The metaverse: a whole new world of private banking and wealth

A virtual universe with digital currencies and digital items for transactions, the metaverse represents a new frontier in banking.

Although it is still in its early stages, prominent banking and wealth management companies such as JPMorgan and Citigroup have launched virtual buildings for users to tour and explore.

However, a slew of safety issues has prevented significant progress in typical banking operations in the metaverse, with crypto scams continuing to raise concerns about the secure interoperability of private money.

HSBC Global Private Banking has entered one of the most recent financial crazes: the "metaverse." To capitalize on this potential, it has established a fund for Asian clients.

The word, coined by Neal Stephenson in his 1992 science fiction novel Snow Crash, refers to a network of 3D virtual worlds focused on social connection. It is altering industries ranging from marketing to working conditions. Aerospace flight, blockchain, e-gaming, remote employment, films, and retail are all impacted. Already, the worldwide work-from-home phenomena have turned aspects of fiction into hard facts. Online retail is also a significant driver, challenging traditional brick-and-mortar purchasing models.

The private bank has launched a discretion-managed portfolio for metaverse potential for the company's Asian private banking clientele alone. The Metaverse Discretionary Strategy, managed for HSBC by HSBC Asset Management, seeks to capitalize on global growth prospects stemming from the establishment of the metaverse ecosystem over the next decade.

The portfolio is continuously monitored and concentrates on investing in businesses in the metaverse ecosystem, which is divided into five major segments: infrastructure, computing, virtualization, experience and discovery, and human interface.

"While currently in its earliest stages of development, the metaverse ecosystem is rapidly evolving." We see many intriguing potentials in this field as organizations of various shapes and backgrounds migrate into the ecosystem.

Lina Lim, regional head of Discretionary and Funds, Investments & Wealth Solutions, Asia-Pacific, HSBC, stated that "a robust stock selection and investment process is critical to identifying future solution providers."

"The metaverse is seen by many as the next stage in the evolution of the internet," said Nicholas Dowell, portfolio manager, and TMT specialist at HSBC Asset Management in London, "with the effect it has on our daily lives expected to be as impactful as we saw in the early nineties."

"All of us expect a lot of growth in this augmented sector, which is expected to be worth $800 billion worldwide by 2024." As more and more investors seek to participate in a growing number of companies that serve critical roles in the metaverse ecosystem, we feel now is an excellent moment to investigate these investment opportunities."

According to the bank, the strategy is only available to HSBC's high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth professional investors and accredited investor clients in Asia.

Finally, the metaverse's future seems interesting, and its potential is virtually endless. Although the metaverse is still in its early phases, it is apparent that it will play an important role in the future of technology. As the metaverse evolves and matures, it will provide new chances and possibilities that we cannot yet foresee. The evolution of the metaverse is only getting started, and we are thrilled to see what the future holds. Know more about Metaverse Development.