According to the announcement on Tuesday, the virtual Universal Peace Sanctuary offers an interactive environment where users from all over the world can engage in experiences promoting harmony. Animoca Brands, known for its role in advancing digital property rights through blockchain technology, led the initiative in partnership with The Sandbox, a decentralized platform where users can create and monetize virtual worlds.

Smobler, a firm specializing in building metaverse experiences, designed the sanctuary to reflect its mission of promoting peace through gamification. Set against the backdrop of The Sandbox’s expansive virtual world, the sanctuary is intended to complement the physical Universal Peace Sanctuary currently being built in Lumbini, Nepal. The project was conceived by His Eminence Shyalpa Rinpoche, who envisions both the physical and digital sanctuaries as spaces where people from diverse backgrounds can come together for reflection, learning, and peaceful engagement.

The digital sanctuary features interactive elements that explore global conflicts and their consequences, aiming to inspire players to seek peace through understanding and cooperation. The creators of the virtual sanctuary believe this initiative has the potential to influence real-world change. Yat Siu, co-founder of Animoca Brands, expressed optimism that the project will drive meaningful engagement both in the physical world and the open metaverse.

“We are very excited to work with Smobler and His Eminence Rinpoche on the digital version of the Universal Peace Sanctuary, a project that promotes inclusive and harmonious spaces in both the real and virtual realms,” the Animoca Brands executive said on Tuesday. “We believe that initiatives like this can drive meaningful engagement and contribute to positive change both in the real world and in the open metaverse.”