The Netherlands has topped the list of countries most ready for the metaverse in a new survey. The study, carried out by Uswitch, took into account many factors, including broadband speed and the number of blockchain startups in a given country. The top 10 also includes countries such as Malta and the United Kingdom, which are well known for their Web3 ecosystems.
According to the study, the Netherlands has one of the highest average fixed broadband speeds, 106.51 Mbps. The country also generated about $6,000 per capita of high-tech exports last year.
Metaverse VCs seem to be becoming more sensitive and cautious about the risks involved in pursuing the futuristic vision of mainstream industry adoption.
This may be one of the main reasons why there has been a sharp decline in the amount of funding directed to companies involved in virtual worlds and the augmented reality business.
After peaking at $2.1 billion in the last quarter of 2021, metaverse-related funding consistently declined through the first two quarters of 2022, according to data provided by Crunchbase.
During the third quarter of this year, the amount of money invested by investors in the sector amounted to $760 million – a value that is significantly lower than was recorded in the first and second quarters of this year.
However, even given this setback, the total market value of the enterprise remains over $60 billion, and many countries are doing everything in their power to ensure they are ready for the metaverse.