Chileans Line Up to Scan Their Eyeballs for Worldcoin
A shiny, silver orb catches your eye outside a metro station in downtown Santiago. What do you do? Apparently, form a line. According to Worldcoin, over 200,000 Chileans have had their eyeballs scanned by its controversial Orbs. While privacy advocates see this as a step towards a dystopian future, others view it as an opportunity for some free money.
Earn Money by Scanning Your Eyeballs
Carlos Santibañez, a 29-year-old Chilean, had his eyeballs scanned out of curiosity in September 2022. At the time, the WLD token had no value. However, since then, he has earned over $150 and continues to receive WLD tokens. He believes that Worldcoin’s data collection is less invasive compared to other companies and appreciates making money from his information. The backing of prominent investors also influenced his decision to participate.
A Fair Chunk of Change
Currently, scanning your eyeballs earns you 25 WLD tokens worth approximately $42 according to Coingecko. This amount is significant in countries like Chile with a minimum wage of $512. Receiving 8% of their monthly wage for a simple eye scan is an attractive proposition for many.
Success in Emerging Economies
Worldcoin has seen success in emerging economies similar to Chile. In Argentina, which suffers from high inflation rates, there was one sign-up every nine seconds on a particular day in August. Kenya witnessed long lines with over 350,000 registrations before the authorities banned Worldcoin due to privacy concerns.
Novelty and Economic Incentives
In Chile, some people are signing up for Worldcoin simply out of curiosity. Javier Santelices, a 25-year-old student, decided to try it out because they were giving money away. He believes that the data collection is no different from what other companies do on the internet. Despite the large number of registrations, Worldcoin has not faced significant regulatory pushback in Chile.
Perceptions and Economic Incentives
Francisco Díaz, a Chilean anthropologist who studies DAOs, finds it interesting that people view the crypto world as a scam but are willing to stand in long lines for “free money.” He believes that Worldcoin’s success in Chile is mainly driven by economic incentives. Given the country’s minimum wage, the amount earned through Worldcoin is substantial.
Hot Take: Chileans Embrace Worldcoin for Financial Gain
Despite concerns about privacy and the dystopian implications of scanning eyeballs, many Chileans are lining up to participate in Worldcoin. Whether out of curiosity or a desire for financial gain, individuals see this as an opportunity to earn money by providing their data. While critics argue against invasive data collection, others appreciate making something off their information. With backing from prominent investors and attractive economic incentives, Worldcoin has gained traction in emerging economies like Chile, Argentina, and Kenya. The success in these countries highlights the potential impact of cryptocurrencies on individuals’ financial circumstances.
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