Remember when metaverse coins were all the rage during the pandemic?
It felt like every other conversation in crypto was about virtual land, NFTs, and “owning” the metaverse. Coins like Decentraland (MANA) and The Sandbox (SAND) became overnight sensations, and let’s be honest, the hype was unreal. Companies were buying virtual land for millions, artists were hosting concerts in digital spaces, and even the biggest tech giants like Facebook jumped on the bandwagon.
So why did it all die down? Honestly, I think it’s because the pandemic ended and people were finally able to leave their homes again. During global lockdowns, the idea of socializing, working, and even partying in virtual worlds made a lot of sense—it was the next best thing to being outside. But as restrictions eased, people prioritized real-world experiences, and the once high-flying metaverse hype just couldn’t compete with actual outdoor activities, travel, and in-person gatherings. The whole "virtual life" craze lost its urgency because, well, we didn’t need it anymore.
That said, I don’t think the metaverse is dead. The underlying tech and the idea of immersive digital worlds still hold a ton of potential. MANA and SAND are still around, building and developing, but they’re no longer the darlings of crypto. What do you think? Was the metaverse hype just a temporary pandemic distraction, or is there still a future here?
