Worldcoin’s WLD token moved higher after Grayscale filed to launch what would be the first U.S. exchange-traded fund tied to the biometric crypto project. According to CoinGecko data, WLD gained about 8% over the past 24 hours and reached an intraday high of $0.387, trimming losses from a difficult week while still remaining down around 5.5% over the last seven days.
Grayscale files for a Worldcoin ETF
On Monday, Grayscale submitted an S-1 registration statement for the Grayscale Worldcoin ETF. The filing describes the proposed fund as a passive vehicle that would hold WLD, the native token of the World Network, and track its price through the CoinDesk Worldcoin Benchmark Rate.
If the fund wins approval, it would list on Nasdaq under the ticker GWLD. The filing says the product would use Nasdaq’s generic listing standards for commodity-based trusts, which means it could launch without a separate SEC rule change once WLD satisfies the exchange’s listing requirements.
BitGo Bank & Trust is named as the custodian for the tokens, while the Bank of New York Mellon would act as transfer agent and administrator. CoinGecko data shows WLD is the 55th-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, at around $1.4 billion.
Worldcoin’s background and regulatory pressure
Worldcoin, which rebranded to simply World in 2024, was co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The project aims to build a global proof-of-personhood system.
It relies on a spherical device known as the Orb to scan users’ irises and issue a unique World ID designed to verify that a user is a real human rather than an AI bot. Verified users receive WLD tokens.
The project has attracted regulatory scrutiny over its biometric data collection in the European Union and in countries including Brazil and Kenya.
Institutional interest and Grayscale’s broader ETF push
The ETF filing is the latest sign of institutional interest in WLD. Last year, Nasdaq-listed Eightco built the first corporate treasury around the token and accumulated one of the largest disclosed positions in the cryptocurrency.
For Grayscale, the move fits into a broader expansion of its crypto ETF lineup. The firm converted its flagship Bitcoin trust into an ETF after a court victory over the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, later launched an Ethereum fund, and has also filed for or rolled out products tied to Dogecoin, Solana, XRP, Litecoin, and Chainlink.
Approval is still not in place
The filing is only an initial step. The fund cannot begin trading until the registration statement takes effect and WLD clears Nasdaq’s listing threshold.
If that happens, everyday investors would, for the first time, have a way to gain exposure to Worldcoin through a U.S. brokerage account.