization.
An individual was arrested and is expected to face charges under Thailand’s digital asset regulations.
Authorities stressed 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 maintains it operates only where its activities are legally permitted.
The company’s website states that “eligibility for WLD tokens is restricted by geography, age and other factors,” and adds that it takes no responsibility for the trading of WLD on third-party centralized or decentralized exchanges.
Rising global pressure on biometric crypto models
The Thailand crackdown adds to a string of global inquiries into World since its launch in July 2023.
Regulators in Germany, Kenya, Brazil and Indonesia have previously voiced concerns about data privacy and licensing.
In May, Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Information said it was investigating local World operators for potential registration breaches and suspicious activity. The company voluntarily paused verification services there while clarifying licensing obligations.
German data protection authorities warned that biometric information such as iris scans could pose serious risks if not properly anonymized or stored.
Kenya temporarily suspended World’s local operations last year, citing privacy and security concerns after large crowds queued for iris scans in exchange for free tokens.
Brazilian officials likewise demanded more transparency on how biometric data are collected and stored within World’s verification process.
World faces ongoing compliance challenges
Since its debut, World has presented itself as an ambitious attempt to build a global digital identity network, designed to verify users’ humanity in an age of artificial intelligence and deepfakes.
The WLD token is intended to reward individuals who opt into the system and to help establish an ecosystem of verified human users.
However, the project’s expansion strategy—especially into developing markets—has raised alarms. Critics say rapid deployment in regions with weaker regulatory oversight exposes vulnerable populations to legal and privacy risks.
Despite these concerns, World continues to operate in more than 30 countries, relying on hundreds of orb devices worldwide.
The company states its operations are under continuous review to ensure local legal compliance, though recent raids indicate that enforcement and adherence remain inconsistent across jurisdictions.
While the Thai SEC has not detailed the full extent of the suspected violations, the arrest signals a firmer stance as the country steps up oversight of crypto-related businesses.
This development may push World and similar biometric-based crypto projects to adopt stricter compliance standards and clearer legal frameworks before further expanding across Asia.