Enter the Metaverse: investing in the digital realm of the future with the CI Galaxy Metaverse Index ETF (CMVX)

Virtual reality is a concept that until recently seemed to be only possible in the realm of science fiction. However, due to recent advancements in hardware and software technologies, VR has in fact become a feasible concept that will soon find its way to consumers and have real-world economic impacts. As with most other technological breakthroughs, they are first met with skepticism by the world, or seen as nothing more than a fad. We have seen this with inventions such as the personal computer, the Internet, and most recently with cryptocurrencies. As we’ve seen time and time again, all these so-called redundant advancements have stood the test of time and are more entrenched in our daily lives than we could have ever imagined.

Virtual Reality is not a new technology; it was first introduced to consumers in the late 1950s by a cinematographer, in the form of a device called the Sensorama. Although it bears little resemblance to what consumers would now consider VR, Sensorama kickstarted the race toward a fully immersive digital realm. More recently, VR has been re-introduced to consumers under a new name: The Metaverse.

The term “Metaverse” was first introduced by Mark Zuckerberg the founder of Meta Inc. (formerly known as Facebook), and acts as an all-encompassing word to describe the features of a digital world. VR will certainly be the portal towards the Metaverse, but there is more to the concept than a simple headset. The Metaverse is based on four technologies: VR, augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and extended reality, whose ultimate goal is to create a digital world in which transactions, business relationships, advertising, and even travel can happen seamlessly.

What are the use cases?

At first thought, the potential for a digital world free of the limitations of real life (like gravity and time) seems like a perfect recipe for a state-of-the-art entertainment station. Although this is definitely a use case for the Metaverse, the technology has applications beyond cheap thrills.

STEM Education

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced a generational challenge to STEM (Science, Mathematics, Technology & Engineering) students who were not able to participate in regular labs and classes. That is why some Universities made efforts to integrate new Metaverse technologies into their curriculums, allowing students the ability to perform dissections and perform virtual chemistry experiments from their own homes.

Medicine

The medical field is another discipline ripe for benefiting from the Metaverse. Similar to the dissection labs students perform, the ability to study a 3D virtual replica of a patient without even touching a scalpel is a serious advantage to doctors and patients. The National Center for Biotechnology Information recently recognized the benefits of a Metaverse disruption to the medical field, be it in the form of surgeries from afar, the ability to explore 3D models of a patient’s organs, or the ability to visualize prosthetics and customize them digitally.

Entertainment & Travel

Perhaps the most obvious use case for Metaverse technology is leisure. Whether this comes in familiar forms such as VR arcades and Augmented Reality apps, or yet-to-be-explored options such as VR travel experiences or immersive movies, the possibilities are truly endless with the right mix of creativity and technology.

These are only a few use cases for Metaverse technology and are by no means an extensive list. E-Commerce, design, and 3D Assets are other industries cases that are already implementing the metaverse.

The main reasons for investing in the Metaverse

As Elon Musk envisions, the Metaverse has the potential to blur the line between reality and digital experiences, assuming only marginal improvements to the technology every year. Already we have seen huge advancements in the graphics and immersive ability of VR headsets, haptic vests, and other gadgets that allow users to interact with and feel digital objects. Given the extensive use cases for this technology, getting early exposure to an industry that is set to profit from mass adoption and monetization could pay massive dividends over the decades to come.

Investors are often looking for the next Google or Microsoft, and although some have struck it big over the last decade with niche tech IPOs that became leaders in their sectors, a diversified approach is more sensible for such a nascent field.

Gaining Exposure to the Metaverse

Exciting new technologies often come with plenty of opportunities, but also plenty of risks. By taking a diversified approach to investing in the Metaverse, investors can reap the long-term benefits of being invested not only in the main sector but other auxiliary fields that will aid in the technology’s development. The CI Galaxy Metaverse Index ETF (CMVX) provides exposure to the large-cap tech leaders at the forefront of Metaverse development, as well as the satellite industries involved in data processing, computing, and manufacturing, for a wide coverage of the technology’s investable universe.