A Beginner’s Guide To The Metaverse & Metaverse Stocks
Facebook’s Meta Platforms has brought mainstream attention to “the metaverse.” Though this isn’t something completely new, it has sparked interest from the public, looking for ways to take advantage of what some call the evolution of the internet. Metaverse stocks are quickly making their way onto watch lists right now. It’s overwhelming at times with such a broad scope as to what can or can’t be considered a metaverse company. Lucky for you, you’ve landed on this page.
What Is The Metaverse?
There are many nuances to the metaverse. In this article, we’ll look at the “big picture” definition of the metaverse. If you’re familiar with the movie Ready Player One or ever dabbled with games like Second Life, you’ve seen the metaverse in action. This is a virtual ecosystem or environment where people can engage and interact similarly to how they would in real life. But there’s a digital twist.
An avatar becomes your eyes and ears in this virtual landscape. This comes with a slew of opportunities both for users and businesses to capitalize on. Everything from digital assets and gaming to virtual and even real estate has a place in the metaverse. Since this is such a fledgling industry, there is still no definitive rule that says a company can or can’t be considered a metaverse company.
Non-Meta Brands Jumping Into The Metaverse: A Sign Of What’s To Come
If you bought virtual Nike (NYSE:NKE) sneakers for your avatar, could that make Nike a metaverse stock? Shopping in a virtual storefront and purchasing virtual products then sending them to a physical address so you and your avatar can “twin” your way through both worlds doesn’t seem unlikely either. You should also consider the company’s latest push for its virtual world, NIKELAND using the Roblox platform as its host. The fact that the brand is already making a play on the metaverse could signify things to come. There are myriad ways that the metaverse could become an active part of everyday life, and those ways might not even be a reality yet.
What’s more, the idea of “metaverse” and its search interest has become a trendy topic on Google starting in the fourth quarter of 2021 (see Google Trends image above). I think now, more than ever, could be your time to start getting familiar with the metaverse and how that can impact you as an investor.
The Metaverse Check-List
If you’re new to “the metaverse,” here’s a quick checklist to understand what you’re looking at when it comes to companies within this new niche: