Most Popular Metaverse Money-Making Hustles

*All of the following is for informational purposes, not financial advice.

As the world increasingly moves online, so do opportunities for making money. The metaverse – a catch-all term for virtual, augmented, and mixed reality – is no different. In fact, there are a number of options to make money in the metaverse.

The most popular metaverse money-making hustles include: selling digital goods, NFTs, real estate, offering paid services, online streaming, creating videos, and play-to-earn. According to a Citibank report, the metaverse is currently worth around $62 billion and is projected to have a market between $8 trillion to $13 trillion by 2030. The opportunities to make good side money, or even life-changing money, are ripe for those “early movers” and hustlers willing to start right now.

Selling Digital Goods, NFTs, and Real Estate in the Metaverse

Selling digital goods is perhaps the most obvious way to make money in the metaverse. Digital items, such as real estate, vehicles, homes, weapons, and clothing, are all potential revenue streams for enterprising VR entrepreneurs. Some other digital goods that may be sold are food, drinks, and souvenirs.

Selling NFTs on platforms like OpenSea and Rarebits has also proven to be a lucrative practice. NFTs are non-fungible tokens, which means they can’t be broken down into smaller parts. They are designed to be unique. NFTs are a huge market that many large corporations, like Starbucks and Disney, are actively involved with due to the market’s potential.

Since their inception, the ten largest virtual world platforms have produced $1.9 billion in real estate sales. The digital real estate market is expected to increase by $5.37 billion from 2022 to 2026. Virtual real estate investing is one of the most popular ways for users to earn money in the metaverse. Investors make money by buying and selling real estate in the metaverse. Virtual real estate investors can also earn money by collecting rent from people living inside their buildings.

Offering Paid Services in the Metaverse

Offering your services for pay is also a quick way to earn real-world income. Many people are willing to pay to avoid grinding for hours for special items or gear. Many real-world jobs can be replicated in the metaverse environment.

Virtual interior designers can earn a livelihood by designing and developing virtual interiors for other users. This can be done in conjunction with virtual trading, as you can build a home for someone buying a lot of furniture. Virtual property managers can also make a living by managing other users’ homes. They can rent apartments, manage the furnishings, and collect rent from the tenants. Virtual tour guides can earn a living by guiding other users through virtual buildings. This is similar to real-life tour guides, except you walk and talk to people in virtual worlds. Virtual event planners can also earn a living in the metaverse by planning and producing events for other users. Other popular businesses are virtual tattoo parlors, virtual clothing shops, and virtual cafes.

Online Streaming Opportunities in the Metaverse

Online streaming in the metaverse can earn income through live streaming game-play, music, and even broadcast their own virtual reality shows using their virtual avatars in the metaverse. Live streaming has become a phenomenon in the metaverse and is gaining popularity among users. A popular live streaming platform is YouNow, a live streaming platform for users to broadcast their own virtual reality shows. It was founded in 2012 and has an estimated 30 million users.

Creating Video Content in the Metaverse

Creating video content in the metaverse and posting it to the internet is extremely easy and lucrative. Users can use their avatars to create 3D content such as singing, dancing, and live performances to post on websites like YouTube. Another popular platform to post videos on is TikTok, which has over 1 billion users.

Play-to-earn in the Metaverse

When presenting the most popular metaverse money-making hustles, Play-to-earn must be on the list. Play-to-earn games in the metaverse are a way to earn money while having fun playing through game content. Play-to-earn games in the metaverse earn rewards, like tokens and NFTs, that have real-world value. Some users can earn other types of rewards, including virtual land, various skins, and gear such as armor and weapons.

Top Metaverse Games to Earn Money

The metaverse is full of games that have various ways to earn money. Some of the most popular metaverse games are:

Decentraland (MANA) allows users to create, experience, and monetize content and applications. Decentraland wants to create a decentralized platform where users can buy and trade land, create content, and explore. Users can purchase land in-game with MANA coins. It is built for content creators, businesses, and individuals seeking a new artistic medium, business opportunities, or a source of entertainment. Many Decentraland users monetize their land through leasing and advertising, while others create and sell items for MANA tokens. Decentraland’s market cap is $1.2 billion.
The Sandbox (SAND) lets users create, experience, and monetize content. The sandbox is unique because it is developed through user-generated content only. There is no fixed game world, even though all users always have access to the metaverse. Users can create their own games, experiences, and environments. The Ethereum blockchain powers the sandbox and allows developers to issue assets on the network. Users can buy and trade LAND in-game with MANA coins. The Sandbox has a market cap of $1.2 billion.
Axie Infinity (AXS) is a virtual world where users can create, experience, and monetize content. It is recognized as a leader in play-to-earn (P2E) gaming. Users can create their own games, experiences, and environments. Players can breed, collect, and raise Axies as well as build kingdoms for them. Axie Infinity has a market cap of $1 billion.

Conclusion

The metaverse is in its early days. The most popular metaverse money-making hustles and opportunities for entrepreneurs are still plentiful. If you’re a believer in the metaverse, have at least a mildly creative mind, and want to earn real money in the virtual world, starting now will give you an edge over the millions of future users who will be coming for the financial opportunities awaiting all.

Want to learn more? Click here to read about, Real Talk: How Much Money Can You Make in Cryptocurrency?