Thai authorities raided a Worldcoin-linked iris-scanning site and arrested suspects on allegations they operated unlicensed exchange services for the project’s WLD token, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said after a joint operation with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB).
The move is part of a broader crackdown on illegal digital-asset activity and aims to reduce risks of scams and money laundering, the agencies said.
The raid took place on Oct. 24 at a location used for biometric enrolment, where investigators said they identified services that may constitute a digital-asset business under Thailand’s Emergency Decree on Digital Asset Businesses B.E. 2561 (2018).
Operating without a license contravenes Section 26 of the decree and carries penalties under Section 66. The SEC said suspects were detained for alleged offenses and further legal proceedings would follow.
Jomkwan Kongsakul, a deputy secretary-general at the SEC, told a joint press briefing that coordinated enforcement strengthens the prosecution of unlicensed providers and protects users who lack legal recourse when using unauthorized platforms.
The agencies did not disclose the number of arrests or identify the suspects. Local media reported the action targeted a Worldcoin exchange service at an iris-scanning hub in Bangkok.
The SEC earlier warned the public to avoid exchanging WLD with unlicensed operators and reminded service providers to comply with rules on offering, promotions, and anti-money laundering controls.
The regulator maintains lists of licensed businesses and alerts naming entities outside its supervision. The Oct. 24 raid followed that advisory and ongoing monitoring of promotions and services tied to digital-asset tokens, the agency said.
Worldcoin, co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has faced heightened scrutiny in several jurisdictions over its biometric data collection and token distribution model.
European regulators ordered the project to delete iris-scan data in 2024, underscoring privacy concerns that continue to shadow its global rollout.
The project has said it complies with local laws and that third-party exchange activity is separate from its identity initiative.
Thailand has positioned itself as a regulated hub for digital-asset activity, requiring exchanges and brokers to obtain licenses and meet investor-protection standards.
Officials have signaled they will act against unregistered operators while encouraging compliance by licensed firms.