World Network, a company focused on identity verification and anti-deepfake technology, has secured $52.5 million in new funding. The investment will go toward expanding its detection tools as AI-generated fakes become harder to spot. The company also announced partnerships with Zoom, DocuSign, and Tinder to integrate its verification systems.
Why the funding matters now
The rise of generative AI has made it easier to create convincing fake videos, audio, and documents. World Network’s technology aims to help platforms verify whether a user is a real person or a deepfake. The $52.5 million round will accelerate development of those detection systems, the company said.
Zoom, DocuSign, and Tinder are the first major partners to adopt the technology. For Zoom, that could mean verifying meeting participants aren’t impersonators. DocuSign might use it to confirm signer identities. Tinder could deploy it to reduce catfishing and bot accounts.
Grayscale’s ETF filing adds a financial angle
Separately, Grayscale Investments has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to launch a spot exchange-traded fund tied to World Network’s native token, WLD. The filing, made public this week, is a bet that institutional demand for crypto assets linked to identity verification will grow.
If approved, the Grayscale WLD ETF would give traditional investors exposure to the token without having to buy it directly on crypto exchanges. The SEC has not yet ruled on the application. Grayscale already runs several crypto ETFs, including one for Bitcoin and one for Ethereum.
World Network’s token, WLD, is used within its ecosystem to reward users who verify their identity. The company says the token also helps fund its deepfake detection research.
What’s next for World Network
The company plans to roll out its detection tools to more platforms in the coming months. It is also working on a version for smaller businesses and individual creators. The $52.5 million round was led by existing investors, though World Network did not name the lead firm.
On the ETF front, the SEC has 45 days to respond to Grayscale’s filing, with a possible extension. If approved, the fund could begin trading later this year. For now, World Network’s main challenge is proving its technology can keep pace with ever-improving deepfakes.
