Partnership project : Reinventing payment in the Metaverse

From user research to immersive prototyping, this project rethinks how we pay in the metaverse combining security, ergonomics, and innovation.

Role

Product Designer

Industry

Fintech · Immersive technology

Duration

6 months

Stage 1. Project context & Ambitions

The METANICO / IOTA project emerged from a desire to address a key issue in immersive web environments: the security and usability of payments in the metaverse. As virtual experiences become increasingly realistic and widespread, there’s a pressing need to rethink the financial tools available to users. In partnership with Ingenico, we embarked on a technological and strategic exploration to design a futuristic payment system · secure, intuitive, and seamlessly integrated into virtual environments.

Stage 2. Research phase & User Insights

Our journey began with user-centered research and field studies. We identified two key user profiles: young, tech-savvy adults—curious yet cautious—and older generations, more resistant to dematerialized payments and seeking simplicity. This research helped us define two core design pillars: building trust in the payment process and personalizing the user experience. These insights guided every step of our creative and technical process.

Stage 3. Explorations

In Phase 2, we explored several innovative ideas to fuel our thinking, such as:

• Nico, a virtual assistant designed to guide users during their shopping journey,

• Gesture-based authentication, leveraging hand tracking in virtual reality.

While these concepts were not integrated into the final product, they played a key role in shaping the design direction and enriched our understanding of interaction models in the metaverse.

Stage 1. Project context & Ambitions

Stage 2. Research phase & User Insights

Stage 3. Explorations

In Phase 2, we explored several innovative ideas to fuel our thinking, such as:

• Nico, a virtual assistant designed to guide users during their shopping journey,

• Gesture-based authentication, leveraging hand tracking in virtual reality.

While these concepts were not integrated into the final product, they played a key role in shaping the design direction and enriched our understanding of interaction models in the metaverse.

Stage 4. Product Development

At the heart of the project lie two major components:

• METANICO, a companion app that allows users to manage their transactions, check their balance, and track spending within the metaverse.

• IOTA, a smart wristband equipped with electromyography sensors. These sensors detect muscle impulses and convert them into digital commands, enabling frictionless biometric authentication.

Transaction security is ensured through DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology), offering transparent and decentralized record-keeping.

Stage 5. Interfaces, Interactions & User Experience

We focused heavily on ergonomics and emotional feedback. METANICO’s interface is optimized for single-hand use in VR, while IOTA supports natural, intuitive interactions: haptic feedback, visual signals during payment, and simple gestures to confirm purchases. This harmony between technology and user sensitivity fosters trust and fluidity, even in immersive contexts.

a black cellphone with a white letter on it

Outcomes

METANICO / IOTA pushes the boundaries of virtual payments by reconciling security, immersion, and accessibility. The project reflects a forward-looking vision of the metaverse, where technological complexity gives way to smooth and reassuring user experiences. Thanks to our collaboration with Ingenico, we envisioned a future where users never have to leave their virtual world to confirm a payment: one gesture, or a heartbeat, is all it takes.

Outcomes

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Gianmaria Corsi

Gianmaria Corsi

Gianmaria Corsi