Virtual World Gold Rush Guide: Investment Tips for NFTs and the Metaverse

Have you ever wondered why some people spend millions on virtual real estate? Why can a digital artwork sell for a sky-high price? In fact, all of this stems from the same concept—the combination of NFTs and the Metaverse.

From Game Skins to Digital Assets: What Is the Metaverse Changing

Remember the feeling of buying LINE stickers or in-game skins? The money you spend actually only grants you a “license to use,” while true ownership always remains with the company. But the world of the Metaverse is different.

On platforms like Decentraland and The Sandbox, players can buy virtual land, digital artworks, or characters that can be freely traded and even carried over to different virtual worlds. This is the power of NFTs—they give virtual assets true ownership.

The concept of the Metaverse originated from the 1992 science fiction novel Snow Crash. Today, it is redefined as: a virtual space integrating blockchain technology, rich visual experiences, where people can work, socialize, shop, and invest. Unlike traditional online games, the Metaverse allows users to truly own and trade their assets.

NFTs: The Core Foundation of the Metaverse

To understand the Metaverse, you must first grasp NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens). Simply put, NFTs are digital identity cards on the blockchain that prove your exclusive ownership of a virtual asset.

Compared to traditional digital assets, the differences are:

A Metaverse without NFTs is like an economy without banks—assets cannot circulate, and their value has nowhere to settle.

How Strong Is This Bull Run? Data Speaks

Metaverse projects once sparked a frenzy in the crypto market. During the 2021 bull market, the MANA token surged by 4100%, far outperforming Bitcoin during the same period. The average virtual land price in The Sandbox skyrocketed from 1,000 to 45,000, surpassing Taipei real estate.

However, as the crypto market peaked and declined, this enthusiasm cooled rapidly. Former star projects saw their floor prices continuously hit new lows, and some niche projects even fell into the awkward situation of “zero trading volume.” This reminds investors: The Metaverse is not a gold mine that only goes up.

The Complete Path to Enter the Metaverse

Step 1: Choose a Platform

OpenSea is the most mainstream NFT trading platform. Most platforms have similar features, so beginners should choose a well-known and reputable platform for safety.

Step 2: Set Up a Wallet

Install MetaMask wallet (commonly called “the fox”), which acts as a bridge to connect to the virtual world. When first connecting to OpenSea, you need to accept the terms, but no fees are required.

Step 3: Buy Cryptocurrency

Purchase Ethereum(ETH) or other cryptocurrencies through a major exchange and transfer to your wallet. Sufficient funds are necessary before trading.

Step 4: Select Your Desired NFT

Browse projects and choose promising NFTs. If the floor price (minimum transaction price) is too high, you can try participating in auctions to potentially buy below market price.

Step 5: Sell and Cash Out

List your NFT in your profile, set a price or participate in an auction. You can also accept offers from others (usually below the floor price). When you want to quickly liquidate, this is an effective method.

Three Major Taboos in the Virtual World

• Keep your private key absolutely confidential (equivalent to a bank password—once leaked, assets are lost)
• Use different passwords for different platforms (to prevent all accounts from being compromised if one is hacked)
• Beware of “guaranteed profit” airdrop ads (99% are scams)

Risk Checklist Before Investing in the Metaverse

Metaverse investments have low barriers but are not without risks. Many projects claim the Metaverse but lack real-world applications, purely hype and emotional trading. When market enthusiasm wanes, prices can plummet sharply.

Advice for beginner investors:

• Start with small funds (do not use living expenses)
• Invest only in projects with some reputation and practical basis
• Avoid niche or completely unfamiliar Metaverse projects
• Do not engage in leveraged trading to prevent liquidation

Compared to stocks, futures, and traditional investments, NFTs and the Metaverse have relatively lower liquidity but higher trading flexibility. The choice of investment depends on individual risk tolerance.

Will the Metaverse Be the Future?

In the long run, the prospects of the Metaverse remain promising. Tech giants like Meta, Microsoft, and Google are heavily investing, with continuous breakthroughs in virtual reality and AI technologies, expanding the virtual economy market share.

New business models and industry chains are emerging, and the boundary between virtual and real will gradually blur. The improvement of relevant laws and regulations will reduce risks and attract more legitimate capital. The Metaverse may ultimately change human life, social interactions, and economic operations.

In this process, the applications of NFTs will become more diverse, and supporting mechanisms will gradually improve.

Common Questions About the Metaverse

Q: Is the Metaverse a scam?
A: Not entirely. Mainstream and well-known Metaverse projects have real applications backing them, rather than pure market manipulation. However, niche projects carry risks and require careful discernment.

Q: Is investing in the Metaverse risky?
A: Risks exist but are manageable. As long as you avoid obvious scam projects, establish good trading discipline, and trade in liquid markets, entering and exiting is not difficult. Compared to leveraged products, Metaverse investments are relatively safer.