Over at Metaplace a blog posting explaining that the Metabuck will be a convenient tool to allow world builders to opt in or out of the Metaplace currency model. As posted:

Of course, we’re all about freedom so we don’t require builders to use our currency; they could easily bridge to their own web service and use whatever currency they wish. Of course, if the builder just wants gold pieces in their fantasy world, with no bridge to real world currency at all, that is also an option. No one is dragged into using real money trading (RMT) if they do not want to use it.

Metaplace invites comments. I’ve posted on this topic before. It’s still not clear how the currency value will be set and whether Metaplace itself will reserve any power over the supply of Metabucks. The fact that they’re open to questions and comments is highly encouraging.

The Artificial Linden
One criticism of Second Life is that the Linden is artifically inflated or supported. First, it isn’t pegged to any real currency, other than at an arbitrary connection to the US dollar. Second, Linden retains the option (or not) to adjust the value of the Linden by adjusting the currency supply (either by adjusting the exchange rate or by adjusting the ability of users to purchase goods using their account stipends). Finally, Linden is able to support the currency and thus the purchasing power of individuals primarily, it would seem, through private island purchases. This means that what may be a primary economic driver of SL isn’t pegged to either the currency or the SL metrics (although their metrics include numbers of islands purchased, this isn’t converted for any worthwhile purpose into its economic metrics – thus any spapshot of the SL economy excludes a significant chunk of capital).

The Lack of Web Services
What’s particularly encouraging, however, about Metaplace is that users won’t be fully dependent on the platform owner for the economic system that supports collecting fees or subscriptions for individual worlds. Users will have the option of using commerce bridges and could just as easily use PayPal, avoiding the Metabuck altogether. Twinity is following a similar model, which leaves me wondering with Second Life is either avoiding the topic altogether or is so dependent now on the hidden values gained in artificially inflating the Linden that they fear seismic changes to the SL economy if they were to open it up.

Interesting to note that in a recent session with Stroker Serpentine reported on at Metaversed, he mentioned an initiative of his own:

Stroker followed up these comments by also mentioning that he has been working with several European banks to create a VISA that will be able to offer merchant accounts to virtual businesses. These will be genuine VISA merchant accounts specifically tailored to accommodate micropayments; something Paypal has yet to find a solution for.

While it’s admirable that Stroker is taking the initiative, Linden’s noticeable silence on larger policy issues such as supporting and enabling a conversation about the economic metrics and drivers upon which so many users depend is perhaps further evidence that SL is trending towards commodification – their long-term business is in renting server space (islands), and the idea of robust economies enabled with micropayments, web services bridges, and advanced models for tagging and conceptualizing content exploration seem increasingly out of their league.