Major crypto exchange announces its arrival in the metaverse

One of crypto's best-known and largest exchanges has announced its arrival in the metaverse.

KuCoin has teamed up with Ertha, a virtual world that's hoping to achieve mass appeal through a quality experience — and striking up high-profile partnerships with the industry's biggest players.

Now, players who log into Ertha's Early Beta will be able to see and experience a fully functional, state-of-the-art KuCoin office. It's a thrilling place to visit — not least because you can immerse yourself in live crypto charts and truly feel like you're on a trading floor.

The office is based in the first playable Ertha NFT land plot — and those behind this project say distinctive play-and-earn mechanics give those who own these crypto collectibles the chance to make their land work for them. 

Figures suggest that more than 24,000 land plots have been snapped up so far, and now, a 30% discount has been made available for a limited time only.

A spokesperson for the project told Cointelegraph: "Ertha continues to position itself at the forefront of innovation within GameFi. Few projects have successfully integrated notable brands into their ecosystems and KuCoin’s backing speaks volumes for Ertha’s long-term potential and trust within the market."

Non-stop improvements

Ertha says that it's determined to give back to crypto enthusiasts — and it isn't just a place where you can play and earn, but an environment that cultivates play and learn too. 

Upgrades achieved in a recent v0.3 beta upgrade include the chance to level up the skills of your character — as well as your real-world knowledge. A plethora of fast-paced quizzes that are jam packed with engaging questions are now available — and if you're feeling especially competitive, you'll soon find yourself at the top of the leaderboard.

Enhancements have also been made in line with feedback from users. Ertha has now gone client exclusive — delivering better graphics and performance, as well as more intricate mechanics that couldn't be offered through the web-based version that was previously available.

Based on a real-world map with real-world locations, the possibilities of what players can get up to is as limited as your imagination. You can build economies, cultivate relationships, start wars and even get involved in politics. 

All of this ties into a gripping storyline within Ertha, where mankind finds itself on the brink of extinction. World leaders have failed in their last-ditch attempts to save the planet — and now, players have a chance to right the wrongs of the past by building from the ground up. Each player's actions can have a lasting impact within an ever-evolving metaverse — meaning that, unlike other games, it's even possible to have a legacy.

Building a new world

Reports have even suggested that the Rome NFT within the Ertha ecosystem recently sold for $120,000 — setting a new world record — and giving one lucky owner control of world-famous landmarks including The Colosseum and the Trevi Foundation.

That eclipses a number of previous records. Tokyo went under the hammer for $59,000, while the majority of Sweden was snapped up by a single buyer for the princely sum of $50,000.

Overall, 360,000 land plots are available to buy — and in the years to come, as its infrastructure continues to grow, Ertha expects hundreds of thousands of players to flood into this space. The games marketplace is based on an interactive globe, and land in new countries is being released on a regular basis.

Looking ahead, Ertha firmly believes it offers the perfect environment for those who are looking for an easy-to-understand introduction to metaverses and play-to-earn gaming — and an ambitious roadmap means there's plenty to look forward to.