Summary

In this call, Sean Maher discussed the Metaverse, a topic he described as being of pertinence in the present day. He suggested that the Metaverse will be as significant an enabling technology in transactional/authentication terms as the original internet protocol was in transforming communications. By the end of the decade, Sean forecasts an AR/VR dominant world of 3D interfaces. During his discussion, Sean noted a range of real-world applications for these technologies, ranging from the efficient locating of antennae to income-generating virtual concerts. He suggested that due to the sheer amount of data generated by users of these technologies, companies selling hardware, servers and other IT services will profit from this forecasted growth in AR/VR technologies. These beneficiaries include manufacturers of lenses, cameras and the various sensors needed for AR/VR to function. Moreover, Sean believes that over the next two years virtual goods/NFTs (including virtual shoes, spirits, and handbags) from luxury brands are going to gain increasing attention. In addition, Sean discussed the growth potential of blockchain based ‘Play to Earn’ video gaming. He argued that the most significant issue facing tokens presently is regulation, yet believes they will be unscathed, even in China. On the other hand, he believes cryptocurrencies will face more regulatory challenges. With the imminent launching of the first sovereign cryptocurrency by China, Sean suggested that change is expected in the cryptocurrency field. Sean also noted the paradigm shift in cybersecurity to zero trust computing, which significantly reduces the risk of cyberattack and has led to a boom in metadata analytics.

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