Metaverse, NFTs and Blockchain

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Several prominent companies' exhibits at the Mobile World Congress were already displaying the first Metaverse-related experiences, and there were numerous speeches and commercials discussing the concept.

According to the mobile industry, the metaverse is a new step in the evolution of the Internet that offers new commercial potential. However, it is still unclear how the millions of dollars that will be invested in the future years will be profitable or whether we will be witnessing a new revolution similar to the Internet's debut or the development of mobile telephony.

In its annual study, 'The Mobile Economy,' the GSMA, which organizes the MWC, predicts that the metaverse will "undoubtedly" start as a niche service, given the connectivity and device constraints that this new technology demands.

However, in the same report, the group representing the mobile technology sector assures that the momentum that will precede applications that attempt to integrate augmented and virtual reality into social networks and the cloud is "quite real."

In his MWC keynote, FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta explained how one of the world's most recognized football clubs is leveraging technologies like blockchain, non-fungible tokens (NFT), and the metaverse to achieve development and sustainability.

"We are and will continue to be inventive in our use and application of technologies," he stated. "Blockchain goods and services such as NFTs and metaverse have received much interest in recent months... We should provide digital products to our members and fans that align with the club's values and offer a uniquely emotional experience.

Implications: Several leading technology companies have outlined their long-term ambitions and strategies around the metaverse, highlighting its potential to attract sufficient investment and innovation to help it eventually reach the mass market.