A recent survey conducted by Paypal indicated that 80% of metaverse users currently utilize cryptocurrencies in their virtual activities. The study, which included 10,000 adult metaverse participants, also revealed that 56% of respondents expect their use of digital assets to increase over the next five years.
The metaverse is becoming increasingly intertwined with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH), and robux (RBX), the latter being the digital currency used within the Roblox platform. As the metaverse continues to grow, users are showing interest in getting paid in cryptocurrencies rather than traditional fiat money. This preference remains strong despite the volatile nature of digital asset markets.
However, the metaverse also faces significant challenges with concerns around the interoperability and safety of funds. According to the Paypal survey, in order for virtual currencies to effectively function as a unit of account, medium of exchange, and store of value, metaverse financial infrastructure needs to provide money interoperability. This involves ensuring compatibility across multiple metaverse platforms, between metaverse platforms and other online environments, as well as between virtual and physical worlds.
Security is another aspect that survey respondents emphasize. Users are seeking digital wallets that offer protection against fraud and enable secure storage of their digital assets. The development of more sophisticated digital wallets could also extend to incorporating avatar verification and interoperability within the metaverse.
Despite setbacks involving companies such as Meta (formerly Facebook) and Microsoft, other businesses like Fidelity and Gucci continue to explore potential avenues within the metaverse’s budding landscape. The Paypal survey suggests that the metaverse won’t necessarily be a replacement for our physical lives, but rather a complement to them.
Spending within the metaverse is on the rise, with current annual spending estimated at $28 billion by nearly 38 million users. The survey predicts that over the next five years, the combined spending of current and future users in the United States alone will average $92.7 billion per year.
As the metaverse and cryptocurrencies become more prominent in our daily lives, it’s essential to strike a balance between encouraging development and addressing the challenges entailed. Establishing secure, interoperable financial infrastructures and digital wallets can help create a thriving, inclusive metaverse for users and businesses alike.
Source: Blockworks
