8 best metaverse crypto coins to buy in January 2024

Metacade is the best new crypto gaming platform, a virtual arcade that combines the best of GameFi with the latest metaverse technology. On Metacade you don’t pay to play, you play-to-earn on the latest blockchain games.

New games are added all the time, while there’s also the opportunity to make your own, using a create-to-earn model where you make money based on how many other people play your game. There’s more, too, as MCADE tokens are your ticket to compete-to-earn tournaments and prize draws where you can win exclusive prizes.

All of this is set in a community-driven metaverse that shares many characteristics with a social network. There’s the opporutnity to network with like-minded people, while the future is set to include the possibility to literally buy virtual land parcels within this world. That could drive the hype around MCADE to new levels and the value of the token to all time highs.

The Sandbox is a blockchain-based virtual world where users can create, own, and monetise their gaming experiences and virtual assets. It provides a platform for creators to build, share, and play games, as well as buy and sell virtual assets within The Sandbox metaverse.

The initial development of what became The Sandbox began in 2011 and it began life as a mobile game in 2012. It wasn’t until 2018 that The Sandbox team announced plans to embrace the metaverse concept by developing a decentralised metaverse world powered by blockchain technology, a move that turned it into one of the top metaverse crypto coins.

Nowadays, The Sandbox emphasises user-generated content and play-to-earn gaming mechanics, allowing creators to unleash their creativity and build unique experiences while earning rewards in the platform’s native utility token, SAND. This enables a diverse and constantly evolving metaverse.

The metaverse is built using blockchain technology to ensure true ownership of virtual assets. The use of NFTs within The Sandbox enables creators and players to buy, sell, and trade virtual items securely through its native NFT marketplace, without the risk of duplication or fraud.

In 2022, The Sandbox partnered with major gaming brands, including Atari, The Walking Dead, and Binance, to bring popular IPs and characters into the virtual world. Ongoing development has helped the metaverse to expand and attract a growing number of passionate creators and players, making SAND one of the most desirable metaverse coins out there today.

Decentraland is a decentralised virtual world built on the Ethereum blockchain. It enables users to create, explore, and monetize digital content and experiences within a virtual reality environment. Decentraland uses blockchain technology to ensure true ownership and scarcity of virtual land and assets.

Decentraland is a detailed metaverse that incorporates land ownership, content creation, and an entire in-world economy based around the MANA token. The virtual metaverse world of Decentraland is divided into parcels of virtual land called LAND. Each LAND parcel is represented by a non-fungible token (NFT) on the Ethereum blockchain, allowing users to own, buy, sell, and trade metaverse plots securely.

LAND is at the centre of the whole ecosystem, and each user has the ability to purchase a piece of land within one of the Decentraland servers, then develop interactive 3D scenes and experiences on that land using a native scripting language called Decentraland SDK. These creations can range from art installations and games to virtual shops and social spaces.

All you have to do is create your own avatar to interact with the Decentraland metaverse. You can explore the various virtual environments, interact with other users, attend events, and participate in activities. You can also buy virtual land, assets, and services using MANA, or monetise your creations by selling or leasing them to other users.

Decentraland is governed by a decentralised autonomous organisation (DAO), called the Decentraland Foundation. Owning MANA entitles you to participate in the DAO’s decision-making process and influence the development and direction of the virtual world.

Metahero is a blockchain-based platform that mixes virtual and physical worlds. It combines computer vision, artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain technology to allow users to create high-quality 3D digital replicas of real-world objects, known as “Metaheroes.” Each Metahero is an NFT, registered as a unique entity on the blockchain which can be used to make money in the metaverse.

The Metahero vision of the metaverse is as an extension of our real world lives, so the Metaheroes are designed to create a connection between digital and real worlds. This extends even to your avatar: the Metahero avatars are meant to be realistic interpretations of the individual user and allow virtual games inside the metaverse to be a more immersive experience.

Each avatar can be used for various applications, such as virtual try-ons, gaming, e-commerce, and more. You have to go to a real world location to create avatars and to be scanned into the metaverse. And you must own HERO tokens in order to scan anything.

The HERO token is the main form of currency in the Metahero ecosystem. It’s the only way to pay for your avatar, access try-ons, and even to access some features within the metaverse.

Enjin is a blockchain platform that provides a suite of tools and services for creating blockchain-based assets into the gaming industry. Enjin allows game developers to incorporate decentralised ownership into their games, creating unique virtual economies and empowering players to earn money from their creations.

Using Enjin’s tools, developers can create digital assets inside a metaverse platform, such as in-game items, characters, or virtual goods, and tokenize them on the Ethereum blockchain as non-fungible tokens (NFTs). These features in some hugely popular games that run on the Enjin platform, such as Age of Rust, Forest Knight, The Six Dragons, and AlterVerse.

Enjin provides the infrastructure for storing, managing, and monetising these NFTs. The assets can be easily integrated and interoperable across different games and platforms within the Enjin ecosystem. All of these digital assets are backed by ENJ tokens held in reserve, which gives the assets real-world value, as they can be redeemed for the ENJ tokens they are backed by.

Enjin enables developers to design and implement virtual economies within their games, allowing players to own, trade, and monetize their in-game assets. The platform supports the creation of scarcity, rarity, and value for these digital items.

ApeCoin is a cryptocurrency that was created to empower the community of the APE ecosystem, which originated from the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) range of NFTs. It’s developed by Yuga Labs and used for Otherside, an online multiplayer role playing game inside the metaverse. You can use APE to buy virtual land in the Otherside metaverse.

Yuga Labs’ BAYC range of NFTs, famous for their ape-like appearance, took the world by storm when they were popularised by celebrities like Justin Bieber, Steph Curry, and Jimmy Fallon. Bored Ape NFTs were changing hands for hundreds of thousands of dollars in late 2021, which prompted the creation of a unique APE cryptocurrency in 2022.

ApeCoin serves multiple purposes within the ecosystem. Firstly, it enables APE token holders to participate in the decision-making process through the ApeCoin DAO, where they can collectively vote on governance issues such as fund allocation, rule framing, partnerships, and project selection.

Secondly, ApeCoin grants holders access to exclusive features of the ecosystem, including games, events, merchandise, and services. Lastly, ApeCoin can be used as a transactional currency, allowing for payments within the ecosystem and potentially with third-party developers who incorporate the token into their services, games, and projects.

Axie Infinity is a blockchain-based game that combines elements of strategy, collectibles, and blockchain technology. It features cute and unique creatures called Axies, which players can collect, breed, battle, and trade, and a pioneering play-to-earn (P2E) model.

Play-to earn means that players can earn in-game rewards and cryptocurrencies (AXS and SLP tokens) by playing the game and participating in battles. These rewards can be sold or used to acquire more Axies, creating opportunities for income generation.

The Axies themselves are non-fungible tokens (NFTs) based on the Ethereum blockchain. Each Axie is represented as an NFT, giving players control over their digital assets. Players can buy, sell, and trade Axies on the marketplace, creating a vibrant virtual economy.

The value of Axie Infinity’s native token, AXS, experienced a significant surge in 2021, reflecting the game’s growing user base, the popularity of its P2E model, and its prominence in the blockchain gaming industry. It has continued to introduce new features and game modes, and innovate within the blockchain gaming space, ever since.

Star Atlas is a virtual world and gaming metaverse that combines elements of space exploration, strategy, and blockchain technology. It offers a decentralised gaming and economic ecosystem set in a futuristic sci-fi universe.

The game features various gameplay mechanics, including space exploration, trading, resource management, and strategic battles. Players can own and pilot spaceships, build colonies on planets, and engage in player-versus-player (PvP) or player-versus-environment (PvE) activities.

Star Atlas leverages blockchain technology, specifically the Solana blockchain, to ensure secure ownership and trading of in-game assets. NFTs represent spaceships, land parcels, items, and other virtual assets, allowing players to buy, sell, and trade them on the integrated marketplace.

These assets combine to create a thriving in-game economy driven by player interactions, resource management, and trade. The ATLAS token is also a governance token, allowing players to participate in decision-making processes and shape the evolution of the virtual world.