from Hacker News

Worldcoin is surging in Argentina thanks to 288% inflation

by RobLach on 5/7/24, 1:15 AM with 1 comments

• by tivert on 5/7/24, 4:22 AM

  > Brian, a 29-year-old street sweeper, waited outside an Orb center for an elderly couple whom he had convinced to sign up for Worldcoin. Brian, who requested his last name be withheld due to fear of legal repercussions, told Rest of World he makes a profit by cashing in the WLD tokens given to new clients — most of whom have little knowledge of cryptocurrency. He then transfers the money to them in pesos using Mercado Pago, Argentina’s most popular digital wallet. Brian takes a cut, which varies depending on the client. “I keep more from the junkies,” he said.

  > At the time of writing, Brian said he makes about $114 every week. He estimated that there are “dozens” of intermediaries seeking out people in need of “easy money” amid economic turmoil. Rest of World found dozens of intermediaries on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, offering to exchange the WLD for the “best rate.”

  That doesn't seem like "booming" to me. It seems like desperate people trying to cash in on a promotion, and it doesn't follow from that that the cryptocurrency tokens will be popular or their ID verification scheme is getting any traction.