Key Takeaways
Decentraland is a blockchain-based virtual world on Ethereum where users own digital land parcels (LAND) and in-game assets as non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
MANA is Decentraland's native ERC-20 cryptocurrency, used to buy LAND, trade collectibles on the Decentraland Marketplace, and vote in the platform's Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO).
The Decentraland DAO gives token holders direct control over platform rules, treasury spending, and in-game policies through on-chain governance proposals and votes.
Since 2024, Decentraland has introduced a desktop client, simplified social login, and new creator tools to lower barriers for users without prior crypto experience.
Introduction
Decentraland is a virtual world and community built on blockchain technology. Users develop and own plots of land, artwork, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Members also participate in the platform's Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO). As a DAO, Decentraland gives its community the power to participate in the project's governance. Decentraland's native cryptocurrency, MANA, and all in-game assets are recorded on the Ethereum blockchain.
From its beginnings in 2016, the platform developed from a basic 2D experiment into a large 3D world. Developers Esteban Ordano and Ari Meilich created a virtual space containing digital real estate parcels, items, and other customizable assets. All of these can be purchased using MANA, Decentraland's ERC-20 token. ERC-721 non-fungible tokens represent Decentraland's unique assets, including LAND property and other collectible items.
How Does Decentraland Work?
Decentraland is an online space combining virtual reality with blockchain technology. Unlike most online games, players have direct control over the rules of the world. The DAO allows token holders to vote directly on in-game and organizational policies, affecting everything from the types of items allowed to investments for the DAO's treasury.
Non-fungible tokens represent in-game collectibles, including clothing, items, and the virtual real estate known as LAND. Users store these tokens in their crypto wallets and can sell them to other users on the Decentraland Marketplace. To purchase a new item, users need MANA, Decentraland's native cryptocurrency.
Beyond trading items and property, users can fill their personal space with games, activities, and artwork for others to interact with. There is also the option of generating income from LAND, though outcomes depend on factors like location, content quality, and visitor traffic.
Decentraland has a range of use cases, including advertising and content curation. However, for new users looking to get started with NFTs, some barriers to entry remain. Ethereum gas fees can add to the cost of purchasing certain items, and LAND prices can be significant depending on location.
Decentraland Updates (2024–2025)
Decentraland has made significant changes to its platform since 2023 to improve accessibility and expand its creator ecosystem:
SDK 7: Released in 2023 and refined through 2024, SDK 7 gives builders expanded scripting capabilities for creating richer, more interactive 3D scenes.
Desktop Client (Q2 2025): A new desktop client launched in mid-2025, designed with future-ready architecture for VR and mobile support. The launch drove a reported +23% increase in daily visitors.
Creator Hub (2024): A standalone creator desktop app combining drag-and-drop tools with advanced coding options, making scene development accessible to users without coding backgrounds.
Simplified Registration: Users can now sign up via standard social media profiles. Wallet creation is handled automatically, removing the requirement for prior crypto knowledge to enter the platform.
Mobile Client: A mobile client is in development, with rollout expected to further expand the user base.
In 2025, Decentraland had approximately 300,000 monthly active users. Q4 2025 LAND sales reached $4.2 million in volume, up 31% quarter-over-quarter, with three enterprise purchases exceeding $200,000 each for branded virtual experiences.
In September 2023, the official Decentraland X (Twitter) account was temporarily compromised by hackers who posted a phishing link promoting a fake MANA airdrop. No on-chain protocol funds were affected. The account was subsequently recovered, and users are advised to verify official announcements via the Decentraland website.
What Are LAND and MANA?
MANA is Decentraland's native cryptocurrency. It functions as a digital currency within the platform and provides each holder with voting power in the Decentraland DAO. Broadly speaking, MANA is also considered a form of governance token, since it grants holders the ability to participate in on-chain decisions about the platform.
To take part in DAO governance, users convert their MANA into wrapped MANA (wMANA) and lock it in the DAO. Each wMANA represents one vote in governance proposals. Users can acquire MANA on exchanges or by selling collectible items on the Decentraland Marketplace. The DAO also maintains its own MANA treasury to fund decisions and operations.
LAND is a non-fungible token that represents plots of land owned by users in the community. Like MANA, LAND also provides voting power as part of Decentraland's governance protocol. However, LAND does not need to be locked in the DAO and provides 2,000 votes per LAND token. Learn more about how NFT virtual land in the metaverse works in related platforms and contexts.
Users with multiple land plots can combine them into a single Estate token, with voting power equal to the number of plots contained. MANA has a total supply of approximately 2.19 billion tokens, with around 1.9 billion in circulation as of 2026.
What Is the Decentraland DAO?
One of the defining aspects of Decentraland is its focus on decentralization. The community of users controls the land, digital assets, and developments of the platform. As a Decentralized Autonomous Organization, the project uses open-source code to regulate its rules. Anyone who has staked their MANA or owns LAND can both create and vote on proposals. The Decentraland DAO runs on the Aragon governance software, utilizing an Agent that can interact with Ethereum smart contracts.
The DAO has also been used to fund ecosystem development. Grants awarded through DAO governance have supported content creators, event organizers, and technical builders working to expand the platform.
Decentraland Use Cases
Decentraland was designed with multiple use cases in mind. The platform has meaningful overlap with the NFT games category, but its applications extend beyond gaming:
Applications: Users can create apps and 3D scenes with Decentraland's scripting language, providing richer interactions for visitors.
Content Curation: Neighborhoods have developed organically, attracting communities of like-minded users around shared interests.
Advertising: Player traffic in popular neighborhoods has led brands to purchase space and display digital advertising.
Digital Collectibles: NFT items can be collected, created, and traded in the Decentraland Marketplace, giving users verifiable ownership rights.
Social: Communities can use Decentraland as an interactive venue for events, meetups, and socializing.
Some users have sold LAND parcels at significant prices, though values vary widely depending on location, content, and broader market conditions.
How to Store MANA and LAND
To interact fully with Decentraland, users need a crypto wallet that integrates with their browser or application. MetaMask is a commonly used option for storing both MANA (ERC-20) and LAND (ERC-721) tokens. Users can also sign up and explore the platform using a social login without needing to manage a wallet manually, with the wallet provisioned automatically in the background.
FAQ
What is Decentraland?
Decentraland is a blockchain-based virtual world on Ethereum where users can own digital land parcels and in-game assets as NFTs, build and monetize interactive experiences, and vote on platform governance through the Decentraland DAO.
What is MANA used for?
MANA is Decentraland's native cryptocurrency. It can be used to purchase LAND, buy collectible items on the Decentraland Marketplace, and participate in governance by locking MANA into the DAO as wrapped MANA (wMANA) to earn voting power.
How does the Decentraland DAO work?
The Decentraland DAO is governed by holders of MANA and LAND. Users can submit and vote on proposals covering platform rules, treasury spending, and in-game policies. MANA must be converted to wMANA and locked in the DAO to vote, while LAND tokens provide voting power directly without locking. The DAO operates on the Aragon governance platform.
What is LAND in Decentraland?
LAND is an ERC-721 non-fungible token representing a virtual plot of land in Decentraland's 3D world. Each LAND parcel is unique and confers ownership rights over that location, including the ability to build scenes, host events, or lease the space. LAND also provides voting power in the Decentraland DAO (2,000 votes per parcel).
Is Decentraland free to use?
Exploring Decentraland is free. Users can browse the virtual world, attend events, and interact with content without purchasing LAND or spending MANA. As of 2026, signing up no longer requires prior crypto knowledge, as wallet creation can be handled automatically via social login. However, purchasing LAND, collectibles, or wearables requires MANA and may involve Ethereum gas fees.
Closing Thoughts
Decentraland occupies a distinctive position among blockchain-based virtual worlds. Its combination of user-owned real estate, a governance DAO, and a marketplace for NFT collectibles makes it one of the more developed examples of a decentralized metaverse platform. Since 2023, the team has focused on lowering barriers to entry through SDK 7, new creator tools, simplified registration, and a desktop client. Whether the platform continues to grow will depend on user adoption, broader metaverse interest, and the ongoing decisions made by its DAO-governed community.
Further Reading
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