Have you ever dreamt about owning a piece of virtual land?
You’re not alone.
In the Metaverse, someone paid a whopping US$4.3 million (S$5.9 million) for a piece of digital land on The Sandbox platform, showing just how much excitement and money are flowing into virtual properties.
With the right moves, you could become the go-to spot for virtual gatherings, earn income by renting out your space, or even sell your properties for a profit down the line—all within the Metaverse.
One of the most popular and profitable ways to participate in the Metaverse is to invest in virtual land.
The Metaverse is a booming real estate market where the currency of choice isn’t dollars or euros but crypto.
If you’re intrigued by the idea of merging your savvy investment sense with the latest technology and learning more about how virtual lands work in the Metaverse, you’re in the right place.
What Is Virtual Land in the Metaverse?
Virtual land in the Metaverse refers to digital spaces or land plots you can buy, sell, build, and explore in a virtual world. It is represented by NFTs (non-fungible tokens) that are scarce digital assets on the blockchain.
Earn Money in the Metaverse With Real Estate
A screenshot of an OpenSea listing for virtual land. Source: OpenSea.
Investing in real estate presents an exciting opportunity to earn money. For instance, a virtual plot in Axie Infinity once sold for an impressive $2.3 million.
You’ll first need to set up your digital crypto wallet to get started.
Next, create a profile on the virtual Metaverse platform of your choice. You’ll have to link your digital wallet to your profile to enable the purchase of land and other digital assets. Once you’ve explored your options and selected the property that catches your eye, you can proceed to buy the land you want.
Transactions for virtual land are primarily conducted using cryptocurrencies, with Ethereum, SAND (associated with The Sandbox), and MANA (linked to Decentraland) being popular choices.
FirstCom Academy’s Introduction to Metaverse course gives you essential knowledge about blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs, and it explains their roles in the decentralised economy of the Metaverse.
Top 5 Properties to Invest in the Metaverse
The value of virtual land is often tied to the platform’s user base and ecosystem. Platforms with active communities and diverse use cases offer more opportunities for engagement and monetisation.
Here are the top 5 properties where you can buy, sell, and develop virtual land in the Metaverse:
1. The Sandbox (SAND) Spaces
A screenshot of The Sandbox game’s map interface displaying virtual lands for sale on OpenSea. Source: The Sandbox.
The Sandbox is renowned for its partnerships with iconic brands like The Smurfs and Warner Music Group. These collaborations have boosted its attractiveness as a platform for both creative and investment opportunities.
Here, you have the freedom to create games, digital adventures, and whole new worlds with easy-to-use tools.
Use SAND to trade, buy, or sell assets. Beyond transactions, users have the opportunity to earn SAND through engaging activities such as playing games or participating in token staking.
2. Decentraland (MANA) Plots
A Decentraland marketplace interface showing a selection of virtual land parcels and estates for sale, categorised by type, with various prices in MANA cryptocurrency. Source: Decentraland.
In Decentraland, you have the opportunity to trade virtual lands known as Estates. Through event hosting or space rentals, these digital properties can generate MANA, the platform’s cryptocurrency.
Engage in a variety of immersive attractions and activities, from art galleries and casinos to museums and theme parks. Plus, with the Decentraland Builder tool, you’re empowered to craft personalised experiences.
3. Somnium Space Parcels
A woman is seated on the floor in a living room, wearing a virtual reality headset, her hands raised, and interacting with the virtual environment. Source: Image by Freepik.
Somnium Space has a strong emphasis on community and interactivity. This is an attractive investment for those looking to stake a claim in a virtual reality-centric part of the Metaverse.
You can use the Somnium Builder tool or the Unity SDK to create and upload your 3D models and assets.
4. Voxels
A webpage from a virtual world platform showcasing a collection of virtual spaces called “Womps” with vibrant and pixelated designs. Source: Voxels.
Voxels, previously Cryptovoxels, offers a slice of the Metaverse through a simple, web-based platform. Here, you can effortlessly create, purchase, sell, and discover virtual lands and assets.
For users interested in the intersection of art, commerce, and digital real estate, Voxels is the place to go.
5. Treeverse
Screenshot of the “Treeverse” web page, an MMORPG, showcasing concept art of a vast tree with floating islands and airships, with text detailing game features. Source: Treeverse.
Do you love playing online games and exploring new worlds? If yes, then you should check out Treeverse.
Users get to join a fun community of gamers and creators. Similarly, you can buy and sell virtual land and assets and use them across different worlds in Treeverse.
It’s different from other virtual worlds because it combines the best of multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) and virtual land. MMORPGs are games where you can role-play as different characters, complete quests, and fight monsters.
What Drives Property Values in the Metaverse?
Let’s discover why people are willing to invest real money in virtual land:
Prime Location
High-traffic areas = $$$!
Just like in the real world, where your virtual property is located matters a lot. Landing a virtual property near Metaverse hotspots is a golden ticket.
Community Vibes Matter
A bustling digital community boosts land value and makes every pixel count!
Properties in lively Metaverse neighbourhoods with cool games, events, and hangouts are where the cool kids assemble.
What Can You Build?
Can you transform your land into the next virtual Times Square or a beach party hotspot?
Your land has the potential to morph into the next big online mall, event arena, or interactive playground.
Scarcity Sells
Limited land in sought-after spots? Prices go up.
Own something unique or in a VIP area? That’s a status symbol in the Metaverse!
Future Growth
Have you got insider info on new features or big partnerships? That can spike land prices, as everyone wants a piece of the action.
Discover Monetisation Opportunities in Virtual Land Ownership
Join FirstCom Academy’s Introduction to Metaverse course—co-developed in collaboration with PANGU by Kenal, Asia’s leading one-stop Metaverse development solutions agency officially appointed by The Sandbox. Learn more about digital tools and concepts like decentralisation and blockchain technology to enhance your understanding of how these technologies can revolutionise industries by providing secure and transparent systems for transactions and interactions. This knowledge is valuable for those interested in developing virtual worlds and engaging in Metaverse creation, where such skills are in high demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why invest in the Metaverse?
The immersive experiences within the Metaverse are made possible by cutting-edge VR technology. For businesses, investing in a Metaverse platform opens the door to offering customers unparalleled experiences and presents opportunities for businesses to venture into new markets.
