Key Points

  • We are in the middle to late stage of Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 is emerging with a focus on decentralization.
  • Metaverse interest has increased due to Roblox’s direct listing in March 2021, and more significantly, Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook) changed its name to reflect CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s vision of Meta’s role within the Metaverse.
  • The total potential spending against the Metaverse opportunity in the coming years likely ranges from ~$135-700bn.
  • COVID-19 social restrictions placed importance on the need to have virtual events and connections, resulting in the social acceptance of virtual existence.
  • Potential Uses Cases include music (virtual concerts), retail (virtual clothes for avatars), education (virtual classrooms), and advertising (virtual billboards).
  • For success, the Metaverse must be an interoperable experience whereby consumers can seamlessly take virtual assets and experiences throughout the Metaverse.

As with any new wave of computing, in our opinion, the disruption that [the Metaverse] causes is likely to be more impactful on current industry dynamics than outside forces (e.g., potential regulation).

Read the PDF Goldman Sachs: Framing the Future of Web 3.0: Metaverse Edition