Walmart is getting serious about the metaverse
Walmart appears to be gearing up for a leap into the metaverse. Recent trademark filings indicate that the company wants to set up its own NFTs and cryptocurrency, according to a report by CNBC.
The retail giant filed several trademarks on Dec. 30, suggesting plans to begin selling virtual goods, including electronics, toys, appliances, sports equipment, clothing, home decor and more, as noted by CNBC. There is talk of offering a digital currency to customers, as well as the ability to buy and sell NFTs. Meanwhile, another application details potential “physical fitness training services” and “health and nutrition classes” that could take place in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) environments – the company has filed a separate application for the use of his name and logo in VR and AR.
As indicated by BloombergWalmart has also registered trademarks for the names “Verse to Home,” “Verse to Curb,” and “Verse to Store,” hinting that Walmart may be preparing a virtual shopping experience (which hopefully won’t resemble the one created for the company in 2017). The filings are publicly available on the site of the US Patent and Trademark Office, some of which are listed under the name “Walmart Connect,” the retailer’s digital advertising effort. You can access the filings by searching for “Walmart” or “Walmart Connect” on the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS).
“Walmart is constantly exploring how emerging technologies can shape future shopping experiences,” Walmart spokesperson Carrie McKnight told me. The edge. “We don’t have anything to share today, but it’s worth noting that we routinely file trademark applications as part of the innovation process.”
Last August, Walmart posted a job posting for a cryptocurrency product specialist, one of the first signs of Walmart’s growing interest in the metaverse. Other retailers are also joining the metaverse movement, with Nike looking to monetize NFTs and virtual sneakers, Adidas sells from its In the Metavers NFT collection and Gap offering NFTs of its hoodies.
