Share this article
Consultants Are Entering the Metaverse – Literally
SAND tokens are up on news of PwC Hong Kong acquiring a plot of LAND in The Sandbox.
By Zack Seward
Updated May 11, 2023, 4:33 p.m. Published Dec 23, 2021, 3:47 p.m.
Animoca-owned metaverse The Sandbox is heralding the arrival of the suits: in this instance, consulting firm PwC Hong Kong.
The Sandbox team said Thursday that the business consultancy bought some LAND, virtual real estate represented as a non-fungible token (NFT). A PwC Hong Kong representative wouldn’t specify which plot it bought or for how much. Recent sales have seen LAND go for about $10,000 a pop, according to blockchain data.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
It’s part experiment, part forward-thinking business play for PwC as brands from Nike to Facebook hitch their wagons to what some see as the inevitable next step of being Very Online.
“We will leverage our expertise to advise clients who wish to embrace the metaverse on the full range of challenges presented by this emerging global digital phenomenon,” PwC Hong Kong Partner William Gee said in a statement.
For all the excitement, metaverses remain exceedingly niche in terms of user numbers. According to data site DappRadar, The Sandbox welcomed just 4,500 users (or unique wallet addresses interacting with the decentralized application, or dapp) in the past 30 days.
That hasn’t stopped digital prospectors from setting up shop should the hordes start arriving en masse soon.
“The metaverse is open for business,” The Sandbox COO Sebastien Borget said in a statement. “We welcome PwC Hong Kong to experience how The Sandbox fosters new immersive experiences and ways for brands to connect with customers.”
Read more: Under Armour Steps Into the Metaverse With ‘Wearable’ Steph Curry Sneakers
LAND sales have seen a steady uptick since late October, or roughly when Facebook rebranded to Meta.
The native token of The Sandbox, SAND, has also ridden the wave of consumer curiosity – spiking from about 80 cents prior to the Facebook announcement to an all-time high of $8.40 on Nov. 25.
SAND was trading at $6.01 at press time, up 14% in the past 24 hours, according to the data site CoinGecko, with the PwC news appearing to contribute to the spike in price.
More For You
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
More For You
How crypto's promised year-end fireworks turned into a bloodbath
Digital asset treasuries, altcoin ETFs and bitcoin’s famed year‑end seasonality were meant to supercharge prices. What came instead was the worst drawdown since 2022's crypto winter.
What to know:
- Digital asset treasuries, altcoin ETFs and seasonal strength all failed to support prices, with some DATs now risking forced selling as their market caps fall below NAV.
- October’s $19 billion liquidation cascade hollowed out market depth, and the subsequent rebound has been fueled more by short covering than fresh demand.
- With ETF enthusiasm fading, DATs under pressure and rate cuts failing to lift prices, crypto is entering the new year without a clear bullish catalyst — though capitulation could eventually create opportunity.
Top Stories
