Sam Altman’s blockchain identity project, Worldcoin, is entering the online dating space through a new partnership with Match Group the parent company of leading dating platforms like Tinder, OkCupid, Hinge, and Match.com.
Announced on May 1, the collaboration will pilot the use of Worldcoin’s World ID a decentralized identity protocol based on biometric verification on Tinder in Japan. The integration aims to help dating app users verify they are interacting with real humans, not bots or AI-generated profiles, while maintaining their privacy.
Fighting Catfishing with Proof of Humanity
As artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated, fake profiles and catfishing are rampant across dating platforms. A 2024 survey revealed that 62% of internet users in the U.S. have experienced catfishing, with a majority of victims being women aged 16–24.
To tackle this, Worldcoin is introducing its “Proof of Human” system, which uses a biometric device called the Orb to scan a user’s iris and generate a unique World ID without storing personally identifiable data. This ID can then be used across supported platforms to prove that the user is a real, unique person.
“As AI continues to advance, the ability to confirm that a real person is behind every interaction will be essential to preserving trust and authenticity online,” the World project said in a statement. “Technology helps us find each other. Real people make it meaningful.”
Privacy Trade-Offs and Controversy
Worldcoin has faced scrutiny in the past for its biometric approach. Regulators in Brazil and Hong Kong have previously raised concerns about the project’s handling of sensitive data, accusing it of potential violations of privacy laws. Despite this, the project claims its World ID system is privacy-preserving and does not store user data on-chain or link identities to personal activity.
Worldcoin is betting that integrating its protocol into the dating ecosystem will not only combat fake profiles but also serve as a proof-of-concept for broader real-world applications, such as digital voting, social platforms, and financial services.
A New Phase for Online Dating?
This pilot program with Tinder Japan could pave the way for wider adoption of biometric verification in the dating world, especially as concerns grow around AI-generated personas and trust issues in digital spaces.
Match Group has not yet announced plans to expand the pilot to other platforms like Hinge, OkCupid, or Match.com, but success in Japan may influence future rollouts across its global portfolio.
The partnership between Sam Altman’s Worldcoin and Match Group signals a bold experiment in merging blockchain-based identity with online dating. As both privacy and authenticity become more valuable in a digital-first world, World ID’s “Proof of Human” system could be the key to rebuilding trust in how we connect online starting with love.
