Sam Altman’s World Project Enhances App with Encrypted Chat and In-App Crypto Payments

Summary:
World, the biometric identity-verification project led by Sam Altman, has released an updated version of its app that now includes features for encrypted chat and integrated cryptocurrency payments.

Key Takeaways

The World app introduces an encrypted chat service with in-app crypto payments.
Users can now send, deposit, and withdraw cryptocurrencies directly within their World Wallet.
Supported cryptocurrencies include USDC, EURC, wrapped Bitcoin, Ethereum, and over 100 other tokens.
The app focuses on user identity verification while maintaining privacy.
New virtual bank accounts allow users to manage their salaries and convert funds into crypto seamlessly.

World crypto pay

Encrypted Chat and Crypto Payments in the World App

World has upgraded its app to include an encrypted chat feature along with options for cryptocurrency payments. This update allows users to send, deposit, and withdraw cryptocurrencies similarly to how they would with Venmo, all within the World Wallet and virtual accounts.

According to a recent announcement, the app now supports various cryptocurrencies, including USDC, EURC, wrapped Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more than 100 other tokens.

Introducing the World “Super App”

World officially launched its app in 2023, aiming to offer tools for verifying human identity in a landscape affected by AI manipulation. The latest app enhancements were announced on Thursday at the World headquarters in San Francisco, where Altman and World co-founder and CEO Alex Blania discussed the new features. They referred to the enhanced app as a “super app” and detailed its functionalities.

"It's really challenging to identify unique individuals while ensuring their privacy," Altman noted in a report by Mezha.

To protect user privacy during chats, messages from “verified humans” appear in blue bubbles, while those from unverified users are displayed in gray. Additionally, profile pictures are cross-verified against an image stored on the user's device known as the Orb image.

New Features of the World App: Virtual Bank Accounts and Expanded Crypto Options

In May, World rolled out its iris-scanning technology to US customers, which involves users scanning their face and iris for around 30 seconds to create a unique "IrisCode" for identity verification.

The app has already functioned as a digital wallet, but the latest update integrates virtual bank accounts.

"Users can directly receive their salaries in the World App and make bank account deposits, which can then be converted into cryptocurrency," the report stated.

In addition to enabling swaps and trades across over 100 supported crypto assets, World has made its native tokens and Real-World Assets (RWA) such as tokenized gold accessible within the app.

The new version highlights the company’s aim to forge new partnerships and develop a more cohesive ecosystem centered around the ease of cryptocurrency usage.