There are signs that Walmart is preparing to take a big leap into the metaverse. According to a report by CNBC, the company has applied for trademarks indicating that it intends to create its own NFTs and cryptocurrencies.
Toys, sporting goods, apparel and home decor are just some of the items CNBC reports Walmart has applied for trademarks for in an effort to start selling virtual goods in the near future. Customers will be able to buy and sell NFTs, as well as a digital currency. The company also filed for the right to use its name and logo in virtual and augmented reality (AR and VR) for “physical fitness training services” and “classes in the field of health and nutrition,” among other things.
VERSE TO HOME, VERSE TO CURB, AND VERSE TO STORE ARE ALSO MARKS APPLIED FOR BY WALMART
According to Bloomberg, Walmart has also registered trademarks for the names “Verse to Home,” “Verse to Curb,” and “Verse to Store,” indicating that the retailer is working on a virtual shopping experience (that, hopefully, does not resemble the one designed for the company in 2017). Patent and trademark office records list some of the filings made by Walmart Connect (Walmart’s digital advertising venture), which are available for public inspection. Wal-Mart or “Walmart Connect” can be searched on the Trademark Electronic Search System for filings (TESS).
According to Walmart spokesperson Carrie McKnight, the retailer is constantly looking at how new technologies might shape future shopping experiences. As part of the innovation process, we routinely file trademark applications, but we don’t have anything else to share today.