Worldcoin Seeks Redemption as Polymarket’s $2B Boom Draws Sam Altman’s Eye

After months of controversy, Sam Altman’s Worldcoin is betting on a comeback — and it’s doing so through one of crypto’s hottest prediction platforms. Global prediction markets have hit record highs, with weekly volumes surpassing $2 billion, since the news of the integration of Polymarket into World broke.

The integration, announced Tuesday, lets users access Polymarket’s prediction trading directly through World’s ecosystem. It also marks a symbolic pivot for Worldcoin, which has long faced scrutiny over its use of biometric data. Now, Altman is linking his identity experiment with a booming sector he’s long admired — decentralized prediction markets.

Long before launching Worldcoin, Altman was outspoken about his interest in prediction markets, describing them as “the internet’s most underused truth machine.”

Insiders close to the project say that fascination never faded. By weaving Polymarket into World App’s architecture, Altman appears to be testing whether verified human identity can merge with market-driven foresight — a concept that could give his controversial project new credibility. One industry analyst revealed

“World’s partnership with Polymarket looks like more than a product upgrade. It’s a reputational recalibration.”

Betting via World App With USDC and WLD

The new Polymarket Mini App allows World users to wager on events directly within their wallets using Circle’s USDC or Worldcoin’s native token (WLD).

Eligibility for WLD remains restricted by geography and age, with users in certain jurisdictions — including New York state — unable to access the token. World emphasized that it is “not responsible for the availability” of WLD on third-party exchanges.

Still, the move is significant for Worldcoin, whose critics have long questioned whether its token serves any practical use beyond governance. Integrating with Polymarket gives WLD a tangible function in a fast-growing Web3 niche.

The Polymarket collaboration comes as World App surpasses 100 million Mini App downloads, underscoring its pivot from identity platform to Web3 superapp.

Launched in 2024, Mini Apps are small, web-based integrations built within World’s native framework. As of March 2025, World reported hosting 150+ Mini Apps and facilitating over 10 million WLD ($8.8 million) in transactions.

By July, World counted 14 million verified unique humans across 160 countries, suggesting that the platform’s underlying user base continues to grow despite lingering controversy over privacy and data handling.

The timing couldn’t be better. According to Dune Analytics, global trading volume on prediction markets broke the $2 billion weekly mark for the first time in October — more than double the sector’s previous record. Polymarket dominated with 52.3% of all trading activity, while Kalshi captured about $950 million (47%).

Institutional investors are also piling in. Earlier this month, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) — parent company of the NYSE — reportedly injected $2 billion into Polymarket. Not to be outdone, Kalshi raised $300 million from Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, signaling growing mainstream confidence in prediction-based finance.

Rebuilding Trust Through Transparency

For Worldcoin, the integration isn’t just about new functionality — it’s about rewriting the narrative.

After months of scrutiny over its iris-scanning technology and data security, the project’s alignment with Polymarket’s open, transparent market ethos represents a shift in tone. By associating with a platform that thrives on public insight and decentralized truth, Altman appears to be steering Worldcoin back toward the credibility it lost. One observer said

“In a way, this partnership lets Worldcoin borrow Polymarket’s legitimacy. It’s a reputational arbitrage — and a smart one.”

Whether that’s enough to restore trust remains to be seen. But for now, Sam Altman is betting that prediction markets might predict something else too — Worldcoin’s redemption.