From the Metaverse to Blockchain: The Evolving Landscape of Emerging Technology Ecosystems in 2026
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Entering the Maturity Phase of Emerging Technology Ecosystems
As of January 2026, fields known as ’emerging technologies’ such as the metaverse, blockchain, and quantum computing are moving past the disillusionment phase of the Hype Cycle into stages of creating real value. According to Gartner’s latest report, the metaverse market is expected to grow by 44.5%, from $469 billion in 2025 to $678 billion in 2026, indicating a market shift from speculative investments to practical applications. Notably, South Korean and American companies are leading this transition with different approaches.
Meta, headquartered in Menlo Park, California, recorded $4.7 billion in revenue from its Reality Labs division in Q4 2025, a 73% increase from the same period the previous year. This demonstrates that Meta’s VR/AR technology is generating substantial demand beyond just social platforms, extending into enterprise solutions, education, and healthcare. Simultaneously, South Korea’s Naver has secured a unique position in the Asian market with its metaverse platform ‘ZEPETO,’ attracting 200 million global users. ZEPETO’s annual transaction volume reached $89 million in 2025, with 60% generated outside of Korea, which is particularly impressive.
Blockchain technology is also expanding beyond the volatility issues of cryptocurrencies into practical business applications. According to Deloitte’s 2025 Global Blockchain Survey, 86% of companies consider blockchain a “strategic priority,” a significant increase from 73% in 2022. Adoption of blockchain in areas like supply chain management, digital identity verification, and smart contracts is accelerating, especially under South Korea’s ‘Digital New Deal 2.0’ policy, which has significantly increased blockchain usage in the public sector.
In the quantum computing sector, while American tech giants like IBM, Google, and Microsoft hold the lead, South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are making substantial investments in developing quantum devices and related infrastructure. Samsung Electronics invested $1.2 billion in quantum computing R&D in 2025 and plans to increase this to $1.5 billion in 2026. These investments are strategically aimed at optimizing semiconductor manufacturing processes and developing new materials using quantum computing.
Synergies of Converging Technologies and New Business Models
One of the most notable trends in 2026 is the convergence of these emerging technologies. Examples include digital asset trading through the combination of the metaverse and blockchain, solving complex optimization problems using the synergy of AI and quantum computing, and providing real-time immersive experiences through the integration of AR/VR and 5G/6G networks. The market size for these converging technologies is expected to reach $234 billion in 2026, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 42.3%.
South Korean companies exhibit unique strengths in developing these converging technologies. Kakao, for instance, has enabled everyday digital asset transactions through its ‘KakaoTalk Wallet’ service, which integrates blockchain technology with its messaging platform. This service gained 5 million users within six months of its launch in the second half of 2025, with an average daily transaction volume of 230,000. This success is attributed to providing an interface that is easily accessible to general users, unlike traditional complex cryptocurrency exchanges.
In the United States, Microsoft is developing a ‘holographic computing’ solution that integrates the metaverse, AI, and quantum computing through its Azure cloud platform. This solution combines HoloLens hardware, Azure cloud services, and complex simulations based on quantum computing to offer innovative experiences in manufacturing, healthcare, and education. Microsoft invested $2.8 billion in this field in 2025 and plans to increase this to $3.5 billion in 2026.
NVIDIA is creating new revenue models through its ‘Omniverse’ platform, which supports metaverse infrastructure based on its GPU technology. Omniverse is a 3D collaboration and simulation platform that enables real-time collaboration in virtual environments for industries like architecture, manufacturing, and media. As of Q4 2025, Omniverse-related revenue reached $420 million, a 156% increase from the same period the previous year. Notably, automotive manufacturers are increasingly using Omniverse in the design process of new vehicles, with Hyundai, Toyota, and BMW among the major clients.
In terms of practical blockchain applications, visible achievements are emerging in supply chain management and digital identity verification. Walmart has implemented blockchain technology in its food supply chain to establish a food safety tracking system, reducing the time to identify the cause of foodborne illness from seven days to 2.2 seconds. Buoyed by this success, Walmart plans to complete the implementation of blockchain systems for 75% of its suppliers by 2026.
In the quantum computing sector, the development of practical applications is accelerating. IBM’s quantum computer ‘Condor’ boasts 1,121 qubits, solving complex optimization problems 10,000 times faster than traditional supercomputers. Financial services firms have begun using quantum computing for portfolio optimization and risk management, with JPMorgan Chase reporting a 15-20% performance improvement in trading strategy optimization through quantum computing.
Market Challenges and Future Outlook
Despite these positive prospects, the emerging technology ecosystem still faces significant challenges. One of the biggest issues is the lack of technology standardization. Examples include the lack of interoperability between metaverse platforms, compatibility issues between blockchain networks, and delays in standardizing quantum computing algorithms. International standardization organizations such as IEEE, ISO, and ITU are working on developing related standards, but a unified standard has yet to be established.
The shortage of skilled talent is also a serious issue. According to Deloitte’s survey, the demand for metaverse-related professionals is expected to increase by 340% by 2026 compared to the current level, but supply is projected to increase by only 180%. Blockchain developers now earn an average salary exceeding $150,000, and quantum computing specialists typically earn over $200,000. This competition for talent directly impacts the speed and cost of technology development.
Regulatory uncertainty is another major risk factor. Regulations related to blockchain and cryptocurrencies vary significantly by country, hindering the global expansion of services. In South Korea, regulations on virtual assets are relatively strict, while in the United States, jurisdictional disputes between the SEC and CFTC have delayed the provision of clear guidelines. The European Union implemented the ‘Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA)’ regulation in 2024, but detailed implementation rules are still being developed.
Technical limitations also need to be overcome. For the metaverse, the computing power requirements for realistic graphics rendering remain high, and issues such as motion sickness and eye strain from prolonged VR device use have not been fully resolved. Blockchain continues to face scalability issues, with Bitcoin handling only seven transactions per second and Ethereum 15, limiting large-scale commercial services. In quantum computing, improving qubit stability and error rates remains a key challenge.
Nevertheless, the long-term outlook is very positive. According to McKinsey’s latest report, investments in the metaverse are expected to grow at an average annual rate of 35% from 2026 to 2030, with the total market size projected to reach $5 trillion by 2030. Blockchain technology is expected to become a core infrastructure of the Web3 ecosystem, generating value equivalent to 10% of global GDP by 2030. Quantum computing is anticipated to enter the commercialization phase around 2035, driving innovation in areas such as drug development, financial modeling, and climate simulation.
For South Korean companies, strong ICT infrastructure and high digital acceptance are expected to provide a unique competitive advantage in the emerging technology sector. Particularly in the metaverse, differentiated service development leveraging the global popularity of Korean content such as K-pop, webtoons, and games is anticipated. Under the government’s ‘Korean New Deal 3.0’ policy, support for digital transformation is expected to continue, supporting the growth of related companies.
The year 2026 will mark a turning point from hype to the creation of real value in the emerging technology ecosystem, with companies pursuing both technological and business model innovations expected to achieve long-term success.
In conclusion, as of 2026, the emerging technology sector is moving beyond the initial speculative investment stage to a mature phase of generating tangible business value. Alongside advancements in individual technologies such as the metaverse, blockchain, and quantum computing, new innovations through their convergence are accelerating, with South Korean and American companies leading the market with different approaches. Despite challenges such as technical limitations and regulatory uncertainties, these technologies are expected to bring fundamental changes across industries in the long term. Investors and companies should not be swayed by short-term volatility but should identify technology trends from a long-term perspective and make strategic investments.
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell. Investment decisions should be made based on individual judgment and responsibility.
