Metaverse: The Future of Digital Experience

What Is the Metaverse Really?

The Metaverse represents a vision of a permanent, online virtual world where users can work, meet, play, and build social lives in a completely digital environment. Industry specialists refer to it as the “internet of experiences” or “3D internet” — it will be the next generation of the Internet, where physical and virtual reality will seamlessly integrate. This concept is inextricably linked to the idea of Web3 and the creation of a more decentralized digital ecosystem.

The history of the term “metaverse” dates back to the science fiction novel “Snow Crash” by Neal Stephenson from 1992, where the author imagined a virtual universe coexisting with physical reality. This vision included elements of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality — technologies that are rapidly developing today.

From Vision to Reality

Although the ideal version of the metaverse has not yet been fully realized, the underlying technologies are already maturing. Numerous tech companies are experimenting with various versions of virtual worlds — some openly use the term “metaverse,” while others prefer different nomenclature. Interestingly, many people consider video games to be the first successful manifestation of the metaverse — platforms like Roblox and Fortnite already offer experiences close to Stephenson's vision.

Blockchain as the Foundation of the Metaverse

Blockchain technology is not mandatory for the functioning of the metaverse, but it is perfectly suited for it. Blockchain enables the creation of digital economies with their own currencies, utility tokens, and digital collectibles (NFT), which users actually own and can freely exchange — even between different metaverses.

The integration of cryptocurrency wallets in the metaverse would give users full control over their virtual assets and ensure transparency in transactions. Additionally, blockchain creates the opportunity to implement trustworthy management systems that will support future metaverse ecosystems and guarantee user security in digital worlds.