The meta-universe, or metaverse, has become a hot topic this year, making it one of the top 10 internet buzzwords of 2021. The next-generation of the internet, the metaverse is shared virtual world environments that are interactive, immersive, and collaborative.

While internet experts are still exploring the metaverse, the masterminds behind various kinds of metaverse-based speculation traps have wasted no time in raising their bright sickles toward the lambs.

The metaverse concept and its financial derivatives are so hot now that some warn the blind followers of the risk of being scalded.

The concept is still being explored and has yet to reach the point of practical application, let alone fostering profitable financial products and services.
Despite this, many companies have already started promoting meta-this or meta-that financial products and service.

The Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges have issued eight regulatory decisions to various companies since Nov 25 and as many as 14 letters of concern, requiring relevant listed companies to clarify the relationship between their main business and the concept of the metaverse.

The hyping-up of the metaverse is similar to that of blockchain, virtual currencies and P2P in the past, which proved to be nothing but hollow marketing stunts.

If the metaverse really becomes an epoch-making technology application, it will be evident, rather than being a closed loop that "metalizes" everything.
While the internet companies are busy creating their respective metaverse portals, people should be vigilant to anything that comes with a meta-prefix label. Likewise, the industrial administrative and supervisory departments should keep the hyping of the metaverse under scrutiny to prevent scams and maintain the order of the market and industry.

- Thepaper.cn