Sam Altman’s World Network is in talks with Visa to bring stablecoin payments to its self-custody crypto wallet, enabling users to spend crypto across Visa’s global merchant network, a source told CoinDesk.
The plan would link Visa card functionality to World Wallet, part of a broader push to offer foreign exchange, fiat on- and off-ramps, and crypto payment tools in a single app.
The goal is to turn the wallet into a “mini bank account” accessible to users worldwide.
The effort is being led by Tools for Humanity, the company behind Worldcoin and World Network, which was co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
According to a request for product form sent to card issuers and seen by CoinDesk, the company is exploring ways to embed Visa capabilities directly into the wallet.
World Network is also in discussions with Rain, a crypto card provider backed by Coinbase and Circle.
Rain supports on-chain Visa card infrastructure for projects like Optimism and Avalanche.
The broader strategy involves building a connected wallet ecosystem that supports currency conversion, crypto trading, wallet top-ups, and card-based spending — all within one platform.
Major card networks like Visa and Mastercard have been working with crypto projects and wallet providers in recent years, seeking to integrate digital assets into their global payment infrastructure.
The initiative could position World Wallet as a serious challenger in the crypto-fintech space, potentially putting pressure on other wallet providers.
Tools for Humanity, Rain, and Visa did not respond to CoinDesk’s requests for comment.
Earlier this month, World Network launched World Chat, a messaging app that allows users to send crypto to one another within the ecosystem.
These additions build on Worldcoin’s biometric foundation, which relies on iris-scanning orbs for identity verification — a controversial component of the project since its debut in 2021.
Worldcoin has faced mounting regulatory scrutiny in several jurisdictions, including Singapore and Hong Kong.
Singapore’s data protection authority is currently reviewing the project for potential violations under local privacy laws, while Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog has launched an investigation into the collection and handling of sensitive biometric data. The project has previously drawn similar attention in Kenya and several European countries.
Featured image credit: Edited from Wikimedia
