Thailand’s SEC raids site tied to World’s WLD exchange over alleged unlicensed operations.
Regulators in Germany, Kenya, Brazil, and Indonesia also probe World’s biometric crypto model.
Global scrutiny grows over iris-scan data use as the World faces new compliance challenges.
World, the digital identity project led by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and formerly known as Worldcoin, has run into fresh regulatory trouble in Thailand.
Authorities conducted a raid on an iris-scanning location allegedly tied to the platform, underscoring how global scrutiny of biometric-based crypto projects is deepening.
Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), working with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), announced on Friday that it had raided a site associated with “WLD exchange services.”
Investigators suspect the operator violated digital-asset laws by running an unlicensed exchange.
According to official data, World runs 102 “orb” locations in Thailand, where users scan their irises to receive a “World ID” in exchange for WLD, the project’s native token.
Each verified participant receives WLD as a reward for proving their human identity, but the SEC’s latest intervention raises questions about whether these operations comply with Thailand’s licensing framework.
Thai authorities cite unlicensed digital-asset activity
The SEC and CCIB said the raid uncovered evidence that the site had offered exchange-related services without authorisation.
The suspect has been arrested and is expected to face charges under Thailand’s digital-asset regulations.
Authorities emphasised that any entity offering digital-asset services, including token distribution or exchange functions, must obtain a license from the Ministry of Finance and register with the SEC.
World maintains that it only operates in jurisdictions where its activities are legally permitted.
The company’s website states that “eligibility for WLD tokens is restricted based on geography, age, and other factors,” adding that it bears no responsibility for the trading of WLD on third-party centralised or decentralised exchanges.
Growing global pressure on biometric crypto models
This latest crackdown in Thailand adds to a string of global investigations into the World project, which launched in July 2023.
Regulators in Germany, Kenya, Brazil, and Indonesia have previously voiced data-privacy and licensing concerns.
In May, Indonesia’s Digital Ministry said it was investigating local World operators over possible registration violations and suspicious activities.
The company voluntarily paused its verification services there while clarifying licensing requirements.
In Germany, data-protection authorities have warned that biometric information, such as iris scans, could pose serious risks if not properly anonymised or stored.
Kenya temporarily suspended World’s local operations last year, citing privacy and security concerns after thousands queued for iris scans in exchange for free tokens.
Brazilian officials have also asked for greater transparency on how biometric data is collected and stored under World’s verification process.
Worldcoin faces ongoing compliance challenges
Since its launch, World has positioned itself as an ambitious attempt to create a “global digital identity network,” verifying users’ humanity in an era of artificial intelligence and deepfakes.
The WLD token was designed to reward individuals who opt into the system and to build an ecosystem of verified human users.
Yet the project’s expansion strategy—particularly in developing markets—has raised alarms.
Critics argue that rapid onboarding in regions with weaker regulatory oversight exposes vulnerable populations to privacy and legal risks.
Despite these concerns, World continues to operate in more than 30 countries, relying on hundreds of orb devices worldwide.
Its website indicates that operations are constantly reviewed to ensure compliance with local laws, although recent raids suggest this process remains inconsistent across jurisdictions.
While Thailand’s SEC has not specified the scale of the suspected violations, the arrest signals a stronger enforcement stance amid the country’s broader efforts to tighten oversight of crypto-related businesses.
The development could push World and similar biometric-based crypto projects to adopt stricter compliance standards and clearer legal frameworks before expanding further in Asia.
