The Sam Altman-backed project is shifting from token rewards to utility-driven growth, concentrating on core markets and preparing to charge apps for World ID credentials while keeping the service free for users.
World said it has entered Phase 3 in the project's third year, broadening World ID's role in real-world digital interactions while shifting from token incentives to utility-based growth. The Sam Altman-backed proof-of-human network said it is targeting use cases including identity checks for Zoom calls, verification of human participation behind Tinder profiles and concert ticket sales, and credentials for AI agents that act on behalf of verified humans with human-in-the-loop checks. The project said it will focus on building density in core markets including the U.S., Japan, Germany, the U.K. and South Korea, with an emphasis on areas such as New York and San Francisco before expanding further. World also said World ID 4.0 will let it charge applications for creating World ID credentials, opening access to a base of more than 18 million verified users and adding a new source of sustainability for the network through fees paid in WLD, while remaining free for users.