The Impact of the Metaverse on Blockchain in E-commerce

Blockchain technology has seen growth in e-commerce, and a new report indicates the metaverse will enhance its market share.

Market Valuation of the Metaverse

The metaverse is projected to reach a market valuation of $255 billion by 2033, driven by various factors. This growth represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 39% from $9.5 billion in 2025.

Immersive Shopping Experiences

The metaverse enables users to engage in immersive virtual worlds with technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Although still developing, metaverse applications show promise, enabling shoppers to experience physical retail spaces directly from their devices.

A major catalyst for this growth is consumers’ increasing desire for immersive shopping experiences over traditional browsing. Brands focusing on personalized shopping are set to see significant activity increases.

Venture Capital Investments

In response to this shift, venture capital (VC) firms are heavily investing in companies developing virtual stores. A report by market.us points to rising investments in innovative market strategies and forecasts continued investment through late 2030.

Role of Blockchain

Blockchain technology is common among service providers aiming to enhance transparency and security. The software sector will remain dominant, supported by advances in metaverse platforms, while hardware, particularly VR headsets, is expected to gain traction post-2025 due to lower prices.

Future Forecasts

The report anticipates a surge in virtual events in the metaverse, akin to trade fairs, allowing brands to reach wider audiences and enhance engagement. With rising market capitalization expected—potentially reaching $10 trillion by decade’s end—the metaverse has applications across various sectors including gaming, social media, and DeFi.

However, this growth comes with risks, such as “meta crimes” like identity theft and other offenses, prompting regulators and tech firms to prepare protective measures.

Gaming in the Metaverse

Rockstar Games is reportedly considering transforming the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) into a metaverse environment, leveraging user-generated content and immersive experiences.

Discussions with creators from platforms like Fortnite and Roblox aim to integrate custom assets into the game. These collaborations suggest that creators could earn revenue through custom item purchases, although specifics remain undisclosed.

The metaverse plans are expected to apply primarily to GTA 6 Online. While details on in-game changes are minimal, Rockstar aims to enhance participant engagement akin to existing offerings in GTA 5 Online.

The launch of GTA 6 is anticipated in Fall 2025, nearly 13 years after GTA 5 debuted in 2013.

Mainstream Applications

The metaverse is also creeping into mainstream applications, with gaming leading as a use case. Game publishers are gradually integrating NFTs, and enthusiasts anticipate that combining metaverse capabilities with artificial intelligence (AI) will create more immersive gaming experiences.

Gamers can expect improved interactions from non-playable characters (NPCs) as this technological merger unfolds.

Watch: The Web3 trifecta: AI, metaverse & blockchain

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