World – the biometric identification project co-founded by Sam Altman – has officially launched a new version of its World App, which the development team calls a “super app” Chia cryptocurrency payments and an end-to-end encrypted messaging system. According to TechCrunch on December 12th, this update marks a significant expansion for World, combining a cryptocurrency wallet, virtual bank account, and secure chat platform in a single application.
During a small meeting at World's San Francisco headquarters, Sam Altman personally introduced the new version, after which the product team further explained the key features. One of the most noteworthy points is World Chat – a fully encrypted end-to-end messaging tool designed to protect user conversations. The application uses colored bubbles to display identity verification status, letting users know whether the person they are chatting with has been authenticated through World's identification system. This mechanism not only enhances security but also encourages users to self-verify, which is central to the project's operating model. World Chat was previously rolled out in limited testing in March, but has now been fully integrated into the application.
In addition, World also announced an expanded cryptocurrency payment system, allowing users to send and request money transfers similar to how Venmo operates in traditional finance. The Capital already functions as a crypto-enabled e-wallet, but this update is a comprehensive upgrade: users can use virtual bank accounts to receive salaries directly into the app, transfer money from regular bank accounts, and convert it to digital assets in seconds. Notably, all these payment transactions do not require users to complete the World ID biometric verification process, a more flexible approach than the initial expectation of a "mandatory" identification model.
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World's launch of its "super app" comes amidst a surge in the crypto market following the US President Donald Trump's return to office in late 2024, which has shown a more open policy toward digital assets and technological innovation. Many experts believe that this favorable policy environment is driving international technology projects to accelerate product development, and World is one of the clear beneficiaries.
