Worldcoin, the cryptocurrency co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is making progress towards its mainnet launch in 2024. The Worldcoin Foundation recently announced the World Chain developer preview, which allows developers worldwide to start building on the World Chain before its official launch.
Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies that go through a testnet phase, developers can deploy infrastructure on a “gated mainnet” right away. This approach aims to expedite the deployment process and make it more efficient. Developers interested in participating can apply for access on Worldcoin’s official website.
To ensure a reliable infrastructure for future development, World Chain developers have been testing the system on the OP Stack, an open-source framework provided by the Optimism Collective.
Since July 2023, the Worldcoin Foundation has integrated support for Optimism and the Superchain, leading to a significant growth in user transactions. Worldcoin now accounts for about 50% of OP mainnet’s activity, making it the largest application on the network.
The upcoming World Chain mainnet will enable real human transactions by integrating Worldcoin’s identity protocol, World ID. This system functions as a global digital passport, allowing individuals to prove their human identity online. Once the mainnet launches, over 10 million people in 160 countries will be able to use onchain apps through compatible wallets.
The World Chain mainnet will offer scalable and cost-effective transactions. As an Ethereum Virtual Machine chain and a layer 2 to Ethereum, it will support the migration of existing projects and the development of new ones. The mainnet will provide an ecosystem of decentralized financial and identity apps, with a focus on everyday utility. Features such as stablecoins, payments, rewards, lending, and more will be centered around World ID’s Sybil resistance.
To enhance the user experience and maintain network efficiency, World Chain will prioritize transactions created by verified humans, resulting in faster confirmation times.