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Is Metaverse LAND a Good Investment? It Depends on Your Unit of Account!

Author

Listed:
  • Voraprapa Nakavachara
  • Kanis Saengchote

Abstract

The Sandbox metaverse LAND non-fungible token (NFT) prices increased by than 300 times (in USD) between December 2019 and January 2022, but when measured in its native utility token (SAND), the increase is only 3 times. Depending on how prices are denominated, investment returns and effective transaction prices vary. We analyze more than 71,000 transactions and find that users are willing to pay 3–4% more when transactions are settled in SAND, and 30% less when settled in wETH (a smart contract version of ETH) when compared to ETH, so unit of account matters. Our results contribute to the discussions of blockchain-based, virtual economy management and the digitalization of money (Brunnermeier et al., 2019).

Suggested Citation

  • Voraprapa Nakavachara & Kanis Saengchote, 2022. "Is Metaverse LAND a Good Investment? It Depends on Your Unit of Account!," PIER Discussion Papers 172, Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:pui:dpaper:172
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Pier Luigi Parcu & Niccolo' Galli & Chiara Carozza, 2023. "The Metaverse: technology, financing and economics," RSCAS Working Papers 2023/16, European University Institute.
    2. BenMabrouk, Houda & Sassi, Syrine & Soltane, Feriel & Abid, Ilyes, 2024. "Connectedness and portfolio hedging between NFTs segments, American stocks and cryptocurrencies Nexus," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    3. Dhoha Mellouli & Imen Zoglami, 2024. "The Dynamics of Connectivity between Traditional Cryptocurrencies and NFTs: Validation of the Connectivity Model by Quantiles and Frequencies," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(1), pages 131-154.
    4. Ante, Lennart & Wazinski, Friedrich-Philipp & Saggu, Aman, 2023. "Digital real estate in the metaverse: An empirical analysis of retail investor motivations," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PA).

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    JEL classification:

    • F3 - International Economics - - International Finance
    • G00 - Financial Economics - - General - - - General
    • R30 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - General

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