- The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has approved the trading of the Worldcoin (WLD) token on recognized digital asset exchanges.
- The approval comes after a meeting between Worldcoin executives and top Malaysian officials.
- Despite the approval, concerns about privacy and regulatory uncertainty still surround Worldcoin.
Worldcoin, the iris-scanning cryptocurrency, has received approval from the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) for trading on recognized digital asset exchanges. However, privacy concerns and regulatory uncertainty continue to loom over the project.
Worldcoin Gets Green Light from Malaysian Regulator
The SC’s approval allows the trading of the Worldcoin (WLD) token on digital asset exchanges recognized by the regulator. This move was announced by Malaysia-based digital business solutions provider Cuscapi, stating that its associate company MX Global received the approval on May 9. MX Global had previously obtained an unspecified equity investment from cryptocurrency exchange Binance in March 2022. The WLD token now joins the list of 14 permitted digital assets to be traded in the country, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Ripple (XRP), Polygon (MATIC), and Solana (SOL).
Worldcoin’s Expansion and Meeting with Malaysian Officials
News of the approval comes a month after Worldcoin executives met with top Malaysian officials to discuss the token’s strategic expansion. Alex Blania, the lead developer of Worldcoin, and Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, had a virtual discussion with the Malaysian government, touching on various aspects related to the rapid development of technology. According to a post by the Malaysian President Anwar Ibrahim, Altman and Blania elaborated on the development of the Worldcoin project, focusing on creating a global and inclusive financial network while prioritizing confidentiality.
Privacy Concerns and Regulatory Uncertainty Surrounding Worldcoin
Despite the approval, the Worldcoin initiative has sparked privacy concerns across various nations. In March, CNPD, Portugal’s data oversight authority, issued a directive instructing WLD to pause biometric data collection for 90 days. The CNPD cited that WLD posed a significant risk to citizens’ data protection rights, demanding immediate action to prevent harm. However, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has a different view on this eye-ball scanning digital token. He recently acknowledged Worldcoin’s efforts to secure user data privacy, stating that Sam Altman has done a good job implementing cryptographic measures to ensure data confidentiality.
Conclusion
The approval of Worldcoin by the Securities Commission Malaysia marks a significant step for the cryptocurrency in its quest for global expansion. However, the project continues to face challenges, particularly in terms of privacy concerns and regulatory uncertainty. As the crypto landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how Worldcoin will navigate these issues and what impact it will have on the global financial network.
