Virtual Asset "New Era": A Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering the Wealth Secrets of the Metaverse and NFTs

Have you noticed that buying LINE stickers with virtual emojis has become part of daily life? But have you ever thought about what the real difference is between purchasing virtual land in Decentraland and trading digital art on OpenSea? The core distinction is simple: the former you control “temporary rights to enterprise servers,” while the latter you hold “genuine assets that can circulate across any virtual world.”

The secret behind this lies in the technological innovations of blockchain and NFT. This article will guide you to a deep understanding of how the metaverse operates and how ordinary investors can participate.

What exactly is the Metaverse? From Science Fiction to Reality

The concept of the Metaverse did not appear out of nowhere. In 1992, science fiction writer Neal Stephenson first depicted this idea in his novel Snow Crash: a virtual space parallel to the real world, where everyone has their own virtual avatar and can engage in various activities.

Today, the definition of the Metaverse has evolved into: a visually rich, highly immersive virtual environment where users can work, entertain, shop, and socialize—all supported by blockchain technology and NFT assets.

Venture capitalist Matthew Ball once made a classic comment: “The Metaverse represents the fourth wave of computing after mainframes, personal computers, and mobile devices.” This is not just market hype but a reflection of the evolution of computing itself.

Blockchain and NFT: The “Twin Engines” of the Metaverse

Blockchain technology provides a decentralized and tamper-proof data structure, while NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) on this foundation give virtual assets a unique identity.

In simple terms, NFTs are the “anti-counterfeit ID cards” in the Metaverse:

✓ Grant virtual assets uniqueness—each NFT is one of a kind
✓ Prove asset ownership—ensured by blockchain records
✓ Enable cross-platform trading—breaking the barriers of single-platform restrictions

What happens to virtual worlds without NFT support? They will face the following dilemmas:

⚠️ Inability to resell game items, with their value forever locked on a company’s server
⚠️ Virtual clothing designed for creativity can only be worn by oneself, with no commercial monetization avenues
⚠️ Constructed metaverse real estate may vanish instantly under a platform’s decree, leaving assets worthless

Below are the core differences between traditional digital assets and NFT assets:

How the Metaverse Boom Drives the Crypto Market

The Metaverse and the crypto market are closely linked—“one prospers, the other benefits.” Whenever the concept of the Metaverse gains market recognition, it attracts large capital inflows into related tokens and NFT projects.

Data from the last bull market:

In the 2021 crypto bull run, Decentraland’s MANA token surged by an astonishing 4,100%, far exceeding Bitcoin’s gains during the same period. The Sandbox’s virtual land prices soared from 1,000 yuan to 45,000 yuan, even outpacing Taipei real estate appreciation. This wave drew countless investors to pour real money into it.

But prosperity is always followed by a correction. As the crypto market peaks and retraces, the floor prices of NFT assets in metaverse projects also continue to hit new lows. Many projects’ floor prices have been halved, and some trading volumes have dropped to zero, falling into an awkward state of neglect.

From a longer-term perspective, the development of the Metaverse still holds future potential—relying on technological innovation, increased user engagement, and sustainable ecosystem construction. But for investors, timing and project selection are crucial.

How Ordinary People Can Buy and Trade NFTs? A Complete Guide

For ordinary investors without development skills, directly purchasing NFTs or related tokens is the most feasible way to participate in the Metaverse. Fortunately, after the last bull market, major blockchains have established relatively mature NFT trading ecosystems.

Step 1: Choose a Trading Platform

The most mainstream NFT trading platform is OpenSea. Although there are other options, their functionalities are similar. Learning OpenSea allows you to apply the knowledge to other platforms.

Step 2: Set Up a Digital Wallet

Before any transaction, you need your own crypto wallet. MetaMask is the most commonly used, compatible with OpenSea and other platforms, enabling buying, selling, and transferring assets.

Visit the OpenSea official website, click the “Connect Wallet” button at the top right, and select MetaMask for authorization. The first connection will require you to accept terms and create an account (note: this process is completely free, with no account opening fees). If your wallet has sufficient funds, you can proceed directly; otherwise, you need to recharge first.

Step 3: Purchase Cryptocurrency

Transactions typically require Ethereum (ETH) or other cryptocurrencies as payment. You can buy them on major exchanges like OKX or Binance and transfer to your MetaMask wallet.

Step 4: Find and Purchase NFT Projects

After entering OpenSea, browse various NFT projects. When you find a piece you like, click to buy and proceed with payment. If the listed price seems high, you can participate in auctions, often paying below the floor price, but this involves time risk and potential price reversion.

Step 5: Sell Your NFTs

When you want to cash out, go to your profile, find the NFT, and select “List Item” to sell. You can choose to list directly or participate in an auction, setting a reasonable price and duration. Once sold, you will automatically receive the digital asset.

You can also accept offers from others (usually below the floor price). If you need quick cash or think the price is fair, accepting offers is also an option.

Three Don’ts You Must Remember When Playing the Metaverse

• Don’t input your private key on unfamiliar platforms—your private key is like your bank password. Once leaked, you lose control entirely. Treat it as a life-long taboo.
• Don’t use the same password for all accounts—this is like putting all your eggs in one basket. If one platform is hacked, all accounts are compromised.
• Don’t trust “guaranteed get-rich-quick” NFT airdrop ads—these are 99% scams. There are no free lunches in the world.

Investment Tips for Beginners: Risk Awareness and Recommendations

Metaverse investments have obvious liquidity issues. Compared to stocks or mainstream cryptocurrencies, many NFT projects lack trading depth, leading to “illiquidity”—you may not be able to sell at your desired price, or face no buyers at all.

Start with small amounts for trial and error, rather than risking everything.

Another hidden risk is the prevalence of scams. Many projects claiming to be metaverse-related have no real application; they are essentially air hype. When market sentiment wanes, their prices can plummet sharply, leaving investors with total losses. Unless you have exceptional speculative skills, it’s best to stay away from unfamiliar or unknown metaverse projects.

Comparison: Metaverse vs Other Investment Methods

Is the Future of the Metaverse Worth Looking Forward To?

Long-term, the Metaverse still has broad prospects. Tech giants like Meta (formerly Facebook), Microsoft, and Google are investing heavily, indicating mainstream capital’s recognition of its potential.

On the technical side: Virtual reality and artificial intelligence will become the core pillars. As hardware matures and algorithms improve, immersion and interaction will greatly enhance.

Economically: Virtual economies will continue to expand within the overall economy. New business models and industry chains are expected to emerge, enabling deep integration of virtual and real worlds.

In short, the Metaverse has the potential to reshape human social interaction, work methods, and economic exchanges.

Meanwhile, NFTs as the ownership carriers of virtual assets are expected to evolve into more application forms and supporting mechanisms. With the gradual improvement of relevant laws and regulations, industry entry barriers will lower, and malicious behaviors will be effectively curbed.

Common Questions and Answers

Q: Are the Metaverse and NFTs essentially scams?

A: While scams cannot be entirely eliminated, mainstream and well-known Metaverse projects have real applications and are not purely marketing hype or fraud. As a development direction recognized by mainstream capital, the general trend of the Metaverse points toward technological innovation and industry upgrading.

Q: How risky is investing in the Metaverse?

A: All investments carry risks. The Metaverse also faces liquidity issues—many NFT projects lack trading depth, leading to “illiquidity”—you might not be able to sell at your desired price or face no buyers. However, since leverage is generally not involved, maintaining good trading discipline and operating within liquidity limits makes risks manageable.