Although the concept of the metaverse is almost 40 years old, in 2022 they burst onto the scene in a powerful way by reaching decentralized cryptocurrency networks. However, the rage of these innovations has passed, and there are even those who say that it is just a fad.
An example of the loss of public interest in metaverses can be seen in the price of MANA, a native token of the Decentraland virtual world. It reached an all-time high in 2021, when the token reached a price of USD 5. Since then it has been in a downward trend.
Currently, the MANA token is priced at $0.25. That represents a 95% decline from the all-time high.as seen in the following graph.
However, a study by Dr. Lennart Ante, director of research company Blockchain Research Lab, noted that there are investors in metaverses. In this case, Retail investors stand “seduced” by the beauty of virtual lands.
The company sees the emergence of digital land as an asset class that is not only a “technological phenomenon” but also a “sociocultural and economic one.”
The various virtual worlds “have matured into multifaceted platforms,” ​​as they are not seen as investment vehicles, but have expanded to become “canvases for personal expression and centers for community participation.” ,” highlights Blockchain Research Lab.
4 types of investors in virtual lands
According to research, there are four groups of investors in the virtual real estate sector. The first is what the company calls “digital expressionists”.
This group sees metaverses as an “infinite canvas on which you can paint your own personality,” as they try to capture their personal and characteristic style in these virtual worlds. Besides, They saw an opportunity to turn their creativity into commerce.
“More than property – it’s about carving a virtual self, curating surreal experiences and being able to transform passions into profitable digital businesses.”
Blockchain Research Lab, research company.
The second group is called “social architects.” These investors are also community builders, social connections, and digital diplomats.
Besides seeing it as a virtual land, they try to give it a sense of belonging, enhanced by participating in events, activities and digital neighborhoods.
This group sees real estate in the metaverse as “a powerful combination of community belonging, social elevation, and pragmatic utility, all cemented in the universal language of digital connectivity.”
The third group of investors are “pixel hunters.” it They focus entirely on speculation and investment virtual earth. “They are day traders, but from digital landscapes. They buy low, sell high and do it quickly,” the investigation showed.
Last but not least are the “pioneers of the digital frontier.” They see the metaverse as “a revolution waiting to happen.” The investors of this group focus on understanding the technology that powers virtual worlds and all under them. They use their digital designs as an experimental ground for new applications, interfaces and experiences.
“In essence, they are the navigators of a new world, with their eyes open to a horizon of limitless technological possibilities.”
Blockchain Research Lab, research company
The main metaverses are The Sandbox, Decentraland and Otherside. In these virtual worlds, as well as in the real world, the price is determined by the location. In December 2021, a digital property adjacent to the mansion of American rapper Snoop Dogg, It came at a price of $450,000.introduces the company.
Likewise, companies have a presence in these worlds. Last June, the Bank of Chile built a virtual building and the South Korean company Samsung opened a virtual copy of its store located in New York City in 2022. Both do it on the Ethereum-based platform , Decentraland, as reported by CriptoNoticias.
“In a digital renaissance of brand engagement and real estate valuation, the crypto metaverse has emerged as the new place where imagination meets investment, or marketing meets economics,” the research added.