The metaverse: mirage or virtual reality?

The metaverse, this 3D digital utopia that promises to merge our physical and virtual existences, remains largely a theoretical concept. I see it as a kind of Internet of the future, where we could work, socialize, and play in persistent three-dimensional spaces.

Today, this parallel world doesn't really exist. Video games are probably the closest embodiment of it, constantly pushing the boundaries with their virtual events and sophisticated internal economies.

Cryptocurrencies seem perfectly suited to this vision. They would allow for the establishment of a digital economy with utility tokens and virtual collectibles (NFT). Our crypto wallets would become our digital identities, while the blockchain would ensure the transparency of governance systems.

Some hybrid applications already exist and generate real income for their users. I'm thinking of Axie Infinity, the game where thousands of people earn a living by farming tokens. SecondLive and Decentraland also illustrate this merge between blockchain and virtual reality.

Technology giants are aggressively positioning themselves in this field, but the decentralized nature of blockchain also allows smaller players to participate in this collective building.

The boundaries between our financial, virtual, and physical worlds are quickly fading. Our devices give us access to almost everything with a single click. The crypto ecosystem is no exception to this trend, with its NFTs, blockchain games, and digital payments that are no longer reserved for just enthusiasts.

The very concept of the metaverse comes from a science fiction novel - “Snow Crash” by Neal Stephenson. What was pure fiction could soon become our daily reality.

In this parallel universe, everyone would control their avatar. I imagine attending a meeting with a VR headset in my virtual office, then relaxing in a blockchain game before managing my crypto portfolio - all without leaving the metaverse.

Blockchain brings essential elements to this vision: proof of digital ownership, certified unique items, secure value transfers, fair governance, universal accessibility, and interoperability between platforms.

Working in the metaverse? It's already a reality for some. Models like “play to earn” provide stable income to people around the world, demonstrating our willingness to live and work in these virtual worlds.

Despite the enthusiasm of large tech companies, I remain skeptical about the emergence of a truly unified metaverse in the short term. The next step seems to be further integration between NFT markets and 3D virtual worlds.

While waiting for this hypothetical future, we can already experiment with proto-metaverse projects and integrate blockchain more into our daily lives, without certainty that this science fiction vision will fully materialize one day.