World Foundation has raised $135 million through a strategic token sale, aimed at accelerating the expansion of its biometric identity verification network, with a particular focus on the United States. The transaction, completed this week, was carried out by World Assets Ltd., a subsidiary of the World Foundation, and was led by returning investors Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and Bain Capital Crypto, who acquired Worldcoin (WLD) tokens at prevailing market prices.
Token Sale Supports U.S. Expansion and Orb Manufacturing
The proceeds are earmarked to address growing global demand for Orb-verified World IDs and to support infrastructure development in new markets. A key component of the expansion strategy involves a new manufacturing site in Richardson, Texas, which has begun assembling the company’s biometric “Orb” devices for large-scale distribution. This initiative follows a period of device shortages that impacted the platform’s ability to scale during its rapid 2024 growth phase.
The fundraising comes at a time of growing adoption. The World network now reports more than 26 million users worldwide, including 12.5 million who hold Orb-verified World IDs. This marks a sharp increase from the 10 million user milestone reached earlier in 2025. The news also triggered a notable market reaction, with WLD’s price rising approximately 13 percent following the announcement.
Project Growth Continues Amid Regulatory Scrutiny
The platform, co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has now raised over $250 million in total funding, building on a $115 million Series C round in 2023 led by Blockchain Capital. Despite investor confidence, the project continues to face scrutiny from regulators, especially in the European Union. Data protection authorities in Germany and Spain, for example, have taken action against Worldcoin’s biometric data collection practices, citing concerns under regional privacy laws.
The platform’s core vision remains focused on creating a “real human network” by issuing unique digital identities through biometric verification. While privacy advocates and regulatory bodies continue to debate the implications of such systems, the latest funding round reinforces World Foundation’s commitment to expanding its infrastructure and user base in the face of ongoing legal and ethical challenges.
Sources: CryptoSlate, CoinTelegraph
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May 22, 2025 – by Ji-seo Kim
