The meme-coin project Shiba Inu (SHIB), originally inspired by Dogecoin, has officially entered the metaverse race with the announcement of 'Shib: The Metaverse'. This virtual world will feature more than 100,000 individually owned land plots that will be unlocked and sold in phases. Unlike many metaverse projects that use their native tokens for land sales, Shiba Inu has chosen to price these plots in Ether (ETH), a decision that has drawn both curiosity and scrutiny from the community.
What Is 'Shib: The Metaverse'?
According to the project's official announcement, 'Shib: The Metaverse' is the culmination of the SHIB community's history, virtually displayed in a visually rich environment. It will directly integrate with the previously launched Shiboshis NFT collection, allowing NFT holders to use their assets within the virtual world. The development is being handled by an unnamed third-party game studio, and the team promises that all tokens in the Shiba Inu ecosystem—including SHIB, LEASH, and BONE—will play important roles in the metaverse.
“Shib: The Metaverse is the culmination of our history as a community, virtually displayed, in a layer of beautiful visuals that showcase our innovation and unity with a place to truly call home.”
Land Plot Mechanics and Pricing
With over 100,000 plots, 'Shib: The Metaverse' aims to be one of the largest land-based metaverses in the space. Plots are not merely decorative; owners will be able to generate passive income, collect in-game resources, and earn rewards. However, the team has not yet detailed exactly how the monetization will work. Some plots will be retained by the team to serve as common grounds necessary for players to move across the map. Pricing is tier-based, with plot location determining its cost, and all purchases must be made in Ether.
Why ETH Instead of SHIB?
The decision to use ETH instead of SHIB raised eyebrows among community members. The team explained that because the funds raised will be used to pay for metaverse development—including fees for developers, designers, and infrastructure—they needed a neutral, highly liquid currency that can be easily swapped into stablecoins. Using ETH avoids the volatility risk associated with SHIB and ensures stable funding for the entire development process.
“As we will use the collected funds to pay for the Metaverse development, the team have decided to use a neutral coin that can be sold into stablecoins in order to pay all the sources.”
Community Reaction and Future Outlook
The announcement has sparked a lively debate within the crypto community. Supporters see it as a major step toward real-world utility for SHIB, especially given the integration with Shiboshis NFTs. Critics question whether a meme-coin ecosystem can sustain a meaningful metaverse experience. Regardless, the sheer scale of 100,000 land plots positions Shiba Inu as a significant player in the metaverse land market, at least in terms of supply. The team is expected to release further details on gameplay, land sale timelines, and the identity of the game studio in the coming weeks.