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The retail giant submitted a total of seven patent filings, signaling plans to create its own digital currency and NFT collection.
It appears that retail giant Walmart is getting ready to enter the metaverse, with patent filings indicating that it plans to create its own cryptocurrency and nonfungible token (NFT) collection.
The multinational retailer filed several new trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Dec. 30, however, they remained unnoticed until a Sunday report by CNBC shed more light on Walmartâs ambitions.
Walmart filed a total of seven patent applications at the time, including three under its existing advertising division âWalmart Connect.â
The applications included plans to create and sell âvirtual goods,â including the likes of electronics, toys, appliances, apparel and home decor. Thereâs also mention of a âdigital currencyâ and âdigital tokenâ and opportunities to buy and sell NFTs.
Meanwhile, a separate application suggests plans to trademark the Walmart brand name and logo in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), with the possibility of introducing âphysical fitness training servicesâ in VR and AR.
This is how Walmart envisions Shopping in the #Metaverse.
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/5l7KhoBse7â Homo Digitalis (@DigitalisHomo) January 3, 2022
This comes as the latest in a string of recent events indicating Walmartâs interest in the metaverse. In August, the retail giant listed a job vacancy for a âdigital currency and crypto product leadâ to drive digital currency strategy.
The job listing has since been removed, but it is unclear whether the role was filled. A LinkedIn search for a person working at Walmart with the role turns over no results.
Back in October, Walmart also partnered with crypto ATM company Coinstar and crypto-cash exchange Coinme to install 200 Bitcoin ATMs in its stores across the United States.
In addition, Walmart has been using blockchain technology for supply chain management, customer marketplaces and smart appliances since 2018.
Related: Fake news: Litecoin price surges 35% following Walmart adoption hoax
According to analysts from Morgan Stanley, the metaverse could present an $8trillion opportunity for retailers.
During the third quarter of 2021, Walmart saw sales reach $11.1 billion, according to Digital Commerce 360. Walmart is the largest private employer in the U.S., with a market capitalization of over $406 billion. It operates a chain of supermarkets, discount department stores and grocery stores.
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