Global interest in Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency token linked to Sam Altman’s innovative digital ID project, has surged recently. CoinJournal research, examining Google Trends data, reveals Kenya as the epicentre of enthusiasm, with remarkable levels of interest from Kenyan users, surpassing that of other countries.
Kenya leads with a Google Trends score of 100, reflecting fervent curiosity and engagement with Worldcoin. Portugal follows closely at 93, indicating significant interest, while Argentina, Chile, and Spain round out the top five with varying engagement levels.
Phil Hoey, CoinJournal’s director, noted, “Initiatives like Worldcoin stand at the forefront of technological advancement, offering novel solutions to complex challenges. With Kenya emerging as a hotspot of interest, the global crypto community eagerly anticipates future developments and impact.”
Worldcoin, spearheaded by Sam Altman and closely linked to OpenAI, aims to revolutionize identity verification using iris scanning technology and blockchain. It seeks to provide individuals with unique digital identities, addressing online identity verification challenges.
However, the token faced suspension in Kenya last August due to safety and data protection concerns raised by the government. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki expressed authorities’ concerns and initiated investigations into data safety and usage.
Worldcoin remains committed to providing privacy-preserving, decentralized access to the global digital economy. It aims to resume services in Kenya, collaborating closely with regulators and stakeholders.
The project, co-founded by Sam Altman and Alex Blanca in July 2023, attracted users across the country. Individuals underwent iris scanning to receive tokens worth about $45, verifying themselves as human users.
Worldcoin plans to resume operations in Kenya early this year, following an agreement with local authorities. The company will operate under new guidelines, emphasizing privacy and compliance.
