Will 2022 be a more successful crypto year than 2021?

Key themes to watch out for are the metaverse, blockchain gaming, and crypto trends this year. In addition to several other things – from celebs like Jimmy Fallon and Jay-Z “mimicking” into NFT projects to a group of strangers on the verge of purchasing the US Constitution.

The year 2021 marked the beginning of crypto’s mainstream adoption. Over the year, the number of cryptocurrency users increased from 100 million to more than 300 million, Beeple broke art world records with his $69 million sale, and even previously dubious institutions like J.P. Morgan began providing rich clients crypto investment choices. Will 2022 successfully take over at this rate? In the coming year, we’ll be keeping an eye on a few crucial trends.

• The fascination with NFTs in popular culture will grow. You would be surprised that the Ozzy Osbourne NFT project dubbed “CryptoBatz” will be released in the first month of 2022? We didn’t either! Although it’s uncertain how long the $23 billion NFT market can sustain beyond pixelated animal collections, CryptoBatz’ Twitter feed has already hit 37,000 followers. And it doesn’t appear that major artists are losing interest in the trend. Eminem jumped into the NFT sector at the start of 2022, purchasing a Bored Ape Yacht Club avatar that happens to be wearing his distinctive army cap.
• Brands will begin to market in (and develop) the metaverse. Most people appear to agree that the metaverse will eventually expand into an all-encompassing, persistent virtual world where you may work, play, and socialize, similar to the one shown in Ready Player One. Many large corporations (such as Meta, formerly Facebook) and institutions see huge advantages in getting in early. Morgan Stanley analysts concur, estimating that the metaverse market will reach $57 billion within a decade. Nike, Adidas, Samsung, and Budweiser are among the early adopters in the business world. Nike’s recent purchase of virtual fashion label RTFKT positions the sneaker titan for huge metaverse advances in 2022.
• Blockchain gaming is being explored by major video game publishers. Final Fantasy developers Square Enix have made their intention clear to explore NFTs and blockchain gaming by publishing a letter on the first day of 2022. Square Enix CEO Yosuke Matsuda, citing the “play-to-earn” model that Axie Infinity helped pioneer, termed the next phase of gaming as “play-to-contribute,” in which players who wish to create or construct within game universes are rewarded. “People will join in games and interact for a number of reasons,” he explains. This is made possible by blockchain-based tokens.”

At the beginning of 2021, words like “NFT,” “ metaverse,” and “Web3” were not household terms. By the end of the year people were intrigued and searched “NFT” being more popular than “Kanye West” and “Kim Kardashian” combined. As these terminologies mature, they will eventually give rise to new ones, attracting more individuals and institutions to dwell deep into the ecosystem, 2022 could become bigger than 2021. Or WAGMI, as crypto Twitter might say.