# VR-Focused Commerce Platforms Boson Protocol Turns to the Metaverse with the Launch of 'Portal' By Niko Pajkovic | Published 2021-08-13 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/boson-protocol References: [prweek](https://www.prweek.com/article/1724705/boson-protocol-launches-virtual-lifestyle-portal?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+PrweekUsNews) & [bosonprotocol.io](https://bosonprotocol.io/) Decentralized commerce platform [Boson Protocol](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/virtual-pop-up-store) has announced that it will launch 'Portal,' a virtual marketplace with both real-world and metaverse applicability. According to the company, this new platform will allow users to buy and sell both [physical and metaverse products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/roblox-x-shopify) with a range of decentralized currencies. 'Portal' will include an event space, retail shops, installations, an arena, and a branded marketplace – ideally, all of which would be new ways for consumers and sellers to interact in a given metaverse. According to a press release issued by the company 'Portal' has ambitious aims of becoming a "virtual lifestyle, commerce, and cultural playground." This exciting startup has raised $25.8 million in crowdfunding and aims to launch 'Portal' in a variety of future metaverses. Its sights are currently set on [Decentraland](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/datingcom), a decentralized virtual reality platform, as its jumping off point. Image Credit: Boson Protocol ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.5/10 - Popularity: 24% | Activity: 72% | Freshness: 10% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) > [New Ventures](https://www.trendhunter.com/newventures) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Metaverse Commerce:** The rise of decentralized commerce platforms in metaverses creates opportunities for new forms of retail experiences and interactions, fueled by cryptocurrency transactions. - **Virtual Events and Marketplaces:** The integration of physical and metaverse products in virtual marketplaces offers opportunities for creators and brands to monetize and engage with audiences in new and innovative ways. - **Multiplatform Transactions:** The ability for consumers to buy and sell goods and services across different metaverses and currencies creates opportunities for cross-border and cross-platform transactions facilitated by decentralized platforms. ### Who This Affects Most - **E-commerce:** The development of VR-focused commerce platforms presents an opportunity for e-commerce retailers to access a new market and create immersive retail experiences using blockchain technology. - **Cryptocurrency:** The integration of decentralized currencies in virtual marketplaces creates an opportunity for cryptocurrency companies to expand their use cases and offer new payment options in the metaverse. - **Virtual Reality:** The rise of decentralized commerce in virtual reality and metaverse platforms create opportunities for virtual reality companies to create new commerce and engagement experiences, and expand their business models. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Shopping-Oriented Metaverses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flipverse.md) - [Metaverse-as-a-Service Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/metapolis.md) - [NFT-Integrated Metaverses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/phenom.md) - [Hybridized Metaverse Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/metaverse-platform.md) - [Virtual Mall Metaverses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/metamall.md) - [Decentralized Platform Launches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fermion-protocol.md) - [Metaverse Farmers' Markets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/metamarket.md) - [One-Stop Metaverse Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/metastores.md) - [Spatial Computing Shopping Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alo-sanctuary1.md)