The metaverse is a persistent, online, three-dimensional universe that combines various virtual spaces. Consider it a future iteration of the internet. Users will be able to collaborate, meet, game, and socialize in these 3D spaces thanks to the metaverse.
The metaverse does not yet exist in its entirety, but some platforms contain metaverse-like elements. Video games currently offer the closest metaverse experience available. Developers have pushed the definition of a game by hosting in-game events and creating virtual economies.
Cryptocurrencies, while not required, can be an excellent fit for a metaverse. They enable the creation of a digital economy through the use of various utility tokens and virtual collectibles (NFTs). The use of crypto wallets such as Trust Wallet and MetaMask would also benefit the metaverse. Furthermore, blockchain technology has the potential to provide transparent and dependable governance systems.
Existing blockchain and metaverse-like applications provide people with livable incomes. Axie Infinity is a popular play-to-earn game that many people use to supplement their income. SecondLive and Decentraland are two more examples of how blockchain and virtual reality apps can coexist successfully.
When it comes to the future, big tech companies are attempting to set the pace. However, the decentralized nature of the blockchain industry allows smaller players to participate in the development of the metaverse as well.
Introduction
The financial, virtual, and physical worlds have become increasingly intertwined. The devices we use to manage our lives give us instant access to almost anything we want. This has also affected the crypto ecosystem. NFTs, blockchain games, and crypto payments are no longer limited to crypto enthusiasts. They're all now easily accessible as part of a growing metaverse.
What is the meaning of a metaverse?
The metaverse is a 3D online virtual space that connects users in all aspects of their lives. It would connect multiple platforms, similar to how the internet connects various websites that can be accessed through a single browser.
Neal Stephenson's science-fiction novel Snow Crash introduced the concept. However, while the concept of a metaverse was once considered fiction, it now appears that it may become a reality in the future.
Augmented reality will power the metaverse, with each user controlling a character or avatar. For example, you could hold a mixed reality meeting in your virtual office using an Oculus VR headset, finish work and relax in a blockchain-based game, and then manage your crypto portfolio and finances all within the metaverse.
Some aspects of the metaverse can already be seen in existing virtual video game worlds. Games like Second Life and Fortnite, as well as workplace socialization tools like Gather.town, bring together various aspects of our lives in virtual worlds. While not the metaverse, these applications are somewhat similar. The metaverse does not yet exist.
The metaverse will support economies, digital identity, decentralized governance, and other applications in addition to gaming and social media. Even today, user creation and ownership of valuable items and currencies contribute to the development of a unified metaverse. All of these characteristics give blockchain the ability to power this future technology.
Why are video games linked to the metaverse?
Because of the emphasis on 3D virtual reality, video games currently provide the closest metaverse experience. This isn't just because they're in three dimensions. Video games now provide services and features that are applicable to other aspects of our lives. Roblox, a video game, even hosts virtual events such as concerts and meetups. Players no longer just play the game; they use it for other activities and aspects of their lives in "cyberspace." For example, 12.3 million Fortnite players participated in Travis Scott's virtual in-game music tour.
How does crypto fit into the metaverse?
Gaming provides the 3D aspect of the metaverse but does not cover all of the requirements for a virtual world that can cover all aspects of life. Crypto can provide the other critical components required, such as digital proof of ownership, value transfer, governance, and accessibility. But what exactly do these terms mean?
If we work, socialize, and even buy virtual items in the metaverse in the future, we'll need a secure way to prove ownership. We must also feel secure when moving these items and money around the metaverse. Finally, if the metaverse is going to be such a big part of our lives, we'll want to be a part of the decision-making process.
Some video games already include some basic solutions, but many developers prefer to use crypto and blockchain as a better option. While video game development is more centralized, blockchain provides a decentralized and transparent way of dealing with the topics.
Blockchain developers are also influenced by the video game industry. Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and GameFi both use gamification. There appear to be enough similarities in the future for the two worlds to become even more integrated. The following are the key aspects of blockchain that make it suitable for the metaverse:
1. Digital proof of ownership: If you have a wallet with access to your private keys, you can instantly prove ownership of a blockchain activity or asset. To demonstrate accountability, you could, for example, show an exact transcript of your transactions on the blockchain while at work. A wallet is one of the most secure and reliable ways to establish a digital identity and prove ownership.
2. Digital collectibility: Just as we can determine who owns something, we can also demonstrate that an item is original and one-of-a-kind. This is critical for a metaverse that wants to incorporate more real-life activities. We can use NFTs to create objects that are completely unique and cannot be replicated or forged. A blockchain can also represent physical item ownership.
3. Value transfer: A metaverse will require a secure method of transferring value that users can rely on. In-game currencies in multiplayer games are less secure than blockchain-based crypto. If users spend a significant amount of time in the metaverse and even earn money there, they will require a trustworthy currency.
4. Governance: Users should be able to control the rules of their interactions with the metaverse. In real life, we can vote in corporations and elect leaders and governments. The metaverse will also require methods for implementing fair governance, and blockchain is already a proven method for doing so.
5. Accessibility: Anyone in the world can create a wallet on public blockchains. Unlike a bank account, you are not required to pay any money or provide any information. As a result, it is one of the most accessible methods of managing finances and an online, digital identity.
6. Interoperability: Blockchain technology is constantly improving platform compatibility. Polkadot (DOT) and Avalanche (AVAX) projects enable the creation of custom blockchains that can interact with one another. A single metaverse will be required to connect multiple projects, for which blockchain technology already has solutions.
What exactly is a metaverse job?
As previously stated, the metaverse will bring all aspects of life together in one place. While many people already work from home, you will be able to enter a 3D office and interact with your colleagues' avatars in the metaverse. Your job could also be metaverse-related, providing you with income that you can use in the metaverse. In fact, jobs of this nature already exist in some form.
People all over the world now have consistent income streams thanks to GameFi and play-to-earn models. These online jobs are excellent candidates for future metaverse implementation because they demonstrate that people are willing to spend time living and earning in virtual worlds. Axie Infinity and Gods Unchained, for example, do not even have 3D worlds or avatars. However, they could be a part of the metaverse as a way to earn money entirely in the online world.
Examples of the Metaverse
While there is no single, linked metaverse yet, there are numerous platforms and projects that are similar to the metaverse. Typically, these include NFTs and other blockchain components. Consider the following three examples:
SecondLive
SecondLive is a three-dimensional virtual environment in which users control avatars for socializing, learning, and business. There is also an NFT marketplace for trading collectibles in the project. As part of its first anniversary, SecondLive will host Binance Smart Chain's Harvest Festival in September 2020. The virtual expo featured various projects from the BSC ecosystem that users could explore and interact with.
Axie Infinity
Axie Infinity is a play-to-earn game that allows players in developing countries to earn a consistent income. A player can begin farming the Smooth Love Potion (SLP) token by purchasing or being given three Axies. Someone selling on the open market could make between $200 and $1000 (USD) depending on how much they play and the market price.
While Axie Infinity does not provide a single 3D character or avatar, it does provide users with the opportunity to work in a metaverse-like environment. You may have heard the well-known story about Filipinos using it as an alternative to full-time employment or welfare.
Decentraland
Decentraland is a virtual world that combines social aspects with cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and virtual real estate. Furthermore, players participate actively in the platform's governance. NFTs, like those used in other blockchain games, are used to represent cosmetic collectibles. They're also used for LAND, which are 16x16 meter land parcels that players can buy in the game with the cryptocurrency MANA. All of these factors combine to form a complex crypto-economy.
What is the metaverse's future?
Facebook is one of the most vocal proponents of a unified metaverse. Because of Facebook's Diem stablecoin project, this is especially intriguing for a crypto-powered metaverse. Mark Zuckerberg has made it clear that he intends to use a metaverse project to support remote work and increase financial opportunities for people in developing countries. Because Facebook owns social media, communication, and cryptocurrency platforms, it has a good start in combining all of these worlds into one. Microsoft, Apple, and Google are among the other large tech companies aiming to build a metaverse.
Further integration between NFT marketplaces and 3D virtual universes appears to be the next step in a crypto-powered metaverse. NFT holders can already sell their goods from a variety of sources on marketplaces such as OpenSea and BakerySwap, but there is no widely used 3D platform for this. On a larger scale, blockchain developers may create popular metaverse-like applications with more organic users than a large tech behemoth.
Final thoughts
While a unified metaverse is probably a long way off, we can already see developments that could lead to its creation. It appears to be another sci-fi application for blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. It's unclear whether we'll ever get to the point of a metaverse. However, we can already experience metaverse-like projects and continue to integrate blockchain into our daily lives in the meantime.




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