Sam Altman’s Worldcoin Comes to America, Visa Pushes Stablecoin Cards, North Carolina Bets on Crypto, and Kraken Powers Up

Sam Altman’s Worldcoin Comes to America, Visa Pushes Stablecoin Cards, North Carolina Bets on Crypto, and Kraken Powers Up. Full crypto update for May 1, 2025.

Sam Altman’s biometric crypto project “World” is now live in the U.S., bringing iris-scanning orbs to six major cities (0:48). Visa teams up with Bridge to introduce stablecoin-linked payment cards across Latin America (2:21). North Carolina lawmakers pass a bill to allow crypto investments in public funds — a move that could reshape pension and reserve strategies (3:59), and Kraken launches "Embed," helping banks and fintechs offer crypto trading directly to their users (5:53).

This is your essential update on the forces shaping what’s next in money.

More on stories and articles mentioned or referenced in this episode:

Americans can finally scan their eyeballs for crypto in return after Sam Altman-backed World launches in U.S., by Ben Weiss, Fortune.

https://fortune.com/crypto/2025/04/30/worldcoin-world-sam-altman-united-states-launch/

Visa and Bridge Partner to Make Stablecoins Accessible for Everyday Purchases, Visa and Stripe/Bridge joint press release.

https://usa.visa.com/about-visa/newsroom/press-releases.releaseId.21371.html

NC House passes state cryptocurrency investment bill over Democrats’ objections, by Brian Gordon and Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi, The News and Observer.

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article305329556.html

Kraken Launches Embed, a Crypto-as-a-Service Enabling Banks and Fintechs to Provide Clients Seamless Access to Crypto, Business Wire.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250429878133/en/Kraken-Launches-Embed-a-Crypto-as-a-Service-Enabling-Banks-and-Fintechs-to-Provide-Clients-Seamless-Access-to-Crypto

The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti