Thai Regulators Raid World Iris Scanning Site Over Unlicensed Crypto Operations
Sam Altman’s World project — formerly known as Worldcoin — is once again under regulatory fire, this time in Thailand. Authorities allege that the company’s iris scanning operations may have violated the country’s digital asset laws by distributing or facilitating transactions involving its WLD token without proper authorization.
Earlier coverage: Crypto ETP Inflows Hit $48.7B in 2025, Surpassing 2024 Record as Ether and Altcoins Surge
The Thailand Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in coordination with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), conducted a raid on one of World’s iris scanning sites this week. The location, which allegedly offered “WLD exchange services,” was suspected of operating without the required digital asset service license, the SEC said in a statement on Friday.
World — a digital identity platform created by Altman’s firm Tools for Humanity — uses physical “Orbs” to scan users’ irises, verifying their humanity and issuing them a World ID. In eligible regions, users also receive WLD tokens as part of the onboarding incentive. According to the project’s public data, there are over 100 active orb locations across Thailand, making it one of World’s largest operating hubs in Asia.
Authorities allege breach of Thai digital asset laws
The Thai SEC and CCIB stated that during the raid, investigators detained suspects believed to be involved in running unlicensed digital asset operations. Officials said the individuals could face charges under Thailand’s Digital Asset Business Act, which regulates all token issuance and exchange-related activities.
“The investigator has arrested suspects for committing the offense, subject to further relevant law enforcement proceedings,” the SEC’s statement said.
If proven, the case could add another major regulatory challenge for World, which has already faced government scrutiny in countries including Kenya, Spain, and India over privacy, data collection, and unlicensed financial activities.
World responds: 'Eligibility is jurisdiction-based'
While the company has not issued an official statement about the raid, its website reiterates that WLD token distribution is restricted to jurisdictions where local laws permit.
“Eligibility for WLD tokens is restricted based on geography, age, and other factors,” the company notes. It also clarifies that it does not control or endorse the trading of WLD tokens on third-party platforms, whether centralized or decentralized.
The Tools for Humanity team, which develops and maintains World’s infrastructure, did not respond to Cointelegraph’s request for comment.
Background: Growing global pushback
World, which launched in 2023 under the name Worldcoin, has been pitched as a “universal digital identity” system designed to distinguish humans from AI through iris scans. While its supporters view it as a potential foundation for global digital inclusion, critics have raised serious privacy, security, and ethical concerns about biometric data collection and token distribution incentives.
The Thai raid comes amid heightened global scrutiny of crypto projects operating in gray regulatory zones. Several governments, including Germany and Argentina, have also investigated World’s data practices and token issuance policies.