The Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Mauritius has initiated the process of gathering feedback from industry stakeholders and the general public concerning the integration of the metaverse into the financial services sector.

Throughout November, the FSC Mauritius has dedicated its efforts to solicit comments on strategic developments and implications of the metaverse, as outlined in a recent consultation paper titled "Reshaping the financial services sector."

Mauritius aims to ensure that its regulatory and business environments are adequately prepared and re-engineered to accommodate the growing adoption of the metaverse on a global scale. The FSC Mauritius has taken note of metaverse-related initiatives by regulatory authorities in various regions, such as the European Commission, the UK, Dubai, Indonesia, China, South Korea, and Singapore, acknowledging their significant efforts to embrace this emerging technology.

As nations worldwide take progressive steps towards metaverse integration, the vision is for the metaverse to become a space that not only fosters limitless creativity but also upholds fundamental values of consumer protection and individual empowerment.

Recognizing the importance of collaborative efforts in reshaping financial services to embrace the metaverse, the FSC Mauritius has posed seven metaverse-related questions to the public. Stakeholders and the general public are encouraged to share their opinions on these questions by November 30. The comments and feedback collected will be instrumental in forming a multidisciplinary working group to address future policy and regulatory strategies related to the metaverse.

Mauritius is also planning to launch the pilot phase of a digital rupee in November 2023, although an official release is still pending. The Governor of the Bank of Mauritius, Harvesh Kumar Seegolam, expressed the central bank's commitment to central bank digital currency (CBDC) development and its role in preserving monetary sovereignty and supporting anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing efforts. The Bank of Mauritius is actively considering the launch of a digital rupee pilot program in November.