Economic aspects of real estate investment .

Certain use cases for virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and immersive virtual environments—particularly in the fields of education, healthcare, and gaming—hold demonstrable value. However, for these applications to yield broad social benefits rather than becoming fragmented or monopolized by a handful of powerful private entities, public policy must play a proactive role. A strong push toward interoperable and efficient payment systems, accompanied by well-defined standards for data privacy, digital ownership, and consumer protection, could significantly enhance market outcomes compared to a purely laissez-faire approach. At the same time, Web 3.0—the true revolution of the internet—is gaining momentum, steadily manifesting as a tangible and increasingly impactful domain that shows no signs of abating. The Metaverse era has dawned, marking a historical juncture where virtual and physical realities converge, thereby introducing an entirely new paradigm for digital life. It has become evident that the Metaverse—especially in its Web 3.0 iteration—is increasingly intertwined with real-world sectors such as real estate. Of particular note is the emerging concept of virtual land ownership. Following the heightened interest in the Metaverse after Meta’s announcement in 2021, numerous brands, investors, and individual users have begun acquiring virtual plots. Among the most high-profile transactions was one in Decentraland in 2021, where Tokens.com purchased 116 parcels for a record-breaking $2.4 million USD. It is crucial to emphasize that assets within the Metaverse are typically non-fungible tokens (NFTs), making them inherently unique and non-interchangeable. Furthermore, the blockchain infrastructure underlying these platforms ensures that each Metaverse operates within its own decentralized financial ecosystem, commonly referred to as cryptocurrency. Currently, blockchain-based Metaverse platforms offer two primary modes of access: traditional Web 2.0 logins—such as standard user registration or “Sign in with Google”—and the transformative Web 3.0 model, which enables users to authenticate via crypto wallets. This Web3 mechanism not only enhances security through blockchain verification but also facilitates ownership, trade, and broader participation in digital economies