This month, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that invests in companies exposed to the non-fungible token (NFT) market, blockchain, and cryptocurrency systems launched. It’s one way the industry could tap into an emerging opportunity from the metaverse, a digital world where individuals participate in immersive experiences, and purchase digital goods.

Why should we care?
Companies engaged in the NFT market are likely to play a major role in building the metaverse. This is because NFTs are seen by many as keys to unlocking value and securing ownership of creative products among users interacting in the metaverse ecosystem. “The metaverse and NFTs have become almost analogous. One of the reasons for this is the explosion of NFTs in blockchain gaming … Real-life identities tied to digital avatars are just one way that the NFTs provide access to the metaverse,” a recent analysis by a crypto industry publication stated. Other financial products linked to the metaverse ecosystem have also launched in recent months. For example, on the day Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg changed Facebook’s corporate name to Meta, Fount Investment launched a metaverse ETF. Roundhill Ball Metaverse ETF, which launched in June, saw inflows surge as Facebook was renamed Meta.