If you've been around for the past two years, you should have heard the term "Metaverse" several times. Or more.

‍

In fact, you may have seen some news related to the Metaverse on Facebook just today, for example.

‍

But the thing is…

‍

Does anybody really know what the Metaverse is?

‍

Or how does this affect Web3?

‍

Or whether you should be investing in Metaverse projects?

‍

Because, if you don't, don't sweat it — that's what today's article is about.

‍

To explain what the Metaverse is, why you should care, and how you can invest and take advantage of this new universe brewing.

‍

So, now, without further ado…

‍

Suit up, because we're going on a trip around the Metaverse!

‍

What is the Metaverse?

‍

On a high level, the Metaverse is a fictional universe in which integrated virtual environments coexist with users.

‍

Which means… It's a VR space in which you can have a character (or Avatar) to move around, engage with other people, and sometimes even own assets.

‍

Just like The Conversation says, the Metaverse is…

‍

"An integrated network of 3D virtual worlds. These worlds are accessed through a virtual reality headset — users navigate the Metaverse using their eye movements, feedback controllers, or voice commands. 

‍

The headset immerses the user, stimulating what is known as presence, created by generating the physical sensation of actually being there.

‍

To see the Metaverse in action, we can look at popular massively multiplayer virtual reality games such as Rec Room or Horizon Worlds, where participants use avatars to interact with each other and manipulate their environment."

‍

Now, there are several layers to this that ACHE for clarification:

‍

To enter the Metaverse, you'll need a VR headset — a head-mounted device that provides an immersive experience to the user.

‍

Also, while navigating through the Metaverse, you'll be able to move, touch, and even communicate with other users. But rest assured, the 'feel' aspect is limited. It's not like you'll get hurt or anything.

‍

It's like having a way to "fool" your brain to think you're actually in the spot the Metaverse is set on.

‍

And while only the imagination can give us a glimpse of what the Metaverse could be, developers are currently cooking some wild stuff to wow our brains.

‍

And that's always worth keeping an eye on for future investment purposes… Especially if you're into Web3 investing.

‍

‍

What is the Metaverse like right now?

‍

Pretty much like a 3D social network, to put it that way.

‍

See, the Metaverse is on ongoing expansion. Developers are getting more and more creative. And with the current efforts focused on Web3 development, we're at the point where you'll soon be able to do the unthinkable inside this virtual world in a good way.

‍

For instance…

‍

Wired, like they said in their Metaverse article, states that to sell the future look of what this new cyberspace could be, Web3 developers must rely on some sense of familiarity for users to "buy it in":

‍

"The paradox of defining the Metaverse is that you have to define the present for it to be the future. We already have MMOs that are essentially entire virtual worlds, digital concerts, video calls with people from all over the world, online avatars, and commerce platforms. So to sell these things as a new vision of the world, there has to be some element of it that's new.

‍

Spend enough time discussing the Metaverse, and someone will inevitably (and exhaustingly) reference fictional stories like Snow Crash—the 1992 novel that coined the term "metaverse"—or Ready Player One, which depicts a VR world where everyone works, plays, and shops. 

‍

Combined with the general pop culture idea of holograms and heads-up displays (basically anything Iron Man has used in his last 10 movies), these stories serve as an imaginative reference point for what the Metaverse—a metaverse that tech companies might actually sell as something new—could look like."

‍

Another great way to explain what the Metaverse looks like right now is simply looking at Decentraland. A Web3 OG.

‍

This DAO allows users to create their Avatars and explore LANDS (as they define it) — all designed by community members.

‍

To make it more interesting…

‍

You can even sell LAND. Invest in LAND. And trade LAND as well.

‍

So, essentially, we're witnessing the origins of a new digital economy — very similar to what NFTs are and what cryptocurrencies once were.

‍

And sure, it's fine. But you may be thinking…

‍

"Why should I care?"

‍

Let's put it this way:

‍

Facebook (now META) changed its name for a reason. They are and will continue to be heavily invested in the Metaverse, and, therefore, Web3.

‍

Marketing, socials, and transactions as we know them will eventually transform.

‍

And being ahead of schedule is always the right thing to do. Especially if you're into investing.

‍

Like a wise man once said: "3 days before a deadline is where excellence is."

‍

And the deadline for investing in Metaverse seems far away…

‍

But time's running out. Each day that goes by.

‍

And you should also care because the top 1% of companies worldwide are taking the Metaverse more seriously… Putting their money where their mouth is.

‍

For example: Nike. They filed seven trademark applications in 2021 to make and sell virtual sneakers.

‍

Or Walmart, who appears to be venturing into the Metaverse with plans to create its own cryptocurrency and collection of NFTs.

‍

And, of course, Microsoft's massive US$68.7 billion acquisition of game developing giant Activision Blizzard.

‍

So, what does that say to you and us?

‍

We're at the edge of something big. And it has a lot to do with Web3.

‍

If big companies are investing… We'd say it's safe to assume that everyone else should. 

‍

‍

Where could we see the Metaverse in 10 years?

‍

Disclaimer: most of the following information is purely assumptive. 

‍

This means there's no sure way to know where the Metaverse will be in the next 10 years… But that doesn't mean we cannot do our best to read the room.

‍

There are 3 "predictions" that we, Spark + Mint, consider most accurate.

‍

First one would be The Economic Times's take: The Metaverse being the new normal for remote working.

‍

"With major players like Meta entering this space and confidently signaling it could be the new future, it is only a matter of time before we see other entities following suit. It could lead to an exponential expansion of the boundaries of the Metaverse and unlock vast volumes of value hitherto unknown to consumers and investors alike. 

‍

The future of Metaverse also spans on an idea of running openly, almost without any interruption from a single community or company, as the participation of creators will be from across the world as more brands are looking to open their outlets on the broader Metaverse just like on the internet of the current times."

‍

Now, for the second prediction, we'll take The New York's Post words here: We might actually be able to travel the world inside the Metaverse.

‍

"Imagine scaling Everest, swimming with hammerheads, or skydiving over the Grand Canyon — without ever leaving your living room. All will supposedly be possible in the Metaverse, a new level of virtual reality being developed by the world's top tech gurus.

‍

In its fully realized form, the Metaverse promises to offer true-to-life sights, sounds and even smells, where a tour of ancient Greece or a visit to a Seoul café can happen from your home, Curry said. Decked out with full-spectrum VR headsets, smart clothing and tactile-responsive haptic gloves, the at-home traveler can touch the Parthenon in Athens or taste the rich foam of a Korean dalgona coffee."

‍

Finally, the last prediction comes from META — through Digitaltrends's words: Metaverse's complete form or capacity may be in sight already. And it's 5-10 years ahead.

‍

"We think the metaverse will build on this foundation to become the next generation of the internet and the next evolution in social technology," said Ruth Bram, Meta executive producer. "Both the hardware and software need more work, and it may take five to 10 years to fully bring it to life."

‍

Bram went on to emphasize that the Metaverse has been pioneered by gaming in how it has allowed developers to build in 3D and people to connect in new ways. But according to the quote above, it might take longer for the larger concept of the Metaverse to be fully realized."

‍

And… If you ask us, it's as real as Web3 developers want it to become. Facebook is hands-on. Investing people are into it too. So, it's just a matter of time…

‍

A matter of 5-10 years, to be precise.

‍

How does Crypto tie in here?

‍

Crypto, Metaverse, and Web3 are thick as thieves.

‍

Just like Fool says: 

‍

"The Metaverse, cryptocurrency, Web3. Besides all three of these things being hot technology buzzwords, what do they have in common? For many tech developers and investors, the Metaverse and Crypto are intertwined and will become part of Web3 -- a decentralized internet controlled by individual users rather than big companies."

‍

But not only that.

‍

Crypto technology and Metaverse come from the same mind: Satoshi Nakamoto.

‍

Thanks to Blockchain technology, both Web3 and Crypto are co-existent.

‍

It's what reduces the cost and speed between transactions and information sharing. What gives life to this virtual ecosystem.

‍

To add importance to the use of Crypto in the Metaverse, it's important to remember that cryptocurrencies were precisely designed to allow the users to regain control of their finances — and its decentralized autonomy that the Metaverse enables the user to experience as well.

‍

Allowing Fool to continue with the subject…

‍

"There are lots of 3D immersive worlds in existence today, such as video games where players can interact with each other in real-time. By some definitions, though, these 3D worlds don't truly become part of the Metaverse until they have a fully-fledged digital economy.

Many of these games and services allow users to purchase digital items. For avid video gamers, this is a common practice. Outfits and accessories can be purchased to customize your in-game look or improve player performance. Cloud computing-based services utilize a similar concept, enabling a free-to-use or cheap starter package but locking premium or add-on features behind a paywall."

‍

So, your BTC, Solana, or Ethereum might come in handy for a quick shopping sesh at the Metaverse after all.

‍

‍

How do I invest in the Metaverse?

‍

As of today, there are three main ways to get yourself into the Metaverse investment world:

‍

• Virtual land
• Non-fungible tokens representing art or merchandise
• Cryptocurrency used in the Metaverse, such as MANA or SAND.

‍

Let's break each one down to lay out more details.

‍

Virtual land. Same as Real Estate, but in the Metaverse. You can buy pieces of virtual land and trade them for other assets — or, like Crypto, you can invest and hold your virtual land for when prices go up.

‍

It's still early, so as general advice, waiting until prices go up seems like the wisest thing to do.

‍

You can learn more about virtual land in Decentraland, for instance.

‍

Gobankingrates lays out the details on investing in NFTs (in the Metaverse), and they say:

‍

"The world-famous art gallery and auction firm, Sotheby's, runs a digital art gallery in Decentraland, Sotheby's Metaverse. Here, you can purchase NFTs of digital art. You can also purchase merchandise in the form of NFTs from top brands like Gucci or Adidas.

‍

If you're purchasing NFTs in the Metaverse, you'll need to login to the Metaverse through the platform or world of your choice, connect your cryptocurrency wallet and make your purchase."

‍

On a high level, you can buy NFT art from the Metaverse as it's easy to accomplish. It's a fan favorite because NFTs are becoming more common over the years and people know what to look for and avoid. So, it's also a safe bet.

‍

And finally…

‍

You can also invest in the Metaverse by purchasing Crypto. Coins like MANA and SAND are in places like Coinbase, so finding their value and fulfilling the transaction shouldn't be any issue.

‍

But, as with any type of Metaverse investment… Doing your own research is the best way to go first. And we recently released a blog showing you how to do just that.

‍

For more insights, there's just one more thing to do…

‍

Subscribing to our Newsletter!

‍

We launch weekly updates and insights on everything Crypto, Web3, and Metaverse, so your research takes less time, and you get a trusted source of information in a noisy world.

‍

Thanks again for reading, fellow enthusiasts.

‍

Until next time!

‍

- The Spark + Mint Team