How does Worldcoin plan to solve for people in wealthier countries not wanting to scan their eyeballs (because the UBI isn't meaningful enough)?

Likely through a long tail of value props beyond the financial incentive 

For example, apps that require proof of personhood to use them, or voting schemes that require you to verify as a unique human 

Also early adoption of new technology often happens in developed countries b/c it is seen as high status

Building /bright-moments - minting onchain art IRL | /purple #15 | FID 129 #magikarp

Phone payments. Long before venmo and Apple Pay there was mpesa in Kenya

Many things pioneered in America (and arguably more recently China) and then adopted by established countries.

“Developing” startups also frequently pioneer technology that “developed” big companies then adopt.

I get your point, of course — but ascending/descending world is IMO a better descriptor today.

But wouldn’t world coin tech be developed to developed? And in a borderless society things seem to shift in how this works, no?

What historical technology have been adopted in developing countries and then become the norm and high status in developed countries?