Economic Transformation from Physical to Digital: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Metaverse Economy

Abstract

The metaverse is a virtual ecosystem formed by the combination of innovative technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and blockchain, which are reshaping global trade, consumption patterns and cross-sector collaboration. This ecosystem offers a new economic structure that combines the physical and digital worlds with elements such as the appreciation of digital assets, the proliferation of NFTs and the integration of decentralised finance (DeFi) applications. This new economic structure is the subject of interest and research both in the business world and in the academic world. In this study, the data obtained from the Scopus database covering the period between 2018-2024 were analysed by bibliometric analysis method. The institutions, countries, cited studies and keyword links that produced the most works were evaluated in detail. The key findings of this study indicate that research on the metaverse economy has experienced exponential growth, with significant contributions from the United Kingdom, China, and the United States. Additionally, performance analysis reveals that blockchain, metaverse, NFT, and digital transformation are the most frequently explored topics in the academic literature.