Cryptocurrency
Worldcoin launch divides opinions – crypto community has its say

The launch of blockchain-based digital passport platform Worldcoin has had a polarizing effect on the cryptocurrency community, with questions around its centralization, privacy and security highlighted.
Worldcoin released its protocol token on July 24, with major exchanges like Binance announcing support for the token. The project consists of a privacy-preserving digital identity (World ID) and its associated ecosystem token (WLD) which users receive upon creation of a wallet.
The Worldcoin project is now live. pic.twitter.com/xZXG4w56Ps
— Worldcoin (@worldcoin) July 24, 2023
In order for users to join the ecosystem, they have to provide a scan of their iris through one of Worldcoin’s specialized Orb hardware devices. This step provides proof-of-personhood that is cryptographically secured and used as a World ID, Worldcoin founders Alex Blania and Sam Altman wrote in a letter at launch.
“This lets you prove you are a real and unique person online while remaining completely private.”
The global digital passport is set to be stored locally on user’s mobile devices and used to prove their identity in a privacy-centric manner. The concept aims for World IDs act as a “proof of personhood” that make use of zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-proofs) to protect the underlying data, including biometric, KYC and AML data.
Related: OpenAI co-founder’s ‘World ID’ project launches, along with SDK waitlist
Worldcoin will also enable users to “reserve” their respective IDs with a phone number in select countries, with an iris scan required to complete the process and receive a World ID.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin was among a number of industry figures to comment on the launch of Worldcoin, given the potential for biometric proof of personhood.
What do I think about biometric proof of personhood?https://t.co/yozo1buW24
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) July 24, 2023
In a lengthy blog post unpacked by Cointelegraph, Buterin delved into the technicalities of proof of personhood blockchain protocols and the potential benefits and pitfalls of projects that are blazing a trail for the use case.
Buterin highlighted a key raison d’être for proof of personhood protocols in being able to prove human identity and be used to distribute universal basic income in the future.
“Worldcoin is unique in that it relies on highly sophisticated biometrics, scanning each user’s iris using a piece of specialized hardware called “the Orb”.”
As Buterin explains, Worldcoin Orbs are set to be distributed around the world to allow users to create their respective digital ID. He also highlighted privacy and security concerns around the Orb, design issues regarding its native token and some ethical concerns around whether biometrics “are a good ideal at all”.
“Risks include unavoidable privacy leaks, further erosion of people’s ability to navigate the internet anonymously, coercion by authoritarian governments, and the potential impossibility of being secure at the same time as being decentralized.”
Twitter co-founder and Bitcoin proponent Jack Dorsey had one word to describe Blania and Altman’s “attempt at global scale alignment” that Worldcoin aims to deliver:
“Worldcoin is an attempt at global scale alignment…”
— jack (@jack) July 24, 2023
Bitcoin advocate Anita Posch also suggested that the centralized nature of the Worldcoin project and the amount of data it is managing could be a potential point of failure:
A global database of human IDs issued after an eye scan, paid for with useless Worldcoin token, connected with all financial transaction data of each individual managed by a centralized non-profit collecting sensitive data for KYC/AML.
WHAT COULD GO WRONG? https://t.co/8K6R17vBb0
— Anita ⚡️ Bitcoin for Fairness (@AnitaPosch) July 24, 2023
EthHub co-founder Anthony Sassano provided food for thought, suggesting that the likes of bankrupt FTX and Three Arrows Capital (3AC) could refund all creditors with the appreciation of their early-stage investments in the Worldcoin project:
FTX and 3ac both invested in Worldcoin which is currently worth $30bil fdv
Ergo, FTX and 3ac can now pay back all creditors using their Worldcoin gains
Supercycle intact
It’s just that simple
— sassal.eth (@sassal0x) July 24, 2023
eToro founder Yoni Assia intimated that Worldcoin was emulating his own GoodDollars digital universal basic income platform:
They say imitation is a form of flattery, so I’m flattered @worldcoin are launching a similar project to @gooddollarorg
It will be interesting to see how UBI on the blockchain expandsIn @gooddollarorg you can simply use the wallet face identification to start collecting… https://t.co/mNvlZRRXYd
— YoniAssia.eth (@yoniassia) July 24, 2023
As per Worldcoin’s white paper documentation, the protocol was originally deployed on Polygon in its beta phase, while the current version runs on the Ethereum mainnet using a scalable batching architecture through layer 2 protocol Optimism. The project has over two millions users enrolled.
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Cryptocurrency
Stablecoins Emerging as The Dominant Force in Crypto: Coinbase

Sixteen years after Bitcoin’s launch, stablecoins are emerging as the key force in crypto’s mainstream adoption, particularly for payments and financial operations, said Coinbase in a research report on June 10.
It noted that there was a soaring interest from companies, with 81% of crypto-aware small and medium businesses (SMBs) expressing interest in using stablecoins.
Additionally, Fortune 500 companies showing stablecoin interest have tripled compared to 2024, and 82% of SMBs said crypto can solve at least one major financial challenge.
The Q2 2025 State of Crypto report just dropped.
TL;DR: The world loves stablecoins. pic.twitter.com/agOZ8naqoF
— Coinbase ️ (@coinbase) June 10, 2025
Stablecoins: The Future of Finance
The firm also reported that organic stablecoin transfer volume has reached unprecedented levels, with the two highest monthly volume transfers in history over the past year in December and April.
The stats don’t stop there.
There are more than 160 million stablecoin holders worldwide, and global stablecoin supply grew 54% year-over-year. Additionally, stablecoin transfer volume in 2024 hit $27.6 trillion, surpassing Visa and Mastercard combined.
“Regulatory clarity is the unlock for crypto’s next chapter,” the report noted, citing the GENIUS Act and other bills that are making their way through US Congress.
“An overwhelming 9 in 10 Fortune 500 executives agree that clear, consistent US regulation around crypto, blockchain, and onchain technologies is essential to support ongoing innovation. “
The United States is not the only nation pushing for stablecoin regulation. This week, the newly elected president of South Korea, Lee Jae-myung, made good on his campaign pledge by proposing the Digital Asset Basic Act.
The legislation allows local companies to issue stablecoins with a minimum equity capital of 500 million KRW ($US368,000), and they need to guarantee refunds through reserves and get regulatory approval.
However, the wheels are turning much more slowly in Europe, where the European Central Bank wants its own central bank digital currency (CBDC) and regional governments want to maintain their tight grip on monetary flows.
Stablecoin Ecosystem Outlook
The current stablecoin ecosystem is dominated by just two players, Tether and Circle.
Tether has a 61% stablecoin market share with $155 billion in circulation. USDT supply has surged around 38% over the past 12 months to an all-time high on June 10.
Circle’s USDC has also surged with a circulation of $61 billion, giving it a market share of 24%. The two companies produce 85% of the stablecoins in the market at the moment.
Maker’s USDS, formerly DAI, is the third-largest with $7.2 billion and the only true high-cap decentralized stablecoin.
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Cryptocurrency
Bitcoin at $105K: Breakout or Breakdown Next? Experts Split

Bitcoin (BTC) is once again testing the nerves of traders worldwide, hovering just above $105,000 today as forecasts split the crypto community in half.
Will the king cryptocurrency explode to $175,000 this cycle, or nosedive to under $80,000 if fear grips the market?
The $175K Dream
On the bullish side, pseudonymous chart-watcher Egrag Crypto supercharged hopium this week, predicting a huge breakout in the next few months. According to the analyst, BTC’s historical cycle data suggests the asset is primed for a 102% surge, which would catapult it to $175,000 from its current levels.
“The average of three major pumps this cycle is 102%, hitting $175K!” they tweeted, pointing to eerily similar patterns in previous bull markets.
The way Bitcoin shrugged off the effects of recent geopolitical upheavals has only bolstered Egrag’s bullish case. After Israel struck multiple Iranian nuclear and military assets, the cryptocurrency cratered, going from a daily high near $108,500 to just under $103,000, before clawing its way back to around $105,000 today.
Other optimists, like DeFiTracer, also highlighted similar war-driven dips in April and October 2024, when each was followed by 48% and 74% explosions upward. “Don’t let whales and news manipulate you,” he wrote on X, suggesting June’s 4% dip is merely fuel for the next bump upward.
The Bear Trap
However, not everyone is buying the hype just yet. Seasoned analyst Ali Martinez has tempered the euphoria, warning that the market could be on the brink of a sharp correction if key levels don’t hold.
He backed his pessimism, pointing to whales offloading nearly 30,000 BTC in the past week as well as a weakening support floor around the hundred grand level. If this floor gives way, Martinez predicts a drop to as low as $78,500.
His sentiment was echoed by crypto strategist Michaël van de Poppe, who noted that BTC just failed to hold above $106,000, triggering a liquidity cascade southwards. “Two options,” he warned: A sub-$100,000 buying opportunity or a fresh rally if prices hold at around $102,500.
Market observer Axel Adler Jr. also weighed in, drawing attention to BTC’s OBV (On-Balance Volume), which is still stuck in the red near $100,000. According to him, it means that any bullish momentum could be paper-thin.
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Cryptocurrency
BTC Rejected at $106K as Middle East Attacks Intensify and Trump Threatens Iran: Weekend Watch

Bitcoin’s price rose to over $106,000 hours ago, but the latest developments in the Middle East conflict, as well as Trump’s threats against Iran, pushed it south by over a grand.
Most larger-cap alts are slightly in the red, including HYPE, which has dumped by 5%, while PI is up by a similar percentage.
BTC Stopped at $106K
The primary cryptocurrency was riding high at the beginning of the previous business week as it pumped above $110,000 on several occasions by Wednesday. However, each attempt was met with an immediate rejection, and the last one pushed BTC south to under $106,000.
Although the bulls managed to recover some ground on Thursday and pushed bitcoin to $108,400, the quickly escalating tension in the Middle East resulted in an immediate price drop that drove the asset south to under $103,000.
Although the attacks continued in the following 48 hours, including a few retaliations by Iran, BTC’s price recovered some ground and even jumped above $106,000 hours ago.
However, US President Trump weighed in on the matter once again at that point and threatened Iran with “the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces” if Tehran decides to retaliate against the US in some form.
Bitcoin slipped once again, but it’s still hovering above $105,000. Its market cap remains below $2.1 trillion, while its dominance over the alts is at 61.7% on CG.
Alts React
Most alternative coins are slightly in the red once again on a daily scale. Ethereum is still above $2,500 after a minor decline, and similar price drops of around 1% are evident from DOGE, BNB, LINK, XRP, and SOL. HYPE has dumped the most from the larger-cap alts, having lost 5% of value.
In contrast, Pi Network’s native token has jumped 5% and now trades above $0.6 after the recent flash crash experienced on Friday.
The top 100 alts have a new member, as AB has skyrocketed by 20% and has entered the biggest crypto club.
The total crypto market cap is down by around $20 billion since yesterday to $3.380 trillion on CG.
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