# Virtual Land Virtual real estate is emerging as a new investment opportunity during COVID-19. By [Kalin Ned](https://www.trendhunter.com/knedelch), Research Writer | Published Apr 12, 2021 | Category: [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/technology-trends-and-gadgets) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/virtual-land ## Key Figures - Trend score: 5.6/10 - Evidence articles: 4 ## What is the Virtual Land trend? **Virtual Land:** Real-world real estate might be destabilized due to the COVID-19 pandemic but the popularity of virtual real estate is surging alongside NFTs (non-fungible tokens). In this space, brands, consumers, and investors alike are interested in online assets and concepts of digital property. ## The consumer insight behind the Virtual Land trend During the COVID-19 pandemic, government-imposed safety measures have necessitated restrictions and even bans on physical activities and events. Because of this, the economy has slowed down, resulting in the loss of jobs and work-from-home pivots. As consumers inevitably spend more time indoors with access to the Internet, they indulge in researching and experimenting with new forms of entertainment, communication, and/or earning a living—whether that is due to boredom or necessity. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 4 featured examples - Articles from: Apr 12, 2021 - Published: Apr 12, 2021 - Patterns: [Redirection](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/redirection), [Acceleration](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/acceleration) - Megatrends: [Instant Entrepreneurship](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/instant-entrepreneurship), [Catalyzation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/catalyzation), [Many to Many](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/many-to-many) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Themes within the Virtual Land trend ### Virtual Real Estate The popularity of virtual real estate is surging alongside NFTs as consumers spend more time indoors and indulge in researching and experimenting with new forms of entertainment, communication, and/or earning a living in the digital environment. ### NFT Investments The recent interest in NFTs and digital environments has led to the creation of digital real estate NFT investment funds and user-owned virtual worlds which offer disruptive innovation opportunities for artists to showcase their work and better control their distribution. ### Second Earth Concepts IoT has developed to such an extent that it seems as if the digital environment itself is a second Earth and concepts such as Earth 2 offers disruptive innovation opportunities as a metaverse between virtual and physical reality where real-world geolocations on a sectioned map correspond to user-generated digital virtual environments. ## What the Virtual Land trend means for industry ### For Real Estate Virtual real estate is emerging as a new investment opportunity during COVID-19, thanks to its potential to destabilize traditional real-world real estate markets, and the surging popularity of NFTs. ### For Financial Technology NFT investment funds offer a disruptive innovation opportunity for fintech startups and companies to explore blockchain-powered investment options in digital real estate markets. ### For Art and Entertainment User-owned virtual worlds, digital real estate markets and NFTs have created a new canvas for artists and entertainment professionals to explore and showcase their work, while better controlling their distribution, creating disruptive innovation opportunities for the art and entertainment industries. ## Workshop question How can your brand utilize virtual land? ## Trend signals for Virtual Land Trend score 5.6 out of 10, from popularity 92%, activity 68%, freshness 10%. - Popularity: 92% - Activity: 68% - Freshness: 10% ## Examples of the Virtual Land trend 4 featured examples from Apr 12, 2021. - [User-Owned Virtual Real Estate](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/virtual-real-estate): On Decentraland, One Can Create, Explore, & Trade Items & Property (Category: Business) Implication: The concept of user-owned virtual real estate and the rise of decentralized virtual worlds provide opportunities for disruptive innovation in the virtual reality industry. - [Blockchain-Powered Virtual Worlds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/userowned-virtual-world): Cryptovoxels is a User-Owned Virtual World and You Can Buy Land (Category: Business) Implication: The use of blockchain technology to power virtual real estate investment opportunities may disrupt traditional real estate markets and open up new opportunities for investors. - [NFT Investment Funds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/republic-realm): Republic Realm is a Hyper-Exclusive Real Estate Investment Fund (Category: Business) Implication: Finance industry can leverage professionally managed NFT investment funds for digital real estate and extend their financial services to accredited investors in need of new invest… - [Futuristic Second Earth Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/second-earth): Earth 2 is a Metaverse Between Virtual and Physical Reality (Category: Business) Implication: The emergence of digital property markets on Earth 2 creates potential disruptive innovation opportunities in real estate industries that explore virtual property sales and owners… ## Recent trend clusters - [Fixable Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/fixable-devices) (Tech) - [Automated Upkeep](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/automated-upkeep) (Tech) - [Ambient Assistance](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/ambient-assistance) (Tech) - [Autonomy Stacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/autonomy-stacks) (Tech) ## Trending in Tech - [Accessible Fintech Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chequing-account) - [Variable Aperture Smartphone Cameras](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/iphone-18) - [Dual-Wavelength Recovery Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/joint-therapy) - [Self-Cleaning Smart Vacuums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tinecos-pure-one-station-5) All articles: [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech)