Worldcoin’s WLD token jumped by more than 12% to over $3 the past day after the project scored significant victories in different jurisdictions.

Worldcoin is a proof-of-personhood crypto project that has faced scrutiny and controversy worldwide since its launch due to its facial data collection. These challenges have significantly impacted the WLD token, down more than 70% since its March all-time high of $11.

However, the project recorded pivotal milestones for its operations this week, prompting a rebound in the asset’s value.

Kenya drops Worldcoin probe

Worldcoin told CryptoSlate that Kenya has ceased its investigation into the project.

In an emailed statement, a Worldcoin spokesperson confirmed that Kenya’s Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had closed its investigation into the project’s alleged data collection violations. Thomas Scott, the Chief Legal Officer at Tools for Humanity, said:

“We are grateful for the DCI’s fair investigation and for the Director of Public Prosecutions’ determination to close the matter. This welcome result is, however, not an end but a beginning. We will continue working with the Government of Kenya and others and we hope to resume World ID registration across the country soon.”

This news would be a welcome development for a project that recently agreed to stop its Spanish operations until the end of the year or until the Bavarian Data Protection Authority (BayLDA) makes a final decision regarding its investigation of the firm’s data handling practices.

Ecuador expansion

On June 19, Worldcoin announced the upcoming availability of its World ID verification orbs in six locations across two Ecuadorean cities of Guayaquil and Quito.

The orbs will start operating on June 26 in Guayaquil and June 27 in Quito. Starting June 24, Ecuadorians can locate orb sites via the Worldcoin website and app.

This expansion aligns with growing global support for proof-of-humanness initiatives. According to Worldcoin, a staggering 92% of a recent online survey in Ecuador showed that they support technology-based solutions to differentiate humans from bots online.

The same trend was observed in other countries, such as Peru and Colombia, where respondents are wary that bots could “lead to even greater levels of fraud and misinformation.”

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Marathon Digital reported a significant year-on-year surge in its Bitcoin production last month, defying expectations surrounding the halving event.

Bitcoin production increase

In its April operational report, Marathon revealed that it produced 850 BTC, marking a notable 21% increase on the year-on-year metrics. This uptick is primarily attributed to the 15% boost in its operational hashrate, now standing at 21.1 exahash.

The launch of the Runes Protocol and the Bitcoin halving event, which reduced miners’ rewards to 3.125 BTC per block, will have had a marginal impact on the data, with less than one month since the events.

Nonetheless, Marathon’s improved hash rate enabled it to capitalize on the increased transaction fees inspired by the Runes Protocol. Transaction fees contributed approximately 16% to the Bitcoin earnings in April.

Fred Thiel, Marathon’s chairman and CEO, said:

“In April, we achieved an all time operating hash rate high of 25.9 exahash. Transaction fees also reached all time highs around the Halving, which we were able to capitalize on with our Slipstream service and our proprietary mining pool. Just before the Halving, we earned an additional 4.25 BTC from Slipstream alone, and MARA Pool outperformed, capturing one block with 10 BTC and another with 16 BTC in transaction fees.”

Meanwhile, Marathon said it sold 600 BTC in April to support monthly operations, manage its treasury, and for general corporate purposes. The miner held 17,631 unrestricted Bitcoin as of April 30.

Consultant to Kenya government

In a parallel development, Kenya’s president, Williams Ruto, spoke at the AMCHAM summit and revealed ongoing discussions between the African country and the crypto miners about crypto regulations and mining.

Ruto said:

“Marathon Digital has been ushered to consult with the National Treasury Kenya on our cryptocurrency regime and to the Ministry of Energy to discuss its energy needs in connection with cryptocurrency mining here in Kenya.”

The firm also confirmed this development, adding that its team is discussing how its digital asset data centers “can spur energy development in the region and foster US-East Africa trade relations.”

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