Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin Shows Support for Worldcoin Amid Regulatory Scrutiny
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has recently voiced his support for Worldcoin, a digital identity project that has been facing regulatory scrutiny in multiple countries. Despite recent actions taken by Portugal’s data regulator to halt the project’s biometric data collection, Buterin commended Worldcoin for its commitment to privacy and innovative use of modern cryptography.
Worldcoin, co-founded by Sam Altman, aims to distribute a digital ID and free cryptocurrency to users in exchange for scanning their irises with a device called the “orb.” The project has gained participation from over 4.5 million individuals across 120 countries but has also raised concerns about privacy in various jurisdictions.
Buterin’s comments on social media highlighted Worldcoin’s efforts to address privacy critiques and design their system to be more data-minimal, leveraging modern cryptography. Worldcoin co-founder Alex Blania also outlined recent advancements made by the project in terms of transparency and security, including making the Orb software open source and introducing self-custodial data management.
Despite facing regulatory challenges, Worldcoin continues to make strides in addressing privacy concerns and aligning with community, expert, and regulatory expectations. With support from figures like Vitalik Buterin and a focus on innovation and privacy, Worldcoin exemplifies the evolving landscape of digital identity and regulation in the digital age.
