The metaverse, a rapidly growing virtual universe, is presenting new opportunities for financial institutions. With a forecasted growth rate of 41.6% CAGR through 2030, the metaverse is seeing increased demand from various sectors, including entertainment, education, and defence. As more businesses venture into this digital realm, the need for efficient transaction systems is becoming increasingly apparent.

The Role of Banks in the Metaverse Economy

Banks and other financial institutions, with their extensive experience in payment rails, are well-positioned to capitalize on the expansion of payment types in the metaverse. They can leverage their expertise to develop secure wallets and other payment solutions tailored to the unique needs of the metaverse economy.

However, the development of payment railroads for the metaverse will require a different approach compared to traditional card payment and ACH transfer offerings. Success in this new frontier will require a deep understanding of the unique transactional, security, and compliance needs of the metaverse.

Transactions in the Metaverse

Currently, cryptocurrency wallet payments are the primary method for metaverse transactions. Users can purchase a variety of virtual goods, experiences, and even virtual land and other property. However, the process of making these payments is more complex compared to one-click e-commerce and tap-to-pay point of sale transactions.

To address this, financial institutions can develop new payment methods for the metaverse, such as consumer-focused wallets similar to those used for e-commerce, but with blockchain security and payment options that include cryptocurrency as well as other forms of payment. This approach could streamline consumer transactions and peer-to-peer payments, while maintaining the security and lower transaction costs associated with blockchain.

Beyond facilitating new payment methods, the metaverse offers banks the prospect of supporting new transaction types. The metaverse expands the way value is created, allowing even small-scale creators to benefit from their work. For instance, users who attend a class in the metaverse, watch an ad, take a poll, or attend a concert can earn tokens from their school, favorite brands, entertainers, and advertisers.

Banks are also ideally positioned to serve as the bridge between real-world payments and metaverse transactions. One potential use case is converting cryptocurrency to fiat currency, enabling customers to spend the value they earn in the metaverse online or in physical stores. Another use case is helping customers acquire and manage “digital twin” products, virtual duplicates of physical goods purchased online.

Regulatory Compliance: A Major Challenge

Despite these opportunities, banks face significant challenges in building payment railways in the metaverse, with regulatory compliance being the biggest hurdle. Due to the complexity of the environment and the associated costs, banks must build solutions that meet the same compliance standards as the real world for security and transparency. 

In addition, they need to adapt those compliance standards to new use cases that only exist in the metaverse. The clearest path forward is to work directly with regulators when developing metaverse payment structures and value-transfer protocols.

In conclusion, the metaverse presents a new frontier for financial institutions. By leveraging their expertise and working closely with regulators, banks can play a pivotal role in shaping the economy of the metaverse.