Worldcoin, the iris-scanning crypto aiming for global financial inclusion, has scored a win in Malaysia. The country's Securities Commission (SC) gave the thumbs up for trading Worldcoin's token (WLD) on approved digital asset exchanges. This makes WLD the 14th digital asset to be officially welcomed by Malaysia, joining the ranks of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other heavyweights.

The news comes after a charm offensive by Worldcoin's top brass. Alex Blania, the project's lead developer, met with key Malaysian officials in April, following a virtual discussion with the government a month earlier. These meetings focused on Worldcoin's goal of building a global, inclusive financial network – all while prioritizing user privacy.

However, Worldcoin's iris-scanning tech has raised eyebrows on the privacy front. In March, Portugal's data watchdog slammed on the brakes, demanding a 90-day pause on biometric data collection. They flagged concerns about potential harm to citizens' data protection rights.

Despite the hiccup, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin believes Worldcoin is on the right track. He acknowledges their efforts to safeguard user data privacy through cryptographic measures. Buterin commends their commitment to taking privacy concerns seriously.

So, is Worldcoin a financial game-changer or a privacy nightmare? Malaysia seems to be betting on the former, but the global jury is still out. With regulatory hurdles and privacy debates simmering, Worldcoin's path to global adoption may be a bit more complex than a simple eye scan.