Banks in the Metaverse: The Legal Framework Between Evolution and Revolution
摘要
The relentless advancement in technology has profoundly reshaped the nature of the world economy, transitioning from a primarily international model to a transnational one where national borders are perceived as a factual obstacle. Against this backdrop, cryptocurrencies, underpinned by blockchain technology and offering secure, immutable, and transparent transactions without the need for financial intermediaries, have emerged as an alternative to fiat currency—a development that has catalyzed the rise of a so-called decentralized finance (DeFI) dimension. Nevertheless, States and financial institutions are not passive observers; likewise, leading banks are proactively exploring the potential of the evolving digital ecosystem and, more specifically, of the metaverse as a new frontier for financial innovation and customer engagement. The integration of virtual assets like cryptocurrencies and NFTs within this space necessitates a profound transformation of the banking sector and prompts urgent regulatory considerations regarding transparency, data protection, accountability, and the enforceability of blockchain-based agreements. This study is aimed at critically examining the evolving nexus between the metaverse and banking institutions through a multidisciplinary approach, identifying current issues and future trajectories.