Worldcoin just dropped its latest gadget — the Orb Mini, a pocket-sized iris scanner designed to verify you're a real human. But instead of applause, it got a roast session across Crypto Twitter.
Launched under the tagline “It goes where you go,” the Orb Mini quickly became the subject of online jokes, sci-fi memes, and deep ethical concerns. Why? Because many are asking: Do we really need a portable eyeball scanner?
“The thing about humans is they can tell when a human is in front of them,” quipped Alicia Katz from DeFi platform Euler Finance. She went on to compare the device to the unsettling “uncanny valley” — that eerie feeling when tech gets too human-like. Or in this case, when your date tries to scan your iris.
Another user sarcastically asked, “Is this so you can register your friends?” comparing the Orb Mini to a dystopian party trick rather than a legitimate ID solution.
So, what even is this thing?
The Orb Mini is a shrunken-down version of Worldcoin’s original Orb — a device that scans your iris and issues a unique World ID, all stored on the blockchain. Shaped like a smartphone with eye sensors, it made its debut at Worldcoin’s "At Last” event in San Francisco on April 30.
This is all part of a larger rollout by Tools for Humanity, which plans to deploy 7,500 of these Orbs across the U.S. by the end of the year.
Critics: What problem is this even solving?
Crypto users weren’t shy about dragging the device's practicality — or lack thereof.
“What real-life problem does this solve?” asked one. Another joked that the Orb Mini could easily be duped by an AI-generated image of a human face. Ouch.
And then came the satire:
“If you want real security, why not use a rectal probe? Every human’s anal print is unique,” one user jabbed, taking the privacy debate to new depths (literally).
Cory Klippsten, CEO of Swan Bitcoin, called the Orb Mini a “creepy dystopia-shilling” device — arguing it’s more about insecurity from the creators than solving real-world identity issues.
Privacy advocates also aren’t buying in. Concerns about surveillance, bodily autonomy, and misuse of biometric data continue to haunt Worldcoin’s mission.
Regulatory pushback is growing
On May 5, Worldcoin faced setbacks in Indonesia, where authorities suspended its registration. Since its July 2023 launch, the project has also clashed with regulators in Germany, Kenya, and Brazil, all raising serious concerns over user data protection.
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TL;DR:
Worldcoin’s Orb Mini wants to scan your eyeballs. Crypto Twitter wants none of it.