HSBC will establish a presence on The Sandbox metaverse platform to drive sports fan engagement in immersive virtual environments.

The bank works with several major sports properties, including the World Rugby Sevens Series, as well as golf’s LPGA Tour and DP World Tour.

To build the virtual environment, HSBC purchased a plot of ‘land’ in The Sandbox where it will create experiences that promise to engage sports, esports, and gaming enthusiasts. I

We’re excited to be working with our sports partners, brand ambassadors, and Animoca Brands to co-create experiences that are educational, inclusive, and accessible.” said Suresh Balaji, chief marketing officer, Asia-Pacific at HSBC.

Animoca Brands has invested in over 150 non-fungible tokens (NFT) and blockchain-related technology firms, including the OpenSea marketplace and Dapper Labs, while also offering products to help customers build metaverse worlds, digital tokens, and gaming experiences. The firm has several interests in the sports industry and has helped create NFT-based games for several motorsport entities, including Formula One, Formula E, and MotoGP.

The Sandbox describes itself as a decentralized gaming world with a vision of a continuous shared digital space, populated by users and brands.

Other brands on the platform include Adidas, as well as musicians, gaming companies, and entertainment properties.