Divine Research Uses World ID to Power Global Crypto Microloans

Key Points

1. Divine Research, a San Francisco-based lending company, has provided around 30,000 unsecured crypto loans since December 2024.

2. The loans, mostly under $1,000 in USDC, are offered to individuals outside the US who lack traditional banking access.

3. The company uses Sam Altman’s World ID system for identity verification instead of requiring collateral.

4. Interest rates for these loans range from 20% to 30%, and lenders on the platform expect a return on their investments.

5. Founder Diego Estevez describes the initiative as 'microfinance on steroids,' targeting those excluded by traditional banks.