Neal Stephenson, the author who introduced the term "metaverse" in his 1992 novel "Snow Crash," continues to drive forward his blockchain project, even as interest in the concept appears to be waning, with some declaring it "dead."
Google Trends data reveals a decline in searches related to the metaverse in 2023 compared to its peak in 2021 and 2022. This drop in interest has led some to proclaim that the metaverse hype has fizzled out. However, while some lost interest and deemed it a lost cause, others persevered in their development efforts.
Lamina1, the blockchain project founded by Stephenson with a metaverse vision, has announced plans to host a month-long event called "Open Metaverse Discovery Month" in October. During this event, the company will organize workshops, joint missions, and bounties to equip builders and creators with the knowledge needed to explore metaverse experiences.
Rebecca Barkin, the CEO of Lamina1, remains steadfast in her optimism for the metaverse, despite its perceived decline. She pointed out that Lamina1 has managed to attract nearly 50,000 developers to its community since its inception. Barkin believes that as long as people continue investing time and resources in digital experiences, gaming, virtual world creation, and the buying and selling of digital assets, the metaverse will persist.
For Barkin, Stephenson's vision for the metaverse extends beyond simply constructing virtual worlds. She emphasizes that it's also about challenging corporate dominance and control. With today's technology, Barkin contends that it is now possible to empower creators across various domains, including entertainment, gaming, business, and fashion, to have greater autonomy in building, creating, and distributing their virtual realms.
