# World > The real human network World provides privacy-preserving digital identity verification and financial access through biometric authentication, enabling users to prove humanness online via World ID. World operates a global identity and financial network combining blockchain technology with biometric verification to distinguish humans from AI. The protocol enables users to verify their unique humanness through iris-scanning Orb devices while maintaining privacy through zero-knowledge proofs, with the World App serving as a self-custodial wallet supporting digital assets and World Chain providing a human-centric blockchain infrastructure. Previously known as Worldcoin until October 2024. - Type: Project - Sector: Privacy & Confidentiality - Status: Active - Founded: 2019-01-01 - Profile: https://thegrid.id/profiles/world ## Products - [World ID](https://thegrid.id/profiles/world): World ID is a privacy-preserving digital identity protocol implementing zero-knowledge proof verification to enable users to confirm humanness and uniqueness online without revealing personal information. The system operates through biometric iris-scanning via Orb devices or device-level authentication, generating cryptographic proofs that prevent bot access and sybil attacks while maintaining user anonymity through decentralized credential storage. (Decentralised Identity, Live, Main Product) - [World App](https://thegrid.id/profiles/world): World App is a self-custodial cryptocurrency wallet implementing account abstraction through Safe contracts to provide simplified access to World ID verification, digital asset management, and decentralized finance services. The application supports gas-free transactions for verified World ID holders, integrates USDC stablecoin functionality with fiat on-ramps through licensed partners, enables peer-to-peer payments without fees, and provides access to decentralized exchanges and Mini Apps ecosystem. (Wallet, Live) - [World Chain](https://thegrid.id/profiles/world): World Chain is an Ethereum Layer 2 network built on the OP Stack that prioritizes verified humans through native World ID integration and gas allowances for authenticated users. The blockchain implements priority mempool allocation for World ID holders to reduce bot traffic, achieves approximately 2-second block times with gas costs under a few cents for simple transactions, and maintains full EVM compatibility with Optimism Superchain composability for cross-chain interoperability. (L2, Live) - [Orb](https://thegrid.id/profiles/world): The Orb is a biometric verification device utilizing iris-scanning technology with Nvidia Jetson AI processing to verify human uniqueness for World ID registration. The hardware implements multispectral sensors for liveness detection, processes iris images locally to generate encrypted iris codes without storing biometric data, and operates through swappable battery packs for portable deployment across global verification locations. (Node Hardware, Live) ## Assets - [Worldcoin (WLD)](https://thegrid.id/profiles/world): WLD is the governance token of World, a global identity network that uses biometric verification to distinguish humans from AI. It is used to vote on protocol decisions, and verified World ID holders receive recurring token grants. Holders can participate in one-person-one-vote governance enabled by the network's proof-of-personhood system, which uses iris-scanning to verify unique humanness while maintaining privacy through zero-knowledge proofs. (Governance) ## Links - [Main](https://world.org) - [Blog](https://world.org/blog) - [Documentation](https://docs.world.org) - [Whitepaper](https://whitepaper.world.org) - [Forum](https://support.worldcoin.com) - [Media Kit/branding](https://world.org/press) - [Privacy policy](https://world.org/legal/privacy-notice) - [Terms of Service](https://world.org/legal/user-terms-and-conditions) - [Twitter / X](https://x.com/worldcoin) - [Discord](https://discord.gg/worldcoin) - [Telegram](https://t.me/worldcoin) - [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@worldnetworkofficial) - [LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com/company/worldcoin) - [GitHub](https://github.com/worldcoin) - [Twitter / X](https://x.com/tfh_technology) - [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/worldid) ## Legal This data is provided under two licensing models. Model 1 - open data. The open data core is licensed under the Open Database License (ODbL) — a copyleft/share-alike license allowing free use, modification, and sharing for any purpose. 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