MindArk, developer of virtual world Entropia Universe, has obtained a banking license in Sweden.

Read more at MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29755068/

and at VWNews: http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2009/03/mindark

This is significant in the sense that this “virtual world” currency is no longer “virtual”.  “When deposits are made into Entropia they will actually be made directly into our own bank” said Jan Welter Timkrans, MindArk CEO (via Virtual Worlds News).  This is definitely one of the most or THE most direct virtual-to-real connections that has been made by a virtual world.

John Bates of MindArk lead a fascinating tour of Entropia at our August Virtual World SIG last year,
(https://virtualworldsig.com/entropia-universe-aug-25-2008/) under the title “Virtual Economies with Real Results”.   

Kudos to this extremely focused team of virtual world pioneers!

-Bob Ketner