Cryptocurrency project World announced Wednesday it will launch its services in the United States starting tomorrow, bringing its biometric identity verification system to the country where it began.
The announcement came during the company’s “World At Last” event in San Francisco, where co-founder Sam Altman and CEO Alex Blania outlined the expansion of what they called “the largest human-centered identity and financial network.”
Biometric Verification Across America
Americans will be able to verify their “World ID” beginning in six cities — Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville and San Francisco. The company plans to deploy 7,500 of its eye-scanning “Orb” devices across the U.S. by year’s end, quadrupling its current global deployment.
“America should lead innovation, not fight it off,” Altman said during the event. The company, founded near San Francisco’s South Park neighborhood, had previously operated in over 160 countries but not in the U.S.
World co-founder Sam Altman and CEO Alex Blania announce the company’s U.S. launch during their ‘World At Last’ event in San Francisco on April 30, 2025.
World also announced a partnership with Visa to launch a payment card that will connect to users’ World App wallets, enabling them to spend digital assets at over 150 million merchants worldwide. The World Card will offer rewards for AI-related purchases, with rewards paid directly in WLD tokens to users’ connected wallets. The card is expected to become available to U.S. users later this year.
Financial Integrations and Partnerships
In a separate financial development, the company revealed an integration with Circle to bring USDC stablecoin natively to the World Chain blockchain. The partnership will convert all existing bridged USDC held on World Chain to native USDC, which is backed by cash and cash-equivalent assets. The integration also introduces Circle’s Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol V2 (CCTP V2) to enable faster, more cost-effective transfers across supported chains.
Other announcements included partnerships with Match Group to pilot World ID as an age verification solution for Tinder in Japan, and with Razer to implement “proof of human” verification in gaming to combat bots. The company also unveiled a DeFi lending platform called Morpho Mini App and a prediction market platform with Kalshi.
Rich Heley, who presented the Orb hardware update, announced that World will open its own assembly line in Richardson, Texas, with a U.S. manufacturer to produce Orbs not just for the American market but to help with global scale. The company also revealed plans for a miniature version of the Orb, called “Orb Mini,” that will allow for more distributed verification.
“Rich Heley, Chief Device Officer of World, showcases the new portable ‘Orb Mini’ device during World’s event “At Last” in California on April 30, 2025.
World, previously known as Worldcoin, has faced controversy over its biometric data collection practices in some countries. The company emphasizes that its verification system is designed to be privacy-preserving, with personal data remaining exclusively on users’ devices through what it calls “Personal Custody.”
The service currently has over 26 million users worldwide, with 12 million biometrically verified through its Orb scanning technology, according to company figures shared at the event.
Avalanche (AVAX) price has been unable to reclaim the $20.00 support level after falling through it in the recent correction. The altcoin is now trading well below that key mark despite a noticeable decline in selling pressure.
However, bullish momentum has not been strong enough to counter prevailing bearish cues.
Avalanche Investors Are Not Selling
Analyzing the active address profitability reveals that less than 3% of current participants are in profit. This data highlights a crucial detail: most AVAX holders are unwilling to sell at a loss. Instead, they appear to be HODLing in anticipation of a recovery. This lack of selling is a bullish indicator.
The patience shown by investors during this downturn could help Avalanche establish a stronger base once broader market conditions stabilize. As fewer holders are actively selling, downward pressure on AVAX’s price is reduced. Given the right market catalysts, this opens a window for the altcoin to bounce back.
Avalanche Addresses by Profitability. Source: IntoTheBlock
Despite low selling activity, the technical indicators continue to signal weakness. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) has dropped back into the bearish zone after a brief recovery attempt. This suggests a lack of buying pressure and continued uncertainty among investors.
Market support has been lacking for AVAX in recent sessions, preventing a meaningful rebound. The altcoin is facing consistent resistance and has failed to generate strong upward momentum.
The RSI trend reinforces that the macro environment is still leaning bearish, keeping Avalanche subdued.
Avalanche is currently priced at $17.19, marking a 25% decline over the past two weeks. The sharp drop came after AVAX failed to break through the $22.87 resistance level. This rejection led to the current consolidation below $20.00, with bulls unable to reverse the trend.
Given the existing market cues, Avalanche may struggle to reclaim $18.27 as a support level. If the altcoin fails to secure this level, it risks dropping further to $16.25. This would deepen investor losses and delay any chances of recovery.
On the upside, a key shift would occur if AVAX can flip $19.86 into support. This would suggest strengthening bullish sentiment and open the door for a rally toward $22.87. Reclaiming this level could allow Avalanche to recover some recent losses and restore investor confidence.
BitMEX made a bold announcement this afternoon, claiming it foiled a major hack attempt from the Lazarus Group. The exchange’s security team analyzed the hackers’ code, revealing some interesting new information.
The malware had surprisingly poor operational security, allowing BitMEX to trace the IP addresses and active hours of several members. Still, the firm acknowledged that it only beat Lazarus’ second-string hackers, not their best.
However, Lazarus’ recent attempt to hack BitMEX was prevented, according to a recent blog post.
A Lazarus hacker attempted to phish a BitMEX employee by sending them a phony request to collaborate on a Web3 NFT marketplace project. This employee alerted security, who played along with the scammer to obtain the malware bait. From there, BitMEX analysts dismantled it, gleaning knowledge of the group’s organization:
“Throughout the last few years, it appears that the group has divided into multiple subgroups that are not necessarily of the same technical sophistication. This can be observed through… bad practices coming from these ‘frontline’ groups that execute social engineering attacks when compared to the more sophisticated post-exploitation techniques,” BitMEX claimed.
Specifically, BitMEX identified a lot of sloppy work in the initial malware. This allowed analysts to find a list of IP addresses from compromised computers; furthermore, they identified test runs.
One Lazarus member based in China left incriminating info in this database, which BitMEX used to get a profile of other members and their working schedules.
BitMEX’s work here can go a long way towards piercing the Lazarus Group’s image of danger and hyper-competence. BitMEX, a long-running derivatives exchange, seems like an unexpected candidate to make these discoveries.
Rather than a famous crypto sleuth, a private firm that’s been out of the news lately managed to crack this code.
Still, it’s important not to overstate the situation. The Lazarus Group sent their B-team to try and breach BitMEX, but much more advanced hackers would’ve exploited a successful breach.
BitMEX exploited the group’s sloppy operational security, but its members remain wholly anonymous. In all likelihood, they’ll have plenty of future successes on softer targets.
If Bitcoin reaches $119,000 by the end of August, MicroStrategy’s (now Strategy) third-quarter earnings could set a new record for a publicly traded company’s highest quarterly profit in financial history. This impressive figure would easily top Nvidia’s earnings and approach Apple’s record.
As Bitcoin gains widespread acceptance, it prompts the question of whether major players will adopt Strategy’s plan by the book. According to Brickken analyst Enmanuel Cardozo, it depends. Though Strategy’s current achievements are impressive, the quality of its long-term health comes into question.
Could MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin Gains Top Tech Giants?
Michael Saylor’s aggressive Bitcoin plan for Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) continues to remain strong through sunshine or rain. For now, it shows no signs of slowing. With 592,100 Bitcoins on its balance sheet, Strategy is the biggest corporate holder worldwide.
As Bitcoin’s price continues to climb, so will Strategy’s overall earnings. This large-scale success has already led several publicly traded companies to follow suit. The question is whether other corporate giants will also take the leap and purchase Bitcoin.
If Bitcoin closes Q3 above $119,000, and Strategy has 592,100 bitcoins acquired at an average cost of $70,666 each, Strategy’s estimated quarterly net earnings would be approximately $28.59 billion.
Strategy’s most recent Bitcoin purchases. Source: Strategy.
This figure would exceed Nvidia’s highest reported quarterly net income of $22.091 billion, making it Strategy’s largest quarterly earnings and a significant outlier among many publicly traded tech companies.
Since Strategy uses fair value accounting for its Bitcoin, it directly reflects these gains in its net income. If Bitcoin’s price continues to rise beyond this level, Strategy’s earnings could potentially challenge Apple’s current record-setting quarterly net income of $36.33 billion.
Could this unprecedented success generate a fear of missing out among other competitors?
To Buy or Not to Buy
Cardozo expressed excitement over how such a scenario could generate further Bitcoin adoption by other corporate trailblazers.
“With [Strategy’s] 592,100 BTC holdings, other companies might feel the need to finally jump in, especially as Strategy’s performance is outpacing traditional metrics. That kind of success won’t go unnoticed and will eventually push their boards to at least explore Bitcoin to keep up,” he told BeInCrypto.
Some of Bitcoin’s advantages over assets may even appeal to companies with massive earnings, like Nvidia or Apple.
“There’s a solid case for tech giants like Apple and Nvidia to diversify into Bitcoin, and I’m loving the possibilities here. On the pro side, Bitcoin is built as a perfect hedge against fiat devaluation because of its limited supply and decentralized nature,” Cardozo added.
However, a playbook like Strategy’s comes with many risks, and it’s not a one-size-fits-all win—even for Strategy itself.
Strategy’s Financial Health: A Deeper Dive
While Strategy has seen significant profits from holding Bitcoin, these gains primarily stem from a tax advantage, not from its core business operations.
“These gains, driven by fair value accounting, aren’t cash in hand like Apple’s billions from iPhone sales, they are paper profits tied to Bitcoin’s price. Investors and analysts should see this as a speculative boost, not a sign of operational strength, and focus on cash flow and debt to gauge real business health,” Cardozo explained.
Effectively comparing Strategy’s net income to other characteristics like cash flow and debt indeed reveals more about the problems that may lie ahead for the company, especially if Bitcoin’s price were to decline steadily.
Changes in Bitcoin’s price over the past three months. Source: BeInCrypto.
According to the firm’s most recent SEC filings, Strategy reported its outstanding debt amounted to $8.22 billion as of March 2025. It also had a negative cash flow of -$2 million, representing a significant decline year over year.
Though these numbers make sense considering Strategy’s aggressive Bitcoin buying, they also demonstrate that the company’s core software business is not generating enough cash to cover its expenses. Strategy said so itself in its latest filing.
“A significant decrease in the market value of our Bitcoin holdings could adversely affect our ability to satisfy our financial obligations,” read the statement.
It must issue debt and new equity to raise capital to continue its strategy. The plan is risky, to say the least.
Is Bitcoin Right for Every Company?
Given that Strategy’s main income comes from its Bitcoin purchases, Cardozo argues that other companies should carefully consider their financial position before taking a similar approach.
“Analysts should weigh this against operational metrics; a company living on unrealized gains is riskier by nature. I think it’s an innovative strategy, but for long-term health, especially for traditional businesses, cash-generating operations beat paper profits any day, investors should keep that in mind,” he said.
However, as Bitcoin increasingly symbolizes technological innovation, companies aligning with this principle might feel pressured to embrace it. They wouldn’t need to acquire nearly 600,000 Bitcoins, like Strategy, to make such a statement.
They also have a resilient enough treasury to break a fall.
“I’m pretty confident that Apple and Nvidia will eventually invest into Bitcoin, especially with its current track record over the last 10 years,” Cardozo said, adding, “their treasuries could handle a small 1-5% allocation, and not only be hedged against inflation but also as a branding move since they represent the very image of innovation which will also pressure them to do so eventually.”
Yet, ultimately, companies like Apple and Nvidia cater to different customers. Adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets may cause them to lose clients.
The Sustainability Question for Bitcoin Adopters
It’s no secret that Bitcoin mining is extensively damaging to the environment. Strategy, through its Bitcoin acquisitions, directly contributes to the high energy consumption levels associated with the industry.
“Bitcoin’s annual energy consumption is equivalent to a mid-sized country and of course it’s a conflict right off the bat with Apple’s 2030 carbon neutrality target and Nvidia’s renewable energy push,” Cardozo told BeInCrypto.
These companies could risk damaging their public image by associating with an industry that conflicts with their own Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals.
“Customers and activists might pressure them, seeing it as greenwashing, especially with sustainability being a big part of their public image… they could align Bitcoin with their ESG goals and keep their image intact as Bitcoin mining becomes more sustainable than traditional banking’s legacy system,” Cardozo added.
Ultimately, while the allure of Bitcoin’s gains might pressure tech giants like Apple and Nvidia to follow Strategy’s lead, such a consideration may cause these companies more problems than profits.
