BLOCKCHAIN AND CRYPTOCURRENCIES IN THE METAVERSE: RISKS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE FUTURE OF DIGITAL ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE

Abstract

This paper explores the intersection of blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, and the Metaverse, offering a strategic assessment of their impact on global economic governance within a geopolitical context marked by fragmentation and uncertainty. Grounded in a critical review of the academic literature (2016–2024), the research investigates how decentralized digital infrastructures challenge traditional paradigms of institutional control, monetary sovereignty, and financial regulation. By analyzing key technological mechanisms—distributed ledger technologies (DLTs), smart contracts, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs)—the paper proposes an integrated "risks–opportunities" framework, relevant to innovation, regulation, and strategic governance. Identified risks include regulatory asymmetries, technical vulnerabilities, and the concentration of power within systems that claim to be decentralized. At the same time, new opportunities emerge through participatory governance models, cross-border financial inclusion, and the possibility of reimagining global economic coordination beyond traditional intermediaries. The paper argues that the convergence of blockchain-based technologies within immersive environments such as the Metaverse can serve both as a catalyst for systemic transformation and as an experimental space for designing future economic architectures—decentralized, programmable, and globally interconnected. In conclusion, it advocates for the recalibration of management and governance models to respond to emerging digital realities, in a balanced approach that integrates openness, innovation, resilience, and institutional accountability.