From the Metaverse to Blockchain: Emerging Technology Trends and Market Outlook for 2026
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Paradigm Shift in the Emerging Technology Market: From Experimentation to Practicality
As of early 2026, the global emerging technology market is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Next-generation technologies, represented by the metaverse, blockchain, IoT, AR, and virtual reality (VR), have moved beyond the experimental stage to become key drivers of commercial success. According to global market research firm Gartner, the size of the global emerging technology market is expected to reach $3.24 trillion by 2026, a 147% increase compared to 2023. Notably, the Asia-Pacific region is emerging as the largest growth driver, accounting for 42% of the total market, with South Korea forming the third-largest market in the region after Japan and China.
This growth is fueled by the accelerated digital transformation post-COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid advancement of hardware technologies. In particular, improvements in semiconductor performance and the proliferation of 5G/6G network infrastructure are driving the popularization of emerging technologies. Next-generation memory semiconductors developed by South Korea’s Samsung Electronics (Suwon, Gyeonggi Province) and SK Hynix (Icheon, Gyeonggi Province) have significantly enhanced the performance of metaverse and AR/VR applications, while NVIDIA’s (Santa Clara, California) latest GPU architecture has improved real-time rendering performance by 340% compared to 2023. These technological advancements are significantly increasing the practicality of emerging technologies, prompting large-scale investments from companies.
In the metaverse market, as of January 2026, the global market size has reached $890 billion, a 43% increase from $620 billion in 2025. While Meta (formerly Facebook) in Menlo Park, California, continues to lead the market, Microsoft in Redmond, Washington, and Apple in Cupertino, California, are rapidly expanding their market share with enterprise metaverse solutions. Microsoft’s ‘Mesh’ platform, in particular, secured 12 million corporate customers worldwide by the fourth quarter of 2025, establishing a dominant position in the remote collaboration sector.
Blockchain and Digital Assets: Integration into Mainstream and Practicality Secured
Blockchain technology and the digital asset market are also reaching a new turning point in 2026. The global blockchain market size is estimated to be $1.43 trillion by 2026, a 278% increase compared to 2023. The accelerated adoption of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) has significantly expanded the scope of blockchain technology. According to the digital won roadmap officially announced by the Bank of Korea in December 2025, phased commercialization is set to begin in 2027, and the system in pilot operation has already demonstrated the capability to process 100,000 transactions per second.
In the enterprise blockchain solutions market, supply chain management and carbon credit trading are particularly noteworthy. According to Deloitte’s 2026 blockchain survey, 73% of responding companies have integrated blockchain into their core business processes, a significant increase from 39% in 2023. The adoption of blockchain-based tracking systems has surged in the manufacturing sector, driven by heightened demands for ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management and supply chain transparency. South Korean conglomerates are actively participating in this trend, with Samsung Electronics beginning to apply blockchain-based tracking systems to all smartphone components from the second half of 2025.
Changes in the cryptocurrency market are also notable. As of January 2026, the global cryptocurrency market capitalization stands at $4.12 trillion, a 189% increase from 2023. However, the increase in practical use cases over speculative trading is noteworthy. The use of cryptocurrencies in cross-border remittances and micropayments has surged, with global cross-border cryptocurrency transaction volumes reaching an average of $28 billion per day. This has resulted in a 67% reduction in fees and an 85% reduction in processing time compared to traditional bank remittance systems.
In the IoT sector, industrial IoT (IIoT) is leading the overall market. The global IoT market size is estimated to be $1.86 trillion by 2026, with the industrial sector accounting for 46%, or $850 billion. As of January 2026, the number of IoT device connections in fields such as smart factories, smart cities, and autonomous vehicles has reached 64 billion worldwide, a 156% increase compared to 2023. In South Korea, 5G network coverage has reached 95%, creating a favorable environment for the activation of IoT services, particularly in the manufacturing and logistics sectors.
The convergence of AR and VR technologies is also creating new market opportunities. The mixed reality (MR) market has grown to $124 billion globally by 2026, a 312% increase compared to 2023. Following the success of Apple’s ‘Vision Pro’ launched in 2024, Meta’s ‘Quest Pro 3’ and Microsoft’s ‘HoloLens 3’ are intensifying market competition. The practical application of AR/VR technology is rapidly increasing in education, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors, with applications such as remote surgery, virtual education, and digital twins entering the commercialization stage.
Qualcomm (San Diego, California) has developed the latest XR (extended reality) dedicated chipset, improving power efficiency by 45% compared to previous models, significantly addressing the battery life issue of AR/VR devices. Additionally, it supports 8K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, greatly enhancing the user experience. Alongside these hardware advancements, the content ecosystem is rapidly expanding, suggesting that the growth momentum of the AR/VR market will continue for the foreseeable future.
Investment and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activities are also active. Venture capital investments in the emerging technology sector reached $240 billion globally in 2025, a 67% increase compared to 2024. Investments in the Asia region were particularly prominent, with South Korea seeing significant private investment growth alongside the government’s ‘K-Digital New Deal 2.0’ policy. In 2025, South Korea’s total investment in the emerging technology sector amounted to 45 trillion won, equivalent to 2.1% of its GDP.
Changes in the regulatory environment are also having a significant impact on market development. The European Union’s ‘Digital Services Act’ implemented in 2025 and the United States’ ‘Digital Asset Regulatory Framework’ have set standards for the safe and transparent use of emerging technologies. South Korea also established the ‘Digital Innovation Promotion Act’ in December 2025, providing a legal foundation to support the commercialization of new technologies such as blockchain, AI, and IoT. These regulatory clarifications are acting as factors that promote increased investment and technology adoption by companies.
In the global competitive landscape, the United States and China continue to lead in technology development, but Asian countries such as South Korea, Japan, and Singapore are securing competitiveness in specific fields. South Korea, in particular, is building a unique ecosystem in metaverse and AR/VR technologies based on its strengths in semiconductors, displays, and 5G communications. Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics hold the top global market shares in VR displays and AR glasses, respectively, while platform companies like Naver and Kakao are entering the global market with metaverse services.
However, alongside the rapid growth of the emerging technology market, there are also numerous challenges to address. Privacy protection, cybersecurity, the digital divide, and technology standardization are emerging as major issues. Concerns about data collection and usage in metaverse and AR/VR environments are growing, and the energy consumption of blockchain-based services remains an area in need of continuous improvement. Additionally, the shortage of trained personnel relative to the pace of technological advancement is creating a significant gap, with global demand for emerging technology experts far exceeding supply.
Looking ahead to the second half of 2026 and 2027, the growth momentum of the emerging technology market is expected to accelerate further. The preparation for the commercialization of 6G communication technology and the practical application of quantum computing technology are anticipated to act as new growth drivers. Additionally, as sustainability and ESG management become increasingly important, the demand for technology solutions that create eco-friendly and social value is expected to surge. In this trend, technology companies will need to establish innovation strategies that consider not only technological development but also social responsibility and sustainability.
The information included in this analysis is based on publicly available data, and additional research and expert consultation are recommended for investment decisions.
