Who could possibly deny that 2021 was _the_ year for cryptocurrencies? Looking back on the market’s recent achievements, we see a pattern of events that are nothing short of remarkable.  Despite it being the _same_ year that the Chinese government took steps to effectively _ban_ cryptocurrencies across the board, digital assets still had enough momentum to go on an absolute tear last year.

It was the year that major players in the banking sector adopted cryptocurrencies as an offering to their institutional investors, and mainstream society finally decided to buy in.  There were also newcomers that added fuel to the market’s acceleration - NFTs (non-fungible tokens) took the arts and entertainment worlds by storm, _and_ society was introduced to the metaverse once Facebook announced that they would be rebranding as “Meta.”

As we enter another year that’s expected to be just as eventful as the last, the lexicon of cryptocurrency is evolving rapidly.  Below are the marquee “buzzwords” that every investor should take the time to understand before investing in the modern cryptocurrency market:

## Buzzwords

**Blockchain**: Ultimately, a blockchain is a decentralized ledger of all the transactions that happen across a peer-to-peer network.  It is a digital ledger that can store data of _any_ kind, including information about cryptocurrency transactions. 

These digital ledgers are essentially a chain consisting of individual “blocks” of data.  As new data gets added to the network, a new “block” gets created and is then connected to the “chain.  The cool thing about using blockchain technology is that all the transactions can be confirmed _without_ the involvement of a central clearing entity or “middleman.” 

**Metaverse**: Think [Roblox](https://www.roblox.com/) and [Fortnite](https://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/home) – the metaverse is a virtual world.  It is a broadly dispersed, interoperable network of 3D worlds that users can experience simultaneously for maximum social connection.  The metaverse is powered by a wide array of technologies, including cloud computing, infrastructure, user-generated content, and hardware. 

Over the past three years, mega-forces like Google, Apple, and Amazon have invested billions on the creation of the metaverse meaning expectations for the metaverse are incredibly high.

**DeFi**: Here we have the operational _core_ of the cryptocurrency phenomenon.  DeFi is an acronym for _decentralized finance_.  It’s hard to accurately define a $100 billion financial technology that is anticipated to bring down Big Finance and all those traditional, money-hungry bankers, but by using [smart contracts](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/smart-contracts.asp) that operate using DeFi technology, it is precisely what DeFi is being developed to achieve.

**dApps**: _Decentralized Applications_ are like any digital app you might find on a smartphone or laptop, with the bonus of employing blockchain technology to prevent users’ data from falling into the hands of the company who is behind the app.  For example, cryptocurrency is decentralized money, and dApps are decentralized applications.

**NFT (Non-fungible Tokens)**: The Christie's auction house sold perhaps the most well-known NFT in 2021 - just a [smattering of images](https://www.christies.com/features/Monumental-collage-by-Beeple-is-first-purely-digital-artwork-NFT-to-come-to-auction-11510-7.aspx) done by a digital artist known as _Beeple_…that brought in nearly $70 million. 

NFTs burst onto the stage in 2021 and they rightfully demand our attention.  In the simplest terms, Non-fungible tokens are pieces of digital content that are linked to the blockchain, the same technologies that power cryptocurrencies like [Bitcoin](/coins/btc) and [Ethereum](/coins/eth).  NFTs are entirely unique and not interchangeable, which means that no two NFTs are alike.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but as Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies continue being adopted by mainstream society, the above terms will grow increasingly more important as more traditional investors dip their toes into the cryptocurrency market.

Core Crypto-Terms Investors Need to Know in 2022

Since Mark Zuckerberg moved to rebrand Facebook, and everything under his company’s control, into a new entity called “Meta,” much of the mainstream public was introduced to the term _metaverse_. But what is the metaverse?

Quite simply, a metaverse is a _virtual_ world.  It’s an online environment where people adopt the form of avatars to play games, build things, or just socialise.  The important takeaway is there is not _just one_ metaverse like there _is one_ Internet.  Facebook is only one of _many_ companies planning to offer users the ultimate “virtual world” in hopes of enticing them to bring their digital avatars and come live in _their_ world.

While the mainstream public decides whether the metaverse is something they need to take seriously, a large segment of the cryptocurrency investment community already has. 

The real value of blockchain technology is becoming more evident as cryptocurrencies play an increasingly more prominent role in the metaverse, serving as the medium used for the transactions that occur in these virtual worlds.  Metaverses that use cryptocurrencies such as Decentraland and The Sandbox have gone gangbusters lately in terms of popularity.

## Virtual Real Estate

There is even an emerging _virtual_ real estate market, and people are beginning to snatch up virtual plots of digital land in these electronic environments for substantial amounts of money.  One plot of land sold for a jaw-dropping $2.4 million on Decentraland’s platform.  Every kind of social activity from virtual performances to browsing shopping malls will have a presence in the metaverse.  As more and more people begin “living” in these virtual worlds it is anticipated that digital property owners may even begin to work with recognisable brands that want to build up a presence in the metaverse.

While traditionalists and curmudgeons still think investing in the metaverse is janky at best, the health-care industry is already adopting the same technologies, like virtual reality and artificial intelligence, to power their medical devices.  In other words, this technology is proving to be applicable to more than just gaming.

In the last analysis, there are some very influential people who are driving the adoption of the metaverse by suggesting they _truly will_ change the world in much the same way the internet did when it began in 1995.  If they prove to be right, the following three cryptocurrencies stand to gain significantly in the months to come:

### Decentraland (MANA)

[Decentraland](https://decentraland.org/):  MANA, the cryptocurrency of Decentraland’s platform, reached an insane market cap of over $10 billion in November but has cooled a bit in the last few days, along with the rest of the market, settling at a market cap of just over $6 billion.  MANA is considered _the_ digital coin to watch as the metaverse wars heat up.

### Sandbox (SAND)

[The Sandbox](https://www.sandbox.game/en/): In this writer’s opinion, the cryptocurrency SAND is in the strongest position to benefit from mainstream adoption of the metaverse.  It is the cryptocurrency of the “The Sandbox,” a hugely popular platform gaining more users by the day.  Though falling more than 25% in the last seven days, SAND skyrocketed more than 300% in the month of November alone.

### Axie Infinity (AXS)

[Axie Infinity](https://axieinfinity.com/): The blockchain name of the very popular online crypto game that lets users play to collect in-game (AXS) currencies.  The AXS market cap is currently just over $6 billion but reached a high of nearly $10 billion last month.  Pundits suggest that AXS could double in the near term if mainstream adoption of the metaverse continues.

Bitcoin is still the largest cryptocurrency by market value, though its dominance has steadily declined as other cryptocurrencies draw the attention of investment communities.  Bitcoin now accounts for around 40% of total market value, down from 70% in January 2021.

The Popularity of Metaverse Crypto Continues to Grow

What an incredible year for the value of altcoins and lesser known digital assets. It would seem that all that is needed for them to go from complete obscurity to front page news is the connection to the right meme or to benefit from a well-timed tweet from some quirky and eccentric billionaire.

A cryptocurrency called Omicron is currently enjoying such notoriety, if only momentarily.

## Beast Mode

While treading water for much of the past week, the popularity of Omicron went into full ‘beast’ mode once the media announced a coronavirus variant that had been discovered in southern Africa and was given the same name as the coin.

From what we can determine, Omicron was launched on or around November 8th but already it’s identifiable by much of the mainstream public. The coin shot up 10 times in value from last week Friday till Monday as the news of the virus permeated all the major news outlets.

‘Experts’ said the rapid rise in popularity was likely attributable to the fact that both the new coronavirus variant and the coin share the same name. Good guess.

### There are other coins, once relatively obscure, that have quickly risen in popularity as well:

**SAND** – A digital asset that’s being mega-hyped by metaverse enthusiasts. SAND are tokens that can be traded or earned upon completion of certain adventures within the popular virtual gaming world called [Sandbox](https://www.sandbox.game/en/). The digital coins recently traded at around $7 and have enjoyed an eye-popping 80%+ increase in value in the past week alone.

The metaverse, which is a combination of multiple technologies, including virtual reality and augmented reality where users can hypothetically ‘live’ within the technical platform, is gaining attention from some very big, highly recognisable companies that are considered industry leaders. According to a recent statement from one such company, Adidas, they are keenly focused on how the metaverse develops saying that it is ‘…currently one of the most exciting developments in digital, making it an interesting platform for Adidas’.

**MANA** – Another coin that’s riding the Metaverse wave of popularity. The MANA coin is associated with the [_Decentraland_](https://decentraland.org/) Metaverse and rose from $2.81 to $4.67 during the month of November. If metaverse environments pique your curiosity, Decentraland is an interesting story. There were many headlines that mentioned Decentraland last month which has a tendency to happen when a nation like Barbados starts to make remarks that it is taking steps to setup a virtual embassy in Decentraland’s metaverse.

The increase in value of altcoins mentioned above seem to have been initiated by Facebook’s announcement in October that the company would be adopting a new name - Meta, a new mission that hopes to ‘bring the metaverse to life’.

Overall, the cryptocurrency market demonstrated mixed results this week.

As we close out 2021, Bitcoin was projected to reach a year-end value of $100,000, but in terms of reaching that value, the market’s key digital asset would need to stage more than a 75% rally in the next four weeks.

BTC Set to Miss Expectations; Altcoin News

Step aside NFTs, the metaverse and GameFi token craze is real. In what has been a dismal week for major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Cardano, largely due to the signing of the US Infrastructure Bill, the rejection of a US spot Bitcoin ETF, crazy Bitcoin profit bookings, further Chinese crypto sanctions and news of the possibility of crypto being banned in India, many metaverse and gaming tokens have experienced considerable growth.

MANA, SAND and GALA in particular have witnessed substantial growth. Public sentiment is so bullish at the moment that a Decentraland patch of real estate [sold for nearly $2.43 million](https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/virtual-real-estate-plot-sells-record-24-million-2021-11-23/) on 23rd November! Following Facebook's rebranding to Meta last month, the world is looking at such projects with keen interest. GALA is a gaming asset worth looking at closely.

## What is GALA and should you buy it?

I am not giving you investment advice but wow, GALA sure is a fascinating investment prospect. In the past year, GALA has surged 200,000+% and reached an all-time high of nearly $0.06 on 25th November. GALA powers the Gala Games ecosystem, an Ethereum-based gaming network.

Gala Games currently offers 2 blockchain-based games and is developing 3 more. The decentralized ecosystem is controlled by its users – all decisions are taken by node holders and players, be it related to the development of a new game or what should be funded by the ecosystem.

Node holders can run nodes (Gala Nodes) via their computer systems and earn rewards such as GALA, limited edition NFTs and much more. You can purchase a Gala Node license for the same. All items that you win in-game are yours and are verifiable assets on the blockchain. GALA represents a long-term investment option, so explore its underlying project at your convenience.



Metaverse tokens and GameFi – a new trend

[Niantic Wayfarer](https://wayfarer.nianticlabs.com/new/), the creators of popular augmented reality game Pokemon Go, is planning to build a metaverse with £300 million funding from cryptocurrency investor, Coatue.

Niantic already has one of the most popular apps on mobile devices, with over 50 million players each month. The developer released an Apple Watch version of the game in its latest update, letting players catch Pokemon with a tap of the wrist.

The developers have promised more updates in the coming months, building on their experience creating Pokemon Go and Ingress - another augmented reality game that asks players to visit real-world locations to unlock special powers within the game.

## Investor Partners With Niantic

Coatue is a well-known crypto and blockchain investor which has previously helped to set up companies such as Fireblocks and MoonPay.

Coatue general partner, Matt Mazzeo told [CoinMarketCap](https://cointelegraph.com/news/valued-at-9b-pokemon-go-creator-to-build-metaverse-with-fresh-funding). “We are excited to partner with Niantic because we see this infrastructure supporting a metaverse for the real world and helping to power the next evolution of the internet."

He added; “Niantic is building a platform for AR based on a 3D map of the world that we believe will play a critical role in the next transition in computing".

Niantic is reportedly hoping to develop a real-world metaverse that will utilise technology to improve humans' experience of the world.

For more Metaverse news, see [here.](/news/category/metaverse-news)

Niantic Wayfarer to Build Metaverse

Cryptocurrency exchange platform [Gemini](https://www.gemini.com/) has raised $400 million in outside funding with the intention of developing increased access to ‘the metaverse’ for its of users.

The announcement highlights Gemini’s continued commitment to providing access to a variety of metaverses directly via its platform. The significant capital outlay has been raised from a variety of sources, including Morgan Creek Digital, Parafi Capital, 10T, Newflow Partners and Marcy Ventures.

Additionally, in a first of its kind, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia has also made a significant investment.

## Who are Gemini?

Gemini was formed in June 2013 by American twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss and quickly became the first licensed Ethereum exchange in the USA.

The Winklevoss twins are perhaps best known for bringing a lawsuit against Facebook ‘founder’ Mark Zuckerberg for stealing intellectual property related to the social media concept. The case was settled by Zuckerberg in an out of court settlement for $65 million in 2011.

### Gemini $7.1 Billion Valuation

The $400 million ‘growth equity funding’ investment brings the value of the Gemini group to roughly $7.1 billion and is the first time the platform has sought outside investment.

The Winklevoss twins are set to retain 75% ownership of the company with Morgan Creek Digital partner Sachin Jailty joining the board of directors as part of the $75 million investment from the firm.

## Crypto Market Sentiment

The cryptocurrency market reflected the increased confidence in metaverse development this week with massive price gains for Sandbox, Decentraland and Enjin among others. Indeed, Gemini released details earlier this week of a significant purchase of Sandbox which may have led to the 60% price rally witnessed in the last seven days.

## Decentralisation is a Spectrum

Cameron Winklevoss was keen to emphasise Gemini’s decentralised approach to the metaverse in stark contrast to centralised ownership from firms ‘like Facebook or Fortnite’.

Winklevoss went on to say: ‘There is another path, which is the decentralised metaverse and that is the metaverse where we believe there’s greater choice, independence and opportunity, and there is technology that protects the rights and dignity of the individuals. Decentralisation is a spectrum. We want to continue to move down the spectrum towards empowerment.’ 

For more Metaverse news, see [here](/news/category/metaverse-news).


Latest Moni

#METAVERSE | Page 3

Read the latest Metaverse news.

Core Crypto-Terms Investors Need to Know in 2022

The Popularity of Metaverse Crypto Continues to Grow

BTC Set to Miss Expectations; Altcoin News

Metaverse tokens and GameFi – a new trend

Niantic Wayfarer to Build Metaverse

Gemini Crypto Exchange Looks to Metaverse

Dash or Litecoin? Crypto Comparison

How to Buy Altcoins

BTT Crypto: BitTorrent Token Price