Walmart Plans To Enter <br />the Metaverse , With NFTs, Crypto.<br />The retail giant filed seven trademarks before the end of 2021 that point to a likely shift into selling virtual products. .<br />Among the items specified in the trademarks are "digital currency and a digital token.".<br />Also included in the trademarks are "virtual merchandise," including electronics and appliances.<br />Walmart issued a non-committal statement in response to the news.<br />[Walmart is] continuously exploring how emerging technologies may shape future shopping experiences, Walmart Statement, via CNBC.<br />We are testing new ideas all the time. Some ideas become products or services that make it to customers. And some we test, iterate and learn from, Walmart Statement, via CNBC.<br />Analysts say that the trademark filings are big news for the future of the retail landscape.<br />[The filings are] super intense. , Josh Gerben, Trademark Attorney, via CNBC.<br />There’s a lot of language in these, which shows that there’s a lot of planning going on behind the scenes about how they’re going to address cryptocurrency, , Josh Gerben, Trademark Attorney, via CNBC.<br />... how they’re going to address the metaverse and the virtual world that appears to be coming or that’s already here, Josh Gerben, Trademark Attorney, via CNBC.<br />Walmart joins a number of major brands that have begun to incorporate digital currencies and NFTs.<br />All of a sudden, everyone is like, ‘This is becoming super real and we need to make sure our IP is protected in the space.', Josh Gerben, Trademark Attorney, via CNBC.<br />Analysts also say current corporate focus on shifting to the metaverse is a "win win" for companies and consumers.<br />Even if it just turns out to be a fad, there’s not a lot of reputation damage in just trying something weird out like giving some customers an NFT in a sweepstake, for instance, Josh Gerben, Trademark Attorney, via CNBC
