Sam Altman’s World Adds Encrypted Chat and Crypto Payments in Super App Push
World, the biometric identity verification project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, rolled out a major update to its mobile app on Thursday, introducing encrypted messaging and expanded cryptocurrency payment tools as the company seeks to accelerate adoption of its “proof of human†system.
The new release adds World Chat, an end-to-end encrypted messaging feature, alongside broader peer-to-peer crypto functionality that allows users to send, receive, and manage digital assets in a format similar to consumer payment apps such as Venmo.
The features were introduced during a small gathering at World’s San Francisco headquarters, where Altman appeared alongside World co-founder and CEO Alex Blania.
World was created in 2019 by Tools for Humanity and launched its consumer-facing app in 2023. The project’s core mission is to help restore trust online as artificial intelligence increasingly blurs the line between real people and automated or synthetic digital identities.
A Bid to Prove Humanity in an AI-Driven Internet
During his remarks, Altman said the idea for World emerged from conversations about how AI could destabilize existing economic and social systems without new ways to identify unique individuals online.
“It’s really hard to both identify unique people and do that in a privacy-preserving way,†Altman said, framing World as an attempt to solve that challenge through decentralized, web3-based infrastructure.
World’s approach centers on issuing a verified World ID, which allows users to prove they are human without revealing personal details.
The company argues that such tools will become increasingly important as AI-generated bots, deepfakes, and impersonation proliferate across digital platforms.
World Chat Brings Encrypted Messaging With Identity Signals
The most prominent addition in the new app version is World Chat, a secure messenger designed to integrate identity verification into everyday communication. The chat feature uses end-to-end encryption that World says is equivalent to the technology used by Signal, ensuring that conversations remain private.
World Chat also includes a visual verification layer. Color-coded speech bubbles indicate whether a conversation partner has completed World’s biometric verification process, allowing users to see at a glance whether they are chatting with a verified human.
The company says the feature is meant to encourage verification while giving users more confidence about who they are interacting with online.
The chat function was initially launched in beta in March but is now being rolled out more broadly as part of the updated app.
Expanded Crypto and Banking Features Inside the App
World also expanded its financial services offering.
While the app has long functioned as a crypto wallet, the latest update introduces virtual bank accounts that allow users to receive paychecks, deposit funds from traditional banks, and convert those funds into cryptocurrency.
Unlike World’s identity verification system, these payment features do not require users to scan their eyes or obtain a World ID.
That design choice may help the app appeal to a wider audience, particularly users who are interested in crypto payments but hesitant about biometric authentication.
How World’s Biometric Verification Works
World’s verification process relies on a device known as the Orb, a large, metallic scanner that captures a user’s iris pattern and converts it into a unique, encrypted digital code.
That code becomes the user’s verified World ID, which can be used across World’s ecosystem without storing raw biometric images, according to the company.
The Orb has become both the project’s signature technology and its biggest obstacle to growth. Altman has said he would like World to eventually verify one billion people, but Tools for Humanity says fewer than 20 million users have been scanned so far.
Lowering Barriers With Orb Minis and Future Plans
To reduce friction, Tools for Humanity announced Orb Minis in April — handheld devices that allow users to scan their own eyes at home. Blania has previously said the company envisions turning Orb Minis into mobile point-of-sale devices or licensing its identity sensor technology to hardware manufacturers.
If those plans materialize, they could significantly lower barriers to verification and drive wider adoption.
With encrypted communication, expanded financial tools, and more accessible hardware, World is positioning its app as a practical gateway to a future where proving one’s humanity online may be as important as proving one’s identity offline.
