World launches Mini Apps 1.2, $300K Dev Rewards pilot to inspire new human-first apps

As World continues to scale, Mini Apps are scaling with it to benefit not only the 25 million World App holders but the developers contributing to World Network every day. 

Introducing Mini Apps 1.2 and the new Developer Rewards pilot program. These two significant updates are designed to enhance the Mini Apps experience and inspire innovation across World Network.

First introduced in October 2024, Mini Apps are web applications that live natively inside World App and leverage powerful tools like World ID and the World Wallet to create fun, entertaining and useful apps and services for everyday use. 

Mini Apps 1.2 introduces a series of upgrades that make interacting with Mini Apps even smoother, more intuitive and more convenient than ever. They include:

• 2x faster speed for significantly improved load times.
• Haptic feedback for instant, tactile responses and a more immersive experience.
• Mini App customization to let you reorder your Mini Apps inside World App.
• Widget support to quickly access Mini Apps from your home screen.
• Spotlight search integration to easily find and launch Mini Apps directly from search.

With more than 150 Mini Apps available and over 10M WLD* transacted within Mini Apps, these updates make it fun and easy to engage with your favorite ones, which ultimately increases discoverability and retention for developers.

“World’s proof-of-human system gave us the confidence to offer microloans without requiring collateral,” said Diego, creator of the Credit Mini App. “It means that if someone fails to pay their loan, we can remove them—and they can’t just come back with a new account. The ability to ensure that kind of accountability is why Credit has already reached over 70,000 users.”

To further support builders, World is also piloting a new Developer Rewards program, beginning on April 1, 2025. The program rewards qualifying developers on a monthly basis based on how many verified humans use and benefit from their applications.

The initial three month pilot seeks to distribute the equivalent of $300K USD in Developer Rewards, paid in WLD, with the potential for extension based on the program’s success. This initiative aims to reward developers who push the boundaries of Mini Apps and introduce innovative use cases for both World ID and the World Wallet. 

Read the full terms and conditions here. If you have a Mini App live, you can apply here. 

By combining the power of Mini Apps 1.2’s enhanced functionality with the Developer Rewards Program’s financial support, builders can scale their ideas faster, experiment with new concepts and unlock the full potential of verifiably human interactions online.

To stay informed on the latest Mini Apps and developer updates from World, along with other exciting news and announcements, visit the World website or subscribe to the blog below.

You can also join the daily conversation on all World social media channels, or get additional important information concerning the project by reading the World protocol whitepaper.