In 2020 and 2021, the hype surrounding the metaverse as a concept reached a fever pitch. Facebook changed its name to “Meta,” and several other services and companies soon switched their focus towards entering this brand-new space and shaking things up. However, 2022 came, and the market for the Metaverse product soon dried up. Primarily, companies were forced to pull back their resources and focus on survival, and that meant that concepts like non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and the metaverse had to be put on the back burner for the meantime. Because the metaverse is still very much attached to the traditional crypto space, there has been a lot of excitement about a possible rebound this year. Coin prices have made a considerable comeback, and the hope is that the metaverse is next in line for a bounce. However, the space is also seeing the introduction of new projects and concepts that could easily redefine our view of the metaverse and what it stands for. We’ve interviewed Marco Tonetti; the founder of Metable - a groundbreaking project looking to create a metaverse platform with the use of blockchain technology - to understand his view of the market going forward: 1. Can the metaverse really become the new frontier for social interactions? The metaverse, with its blend of virtual reality, augmented reality, and blockchain, offers a revolutionary platform for social interactions, challenging the constraints of physical distance and traditional social environments. It enables people to meet, collaborate, and share experiences in virtual spaces that are as diverse as the real world. This digital frontier fosters a new level of engagement and community, where interactions are not only about communication but also about shared experiences and collaborative creation. The immersive nature of the metaverse opens up opportunities for more profound, meaningful connections, redefining what it means to socialize in the 21st century. 2. What does the metaverse offer brands and business interests that could attract them to it? In the e-learning and education sector, the metaverse offers innovative avenues for immersive learning experiences. For example, Arizona State University partnered with Dreamscape Learn to create immersive VR biology labs, allowing students to explore and interact with biological concepts in ways that traditional classrooms cannot offer. This approach not only enhances student engagement and understanding but also opens up new possibilities for remote learning, making education more accessible. Such real-world applications demonstrate the metaverse's potential to transform educational methodologies, offering interactive, engaging, and accessible learning experiences that transcend traditional boundaries. 3. With the crypto market now rebounding, do you envisage a better market environment for the metaverse? The resurgence of the crypto market is a boon for the metaverse sector, especially for initiatives like Metable that intertwine blockchain technology with e-learning. A healthier crypto market boosts investor confidence, leading to increased investments in innovative metaverse projects. For instance, platforms like Decentraland and The Sandbox have seen significant growth and investment, underscoring the potential for educational projects within the metaverse to attract funding and interest. This environment fosters technological advancement and broader adoption, indicating a promising horizon for Metable and similar endeavors in blending education with cutting-edge digital landscapes. 4. What is the unique value proposition for Metable, and what makes it stand out from other established metaverse platforms? Metable differentiates itself by uniquely integrating blockchain with e-learning in the metaverse, focusing on decentralization to ensure equitable access, transparency, and a secure learning environment. Unlike traditional platforms, Metable empowers users with control over their educational data and achievements, facilitating a global, inclusive educational community. This approach not only enhances learning experiences but also fosters innovation in delivering educational content, setting Metable apart in the evolving landscape of digital education. 5. How does decentralization play a role in determining the future of the metaverse as we know it? Decentralization is critical in evolving the metaverse into an ecosystem where users have unprecedented control and ownership over their data and digital assets. This shift promises a future where privacy is safeguarded, and access to digital experiences is democratized, enabling a more open and equitable digital world. By distributing power from central authorities to individual users, decentralization fosters innovation, enhances security, and ensures a more transparent and fair digital realm, which is pivotal for the sustainable growth of the metaverse. Conclusion The metaverse hype is returning, slowly. Markets are looking up once more, and this means that a lot of people are looking to buy into the metaverse hype. However, it is important to focus more on projects that have a unique value proposition, instead of just those capitalizing on the hype.
