Metaverse Market Size Change (Past to Present): A Beginner's Guide from a Web3 Perspective

Hello, I'm Jon. As a Japanese blogger specializing in Web3, the metaverse, and blockchain technology, today I'll be discussing the topic of "Changes in the Metaverse Market Size (Past to Present)." This topic is perfect for looking back over time at how the virtual space has grown and considering its current and future potential. I'll be explaining this topic based on reliable sources and in an easy-to-understand manner, even for beginners. I'll be providing a thorough explanation based on facts, from past data to the current situation.

Project Overview (Basic Info)

The metaverse is a digital space that utilizes virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), where people interact with each other and engage in economic activities through avatars. The concept originated in the 1992 novel "Snow Crash," but in the context of Web3, it has been combined with blockchain technology and evolved into a decentralized platform that allows the ownership of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and virtual assets.

Looking back, the metaverse attracted global attention when Facebook changed its name to Meta at the end of 2021. During this period, the market size began to expand rapidly; for example, according to information from the Metaverse Research Institute, the market was still in its early stages in 2021, at several tens of billions of yen, but by 2022 it is expected to grow 173.6% year-on-year to 1,377 billion yen. Currently, the industrial metaverse market is showing steady growth, with predictions that it will grow to US$2025 billion by 1,367.

A chronological look at this trend shows rapid growth in the past (around 2021-2022), marking the beginning of a boom, and stable expansion currently (2024-2025) due to diversification of business use. Reliable media outlets such as Cointelegraph and CoinDesk have also highlighted the metaverse economy, incorporating Web3 elements, and have pointed out that the number of users could exceed 50 billion.

Token and asset supply details

Web3-related tokens and assets are essential when discussing the evolution of the metaverse market. Around 2021-2022, decentralized metaverse platforms like Decentraland (MANA) emerged, boosting the supply of virtual land and NFTs. For example, an official post by X (formerly Twitter) in 2021 predicted that the metaverse market would reach $2028 billion (approximately ¥8,289 trillion) by 5,000, and tokens like MANA were found to be the foundation behind this.

Currently, in 2025, the supply of metaverse tokens in the gaming market is prominent, with the market valued at $2024 billion in 239 predicted to grow to $2033 billion by 2,161.4. In terms of supply, many NFT assets on the blockchain have a finite supply; for example, in Decentraland, the total supply of land is fixed, and scarcity creates value. According to a CoinDesk report, these assets are the foundation of the metaverse economy, and trading volume is currently on the rise.

However, supply varies from project to project, and there are inflationary and deflationary designs. In past boom periods, price fluctuations were observed due to oversupply, but currently progress is being made in building a more stable ecosystem.

Technical Mechanism

The technological foundation of the metaverse is a combination of blockchain, VR/AR devices, and Web3 protocols. In the late 2010s, blockchains like Ethereum emerged, enabling decentralized ownership in the metaverse. For example, Decentraland runs on Ethereum and allows users to own land as NFTs.

Now, with the expansion of 5G networks, low latency and immersive experiences are possible.Distributed ledger technology (DLT)It ensures the authenticity of virtual assets and improves cross-platform interoperability. The Cointelegraph article highlights that the Metaverse is moving beyond the consumer VR space and is being leveraged for industrial applications (e.g., manufacturing simulations).

Specifically, blockchain ensures transaction transparency and supports automated economic activity through smart contracts. While past centralized metaverses (e.g., Second Life) had limitations on ownership, the current strength of Web3 integration is that users have true ownership.

Team & Community

The growth of the metaverse market is supported by development teams and active communities. In the past, Facebook's (now Meta) Mark Zuckerberg was seen as a symbol of the metaverse's promotion, and the community expanded rapidly after the company's name change in 2021. X's post shows that Citigroup predicted the metaverse economy would be worth $2022 trillion by 13, attracting many developers.

Currently, projects like Decentraland feature community-driven governance through DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations). The community scale has reached millions of users, and real-time discussions are active on X. For example, a recent post in 2025 shared a prediction that China's metaverse market will grow to $2035 billion by 1,000, garnering interest from the global community.

For example, Meta, which employs thousands of engineers to develop the Oculus VR device, currently holds a 35% market share and drives user engagement through community events. Credible media reports point to these teams as leading the way in technological innovation.

Use-Cases & Outlook

The utility of the metaverse has expanded from entertainment in the past to business and education. In the early 2020s, it was primarily used for games and social platforms (e.g., Roblox), with a market size of several tens of billions of yen. Currently, data for 2024 indicates that the domestic metaverse market will reach 1,863 billion yen, with increased use in remote work and virtual events.

Looking ahead, many predict the global market will reach trillions of dollars by 2030. For example, a McKinsey survey found that companies that have adopted the metaverse have higher operating profit margins. From a Web3 perspective, the integration of virtual real estate using NFTs and DeFi (decentralized finance) is expected, leading to the formation of a user-driven economic sphere. However, this is based on reliable predictions and is not a certainty.

As a practical example, the Industrial Metaverse will enable simulation of manufacturing to improve efficiency. As an ongoing trend, the expansion of 5G will support low-latency experiences that will become even more immersive in the future.

Competitor Comparison

Comparing similar projects is important to understand the evolution of the metaverse market. In the past, centralized platforms like Second Life dominated, but now Web3-based projects like Decentraland and The Sandbox are on the rise.

• Decentraland vs. Meta (formerly Facebook): Decentraland offers true ownership on the blockchain, while Meta has a large user base. In terms of market size, Decentraland grew rapidly during the NFT boom, while Meta is currently dominated by business use.
• The Sandbox vs. RobloxThe Sandbox will promote the creator economy with NFT integration. Roblox is rich in user-generated content but centralized. X's post highlighted The Sandbox's market predictions for 2022, which are currently growing.
• Overall comparison: From the past market size (2022 billion yen in 1,377) to the present (predicted size of 2025 billion dollars in 1,367), Web3 projects are differentiating themselves with their decentralized features.

Cointelegraph's analysis points out that decentralized projects will have an advantage in the long term.

Risks & Cautions

The metaverse market is not without risks. In the past, the 2022 boom saw significant price fluctuations and a bubble burst due to overheating. Currently, regulatory uncertainty and security issues (e.g., hacking) are issues.

• Market FluctuationsToken prices are highly volatile and have experienced sudden drops in the past.
• Your Privacy: Data collection in virtual spaces is a concern and is currently under discussion.
• Barriers to adoption: The high price of VR devices is hindering their widespread adoption and needs to be resolved in the future.

CoinDesk's reporting recommends a cautious approach given these risks, and that you verify information at your own risk before investing or participating.

Expert Opinions

Expert opinions provide a deeper understanding of market trends. In the past, Citigroup predicted that the Metaverse would be worth $2022 trillion by 13, a prediction that was widely shared on X. Currently, a McKinsey study has analyzed that companies that adopt the Metaverse have high profit margins.

Cointelegraph experts point out that Web3 integration is the key to the Metaverse and that industrial applications will grow. A BCG report predicts that the device market will reach 2025 million units by 9,000, with the virtual asset market becoming the dominant player. These are based on reliable primary information.

Latest News & Roadmap Highlights

In the latest news, a July 2025 post from X predicted that China's metaverse market will grow to $7 billion by 2035. News media estimates that the domestic market will be worth 1,000 billion yen in 2024, and strategic investment is underway.

Highlights of the roadmap include the platform construction period from 2021 to 2022, and the current period of 5G integration and industrial expansion. Looking ahead, CAGR growth of 2030% is expected through 36.5, with the evolution of Web3 being key.

Beginner FAQs

• What is the historical size of the metaverse market? By around 2022, it had grown rapidly to a scale of 1,377 billion yen.
• What is the situation now? The industrial market is expected to reach $2025 billion by 1,367.
• What is the relationship with Web3? Blockchain enables asset ownership and creates a decentralized economy.
• What will happen next? It is predicted to be in the trillions of dollars by 2030, but it depends on technological advances.
• How to participate? Start with your VR device or wallet and choose a platform you can trust.

Related Links

• CoinDesk – Trusted Web3 Media
• Cointelegraph – Metaverse News
• Metaverse Research Institute – Market Size Trends
• X (formerly Twitter) – Latest Posts Search

My thoughts and impressions

I felt that the "Changes in Metaverse Market Size (Past to Present)" introduced this time had some noteworthy aspects compared to other Web3/Metaverse projects, especially from the perspective of Web3 integration. I learned a lot not only from the technical aspects, but also from the user experience and the possibility of social implementation.

We will continue to follow the trends of innovative projects like this and continue to provide easy-to-understand information about the future of Web3.

*This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice. Please make your own final decision (DYOR).

This article was independently compiled and written by the author based on the latest information from X (formerly Twitter) and reliable Web3 and blockchain-related media.