New Metaverse Themed ETF Announced By BlackRock

Even though some institutional investors appear to have lost interest in the concept following its enormous popularity during the last bull run, investment giant BlackRock is nevertheless offering an ETF which shall reportedly focus on tech companies linked to the metaverse.

According to its website, the iShares Future Metaverse Tech and Communications ETF (IVRS) will invest in companies which are expected to contribute to the metaverse in areas such as digital platforms, social media, gaming, 3D software, virtual assets, VR, and AR. Meta Platforms, Apple, Nvidia, Netease, and Roblox are the top five companies in the holdings.

In recent years, interest in establishing the metaverse has grown, with independent platforms such as Decentraland and The Sandbox gaining significant market share, among others.

Based on a recent survey conducted by consulting firm KPMG, general attitudes toward the metaverse remain mixed. While more than 90% of investors still believe the metaverse will be the next iteration of the Internet, a significant portion of investors are wary due to regulatory, privacy, and adoption concerns.

Still given the timing of the launch, the new ETF is likely positioning itself for long-term potential, which makes sense because at this point, the metaverse resembles the early 1990s Internet or the early 2000s smartphone.