WLD Surges 27% on OpenAI Social Network Rumors

Worldcoin's WLD token jumped over 27% this week after reports emerged that OpenAI is exploring a biometric-verified social platform designed to eliminate bots. The token hit approximately $0.64 before retreating to around $0.45 as of January 30, 2026.

The catalyst? A Forbes report on January 28 revealing that OpenAI has a small team working on an early-stage "humans-only" social network. The project may use biometric verification like Apple's Face ID or Worldcoin's iris-scanning Orb device to ensure only real people can participate.

Why Does This Matter for Worldcoin?

The connection is Sam Altman. The OpenAI CEO also co-founded Worldcoin (now rebranded as World, or World Network) alongside Alex Blania. Altman chairs Tools for Humanity, the company behind World's technology.

World Network launched in 2023 with a specific mission: to create a global digital identity system that uses iris scans and zero-knowledge proofs to protect privacy. The goal is "proof of personhood," a way to distinguish humans from AI in digital spaces.

Altman has been vocal about why this matters. In a December 2025 statement at World's San Francisco headquarters, he explained: "It's really hard to both identify unique people and do that in a privacy-preserving way."

What Is OpenAI Actually Building?

Details remain thin. According to the Forbes report, fewer than 10 people are working on the project. The platform would reportedly allow AI-generated content, such as images and videos, but only verified humans would be able to post or interact.

Think of it as the opposite approach to X, which continues battling bots despite its verification efforts. OpenAI's version would gate entry at the identity level rather than chasing bad actors after they're already inside.

Altman's frustration with bot-filled platforms is well documented. In September 2025, he posted on X: "I never took the dead internet theory that seriously, but it seems like there are really a lot of LLM-run Twitter accounts now."

Instagram's Adam Mosseri has raised similar concerns about feeds filling with "synthetic everything."

How Does World's Tech Fit In?

World's Orb device scans irises to generate a unique World ID. The company has expanded access with the Orb Mini, a handheld device launched in April 2025 that lets users verify from home. World ID 3.0 includes credentials and Deep Face for anti-deepfake protection.

If OpenAI incorporates this technology into its social platform, it could significantly boost World's adoption and utility. Some analysts suggest the rumors alone could push WLD another 25% higher if substantiated.

Market reactions on X reflected this optimism. Traders noted whale activity and pointed to the natural synergy between OpenAI's AI expertise and World's identity verification technology.

What Are the Risks?

The excitement comes with important caveats. Privacy advocates point out that iris data, unlike passwords, cannot be changed. A breach involving biometric information would be permanent and irreversible.

World has already faced regulatory pushback, including bans in several countries over data handling concerns. Critics argue that biometric requirements could create barriers for people in underserved regions without access to Orb devices.

Supporters counter that zero-knowledge proofs prevent the storage of raw biometric data, limiting exposure if systems are compromised.

It's also worth noting that no official partnership between OpenAI and World has been announced. Altman's dual roles create obvious potential, but speculation isn't confirmation.

The Bottom Line

The WLD surge reflects market confidence that OpenAI, the dominant force in AI, may soon need exactly what World Network offers. When the company behind ChatGPT starts building a humans-only social network, and its CEO already co-founded the leading biometric identity project, traders connect the dots quickly.

Whether the rumored platform materializes remains uncertain. But the price action shows that any move by OpenAI in this direction will have immediate implications for WLD.

Learn more at world.org or follow @worldcoin on X.

Sources:

• CoinDesk - Coverage of WLD price surge following Forbes report on OpenAI's biometric social network exploration
• TechCrunch - December 2025 coverage of World's super app launch and Altman's statements on proof of human
• Sam Altman on X - Altman's September 2025 post about dead internet theory and LLM-run Twitter accounts
• World.org - Official announcement of World ID 3.0 features including Deep Face
• Yahoo Finance - Market coverage of WLD price action and OpenAI social network reports