Sam Altman’s Blockchain Venture: World Chat

Sam Altman’s blockchain venture, World Network, is entering the messaging arena with its latest feature: World Chat.

This new feature, a “mini app” accessible through the World App wallet, offers unique functionalities to holders of World Network’s digital passport. This passport allows users to scan their iris in exchange for an account that verifies their proof-of-personhood.

World Chat represents World’s commitment to distinguishing bots from humans in the AI era. According to a statement from Tools for Humanity, the developer, “By connecting to World ID, World Chat allows you to know when you’re chatting with a verified human.”

Even those who haven’t accessed World’s iris-scanning Orb can use the new chat feature. The messaging app takes design inspiration from Apple’s iMessage, which utilizes blue chat bubbles for iPhone users and green for others. As Tools for Humanity explained, “Conversations with verified World ID holders feature a blue chat bubble and a unique World ID gem in the upper right corner; conversations with non-verified accounts feature a grey chat bubble without the gem.”

Mini Apps were launched in October 2024, and according to Tools for Humanity, there were over 250 million Mini App opens in the first two months of 2025.

Tiago Sada, head of product at Tools for Humanity, stated, “The World App has grown significantly over the past year. We’ve consistently heard calls for a DMs layer. Sending money through chat feels more natural and enjoyable than simply visiting a wallet and making a transaction.”

World Chat will be launched on the World App for Android and iOS users starting Thursday.

In addition to World Chat, World Network is collaborating with the social protocol Friends With Benefits, along with Alchemy, Bain Crypto Capital, Blockchain Capital, and Variant Fund, to initiate an incubator program named World Build. This program will host hackathons, building retreats, and a demo day to inspire developers to create Mini Apps.

Read more: Sam Altman’s Eye-Scanning Orbs Can Now be Summoned ‘Like a Pizza’, Say Worldcoin Execs