The controversial crypto project Worldcoin was launched for the public on July 24, making way for customers to scan their iris at designated locations in 20 countries and receive 25 Worlcoins (WLD) the native token of the project.
The project debuted on the back of 2 million pre-signups but the interest seems to have faded after the actual launch. On that first day, users seemed keen, with Hong Kong seeing the highest number of signups. The city offered three designated spots called Orbs, where users; irises are scanned and they’re offered a “world ID.”
According to a report published by South China Morning Post, the three designated locations in Hong Kong each saw about 200 signups on the first day, making it the highest number of signups across the 20 countries included in the launch.
Heatherm Huang, one of the Orb operators in the city said that the total number of sign-ups in Hong Kong on the first day accounted for nearly half of the total amount Worldcoin saw across all of its new markets.
Based on the data shared by the Orb operator, Hong Kong accounted for nearly 600 signups (200 signups per Orb location). Thus, with 600 sign-ups being nearly half of all the new registration across 20 countries, the total number of estimated signups across all markets comes to about 1000.
Cointelegraph reached out to Worldcoin to confirm the precise number of signups after the launch of the project, but has not yet received a response.
The stark contrast in the number of sign-ups before and after the launch suggests a lack of enthusiasm. However, the early on-boards also proved controversial as one MIT report suggested that the developers behind the project attracted the first million using various deceptions, cash handouts and more, especially in developing countries where data laws are not notably strong.
The project has drawn scrutiny from many well-known names in the crypto community, including Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. In its defence, the project has maintained that it doesn’t collect any personal information and can delete the biometric data upon requests from users.
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Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield has resigned from the Labour Party.
The 53-year-old MP is the first to jump ship since the general election and in her resignation letter criticised the prime minister for accepting thousands of pounds worth of gifts.
She told Sir Keir Starmer the reason for leaving now is “the programme of policies you seem determined to stick to”, despite their unpopularity with the electorate and MPs.
In her letter she accused the prime minister and his top team of “sleaze, nepotism and apparent avarice” which are “off the scale”.
“I’m so ashamed of what you and your inner circle have done to tarnish and humiliate our once proud party,” she said.
Since December 2019, the prime minister received £107,145 in gifts, benefits, and hospitality – a specific category in parliament’s register of MPs’ interests.
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Ms Duffield, who has previously clashed with the prime minister on gender issues, attacked the government for pursuing “cruel and unnecessary” policies as she resigned the Labour whip.
She criticised the decision to keep the two-child benefit cap and means-test the winter fuel payment, and accused the prime minister of “hypocrisy” over his acceptance of free gifts from donors.
“Since the change of government in July, the revelations of hypocrisy have been staggering and increasingly outrageous,” she said.
“I cannot put into words how angry I and my colleagues are at your total lack of understanding about how you have made us all appear.”
Ms Duffield also mentioned the recent “treatment of Diane Abbott”, who said she thought she had been barred from standing by Labour ahead of the general election, before Sir Keir said she would be allowed to defend her Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat for the party.
Her relationship with the Labour leadership has long been strained and her decision to quit the party comes after seven other Labour MPs were suspended for rebelling by voting for a motion calling for the two-child benefit cap to be abolished.
“Someone with far-above-average wealth choosing to keep the Conservatives’ two-child limit to benefit payments which entrenches children in poverty, while inexplicably accepting expensive personal gifts of designer suits and glasses costing more than most of those people can grasp – this is entirely undeserving of holding the title of Labour prime minister,” she said.
Ms Duffield said she will continue to represent her constituents as an independent MP, “guided by my core Labour values”.