Worldcoin’s Orb Service Suspended in India, Brazil, and France Amid Regulatory Concerns

• The move follows the global rollout of the distinctive Orb device, prompting speculation about potential regulatory challenges faced by Worldcoin.
• Worldcoin is reportedly working on implementing a tailored and systematic registration process in India to meet the high demand.

Crypto startup Worldcoin, co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has surprisingly halted its Orb-verification services in India, Brazil, and France. The abrupt move follows the global introduction of its distinctive eyeball-scanning device, the Orb, which garnered attention during a multi-city tour.

While Worldcoin generated interest with its helmet-shaped Orb, the sudden withdrawal from significant markets has sparked speculation about potential regulatory challenges. Tools for Humanity, overseeing Worldcoin’s development, clarified that the Orb’s expansion was originally intended for “limited time access” in various markets, emphasizing the company’s commitment to global regulatory compliance despite the withdrawal.

Worldcoin – Overcoming Regulatory Challenges

Worldcoin’s Orb, often likened to India’s Aadhaar biometric system, gained popularity initially with pop-up kiosks attracting crowds in India. Despite its reception, whispers of regulatory challenges persisted among cryptocurrency startup founders in the country.

Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin had previously expressed concerns over Orb’s design, privacy, security, and business decisions. While privacy and safety concerns were raised by experts, co-founder Sam Altman remains optimistic, believing that open-sourcing the code will address worries.

The recent abrupt withdrawal of Orb’s services raises questions about the regulatory hurdles faced by Worldcoin as it navigates diverse regulatory landscapes. As the crypto venture recalibrates, the impact of this setback on its global vision of distinguishing humans from artificial intelligence (AI) online remains uncertain.

Despite the regulatory challenges, the Worldcoin price showed resilience, registering a 5.44% increase and trading at $3.74 during the latest update. However, the trading volume of the WLD crypto witnessed a 26.07% decrease over the last 24 hours, amounting to $206.12 million.

Worldcoin Working on a Bespoke Solution

According to an insider, Worldcoin temporarily scaled back its Orb verification services in India due to challenges in handling the overwhelming demand. The company is reportedly working on implementing a tailored and systematic registration process in India to meet the high demand. The orbs deployed initially faced difficulties coping with the surge in demand.

Crypto expert and Bitinning founder, Kashif Raza, cited issues related to location permissions and the involvement of third-party marketing agencies in activation campaigns. Despite these challenges, Raza expressed confidence that Worldcoin will return to the Indian market soon, recognizing the significant market opportunity.

While India offers substantial market potential for foreign crypto players, concerns persist regarding regulatory uncertainties and high taxes on virtual digital assets (VDAs). In India, crypto traders and users are subject to a 30% tax on income and gains from VDAs, along with a 1% TDS on transactions exceeding Rs 10,000.

As of December 2023, Worldcoin has forged new agreements with trading firms, established partnerships with businesses and retailers, listed apps on the Worldcoin App Store, and integrated with platforms such as Reddit, Discord, Shopify, Minecraft, and Telegram