The launch of Worldcoin has generated significant interest and excitement in the cryptocurrency community, with leading exchanges such as Binance listing the token. However, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has raised some serious concerns about the project’s design, particularly regarding privacy, accessibility, centralization, and security.
Buterin’s first concern revolves around the privacy implications of scanning someone’s iris to create a World ID. He worries that this biometric data collection could capture sensitive information like a person’s sex, ethnicity, and medical conditions, raising significant privacy risks.
Accessibility is another major issue highlighted by Buterin. The limited number of Orbs available compared to the massive demand for World IDs could create a significant bottleneck, preventing many individuals from obtaining their digital passports.
The risk of centralization is also a cause for concern, as Orbs being hardware devices can potentially be manipulated or hacked, leading to the creation of fake identities. Buterin suggests that the project should ensure World IDs generated by different manufacturers are distinguishable to address this issue.
Lastly, Buterin emphasizes the security risks associated with proof-of-personhood systems like Worldcoin. Mistakenly approving AI-generated or fake identities could lead to the creation of an unlimited number of fraudulent World IDs.
Despite the launch and token listing success, Buterin’s criticisms raise important questions about the long-term viability and security of Worldcoin. He acknowledges that creating a robust proof-of-personhood system won’t be an easy or quick task and may take years to achieve.
Regarding the tokenomics of Worldcoin, the whitepaper reveals that the total supply of WLD tokens will be fixed at 10 billion for at least the first 15 years. Afterward, there is a possibility of instituting a 1.5% inflation rate through a voter-based decision in the year 2038.
The launch of WLD tokens led to a surge in value, and it seems the tokens were distributed among market makers and early users. However, concerns are raised about the mismatch between the total supply and circulating supply, with some experts cautioning that projects with a small distribution and a large fully diluted valuation might be susceptible to quick sell-offs.
Additionally, the allocation of tokens to market makers through loans has sparked debate, with experts pointing out potential short-term price stability due to liquidity, but uncertainty in the medium to long term.
Furthermore, the allocation of tokens for the community is praised as laudable, but the low circulating supply, which mostly consists of loans, makes it difficult to gauge the community’s response.
In summary, the launch of Worldcoin has been met with enthusiasm, but it also faces serious concerns raised by Vitalik Buterin regarding privacy, accessibility, centralization, and security. The tokenomics of WLD tokens have also drawn attention, with questions raised about the distribution and potential impact on the market in the long term.
