After In-App Currency, Dating App Tinder is Ready to Join the Metaverse with “Tinderverse”

Popular dating app Tinder is testing an in-app currency for the users to pay for premium services as well as receive it as rewards for good behavior on the app, said Renate Nyborg, Chief Executive Officer of Match Group that owns Tinder, in an interview at the Reuters Next Conference. Tinder will give these rewards for a number of things, such as adding more bio profile information and helping people find more connections, she explained. She further talked about the company’s plans for dating in the metaverse, saying, “From a Tinder perspective, we've been talking about a Tinderverse internally, which is more about blurring the boundaries between offline and online.” Nyborg cited the company's newly launched Explore feature and interactive events like “Swipe Nights,” which she called one of the best examples of the metaverse. This adventure-style game allows users to choose their own adventures and match with others based on their choices. Another popular dating app Bumble also said during its November earnings call that it is preparing for "whatever emerges in the metaverse." Nyborg said Tinder was still focused on helping people meet in real life as the COVID-19 pandemic showed that while people could only connect through the internet, it demonstrated the importance of real-life connections. “The mission is to keep the magic of human connection alive,” she said.