Introduction
The internet is approaching what many believe could be its next major evolution. Alongside crypto-native projects, publicly traded companies are actively exploring how the metaverse might shape future digital experiences. Some firms have moved decisively into this space, while others remain cautious despite having technologies that appear essential to making the metaverse viable.
From immersive hardware and 3D software to connectivity, blockchain, and cybersecurity, the metaverse isn’t a single product. It’s an ecosystem. For investors, this means exposure often comes indirectly, through companies building the foundational layers rather than a finished “metaverse world.”
Why Are Investors Interested in the Metaverse?
Interest in the metaverse surged when major technology companies began framing it as the next stage of the internet. A notable turning point was Facebook’s rebrand to Meta Platforms, which signaled that immersive digital environments were being taken seriously at the corporate level.
Historically, the internet has evolved in waves. Web1 focused on static information, Web2 introduced interactive platforms and social media, and the emerging concept of Web3 aims to give users more ownership over data, digital identity, and online assets. The metaverse is often viewed as a potential expression of Web3, combining persistent virtual spaces with digital economies.
While the metaverse itself does not yet exist in a fully realized form, many of its building blocks already do. Blockchain enables digital ownership and value transfer. Virtual and augmented reality expand how people interact online. Artificial intelligence helps interpret and personalize digital environments. Together, these technologies suggest why companies and investors see long-term potential.
How Public Companies Are Approaching the Metaverse
Public companies tend to enter the metaverse in pragmatic ways, aligning new concepts with existing products. Microsoft has explored virtual workplaces and collaboration tools. Google has focused on augmented reality that blends digital and physical environments. Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, continues to experiment with large-scale interactive 3D worlds.
For these firms, metaverse-related investments are often about staying competitive. Major technological shifts have historically created new market leaders while sidelining those that failed to adapt. Many companies see the metaverse as a potential secular trend, similar to the rise of personal computers, smartphones, or e-commerce.
Key Layers of Metaverse Investment
Rather than a single category, metaverse exposure spans several interconnected layers.
Immersive hardware is one of the most visible components. Virtual reality headsets and future haptic devices aim to deepen sensory experiences, potentially allowing users to interact with digital environments through sight, sound, and touch.
3D creation software plays a critical role in building realistic digital worlds. Advanced tools can convert real-world spaces into virtual replicas, forming the foundation for immersive environments.
Interactive platforms are needed to host social interaction, commerce, entertainment, and work within the metaverse. These platforms define how users move, communicate, and transact in virtual spaces.
Connectivity and computing power are equally essential. Real-time interaction in 3D environments requires fast networks and powerful hardware capable of rendering complex graphics with minimal delay.
Blockchain technology underpins digital ownership, interoperability, and decentralized governance. It enables cryptocurrencies, non-fungible tokens, and decentralized finance, all of which could support virtual economies.
Semiconductors provide the raw computing power needed to process graphics, AI models, and massive data flows generated by immersive environments.
Finally, security is critical. As virtual spaces collect sensitive personal, biometric, and financial data, robust cybersecurity becomes a non-negotiable requirement.
Public Companies With Metaverse Exposure
Several publicly traded companies already have clear links to metaverse development.
Unity Software
Unity is a leading provider of real-time 3D development tools. A significant portion of interactive 3D content, including games and simulations, is built using Unity’s software. This makes it a natural candidate for creating metaverse environments.
Shopify
Shopify’s core business supports online commerce, but its tools extend into digital goods and token-gated experiences. Its experimentation with NFTs and digital storefronts suggests potential applications for commerce in virtual environments.
Meta Platforms
Meta has invested heavily in virtual and augmented reality hardware, social platforms, and metaverse-related software. Its long-term strategy centers on immersive social interaction and digital presence beyond traditional screens.
Match Group
Match Group, the parent company of dating apps like Tinder and Hinge, has explored immersive social experiences through acquisitions such as Hyperconnect. These technologies could translate into new forms of social interaction in virtual spaces.
CrowdStrike
As virtual environments expand, cybersecurity becomes increasingly important. CrowdStrike’s cloud-based security solutions position it as a potential provider of protection for metaverse infrastructure.
Closing Thoughts
The metaverse remains more concept than reality, but investment activity shows that many companies are preparing for its possible emergence. Rather than betting on a single virtual world, public companies are building the tools, platforms, and infrastructure that could support immersive digital experiences in the future.
For investors, metaverse exposure often comes indirectly through firms working on hardware, software, connectivity, and security. Whether the metaverse becomes the next dominant internet paradigm or evolves more gradually, these underlying technologies are already shaping how digital interaction continues to develop.
