The Worldcoin (WLD) token surged 16% after reports surfaced of OpenAI’s intention to utilize World ID’s biometric technology. The token climbed as much as 40%, reaching $0.63.
Worldcoin’s surge followed a Forbes report stating that OpenAI had been quietly working on a social network designed to reduce automated accounts. To achieve this, OpenAI would utilize Worldcoin’s biometric data system, making it a strategic alliance that benefits both companies.
The market impact was immediate, with the price showing rapid gains of up to 40% at its peak, and some users seeing gains of 7.6%, before WLD’s price settled in a range of $0.54–$0.68. Trading volumes increased as traders considered the possibility of a major AI firm adopting the technology.
There has been no formal announcement of a partnership. Therefore, the surge appeared to be driven more by speculative positioning than a verifiable commercial agreement. However, it is believed that a partnership will eventually materialize given the overall positive market sentiment.
What does the alliance between Worldcoin and OpenAI entail?
The key to the alleged alliance is the use of Worldcoin’s Orb system, an iris-scanning device designed to generate cryptographic proof of World ID without storing raw biometric images. The system aims to verify a person’s uniqueness without retaining raw, sensitive data, a crucial point in the debate surrounding privacy and digital security.
Forbes contextualized this initiative as part of a broader push toward a “human-only” digital environment in response to the growth of bots and automated agents. In this context, the publication noted that Apple Face ID was also considered as an alternative verification method, suggesting that the approach is not limited exclusively to Worldcoin hardware.
From a market perspective, the news served as a signal to investors, increasing interest in tokens linked to digital identity and attracting short-term liquidity to WLD. However, price movements primarily reflected flows driven by rumors and expectations, rather than formal announcements, contract wins, or concrete regulatory approvals.
Finally, wider adoption of biometric verification schemes would likely attract increased scrutiny from data protection and financial sector regulators. As described in the report, “human-only” verification would represent a relevant real-world test for identity token use cases; however, without official confirmation from OpenAI or Worldcoin, the market faces a binary information event.
For now, investors remain attentive to any announcement or formal statement that would allow them to discern whether the recent price action reflects the potential for sustained adoption or a short-lived speculative spike.
