Research firm Acumen forecasts that by 2032, the metaverse industry will soar to a staggering $4 trillion, with a significant boost from the rise of virtual and augmented reality tech. Both North America and Asia-Pacific are set to be major contributors to this growth.

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is anticipated to spearhead the boom in Asia, according to Acumen. Meanwhile, in the West, giants like Meta Platforms and Microsoft are at the forefront. The expansion in Asia is likely to be propelled by its tech-savvy online gaming populace. On the other hand, the US metaverse market, currently valued at $42.3 billion, is projected to maintain its leading stance.

Acumen forecasts that there will be multiple obstacles for metaverse enterprises to overcome in order to achieve their objectives. Notable among these challenges are issues related to privacy and the task of integrating various platforms into a seamless virtual space.

The blockchain technology, which is the foundation for Bitcoin and various other digital currencies, is expected to play a pivotal role in the financial structure of this virtual realm. It offers a mechanism for users to transact in cryptocurrencies and other digital assets without the need for a middleman.

Acumen emphasizes the importance for companies to prioritize software, service, and hardware development, as well as mastering new technological implementations. Currently, various businesses are honing in on distinct facets based on their inherent expertise.

For instance, Apple's Vision Pro headset aims at the segment of Apple enthusiasts keen on immersive augmented reality experiences. This device overlays a digital interface onto the real world and introduces unique interactive capabilities with the equipment.

Given Apple's prowess in hardware design and the cohesive nature of its products, this direction aligns with their strengths.

In contrast, Meta's Quest 3 headset focuses on enhancing the portrayal of a user's likeness in the metaverse. This tech captures facial expressions, encoding this data and transmitting it to another Quest user in real-time.

Upon receiving, the other party witnesses a highly realistic representation of the sender, creating the illusion of sharing the same physical space. This particular metaverse aspect aligns well with Meta's fundamental model, which thrives on monetizing social interactions.

William Quigley, one of the founders of Worldwide Asset eXchange, believes the industry creating digital replicas of tangible items, known as the digital twin market, is yet to overcome certain technical challenges.

To illustrate, a digital twin might be a virtual musical tool that resonates identically in the metaverse as its real-world version. Companies like Roblox, rooted in physics emulation, might be instrumental in pushing this tech forward, given their experience in crafting virtual environments and marketplaces for big names like Gucci and Chipotle.

Data from Acumen shows that in 2022, the digital twin sector was valued at $9.5 billion. The agency anticipates this sector's worth to skyrocket to $274 billion by 2032, contingent on the technology's anticipated advancements.

Quigley foresees the peak maturity of digital twin tech around the year 2030. In the interim, he envisions the rise of enterprises capable of integrating real-world assets into the blockchain via tokenization.