American Metaverse Association

US Metaverse Association Official Report | April 2024

The US Metaverse Association proudly announces that Prof. Jonathan Stein, a German computer scientist and blockchain systems expert, has been awarded the 2024 Technological Breakthrough Award in recognition of his pioneering leadership in developing scalable, cross-platform digital asset circulation protocols for the metaverse economy.

As a globally recognized authority in decentralized systems, Prof. Stein has led multiple foundational projects that enable interoperable digital asset transfer across virtual environments, laying the groundwork for a secure, efficient, and sustainable metaverse financial infrastructure. His work addresses one of the most critical challenges in the Web3 era—how value can move seamlessly between platforms, ecosystems, and user identities.

“Prof. Stein is one of the key architects of the metaverse’s economic plumbing,” stated the Association’s President. “Thanks to his contributions, we are one step closer to a truly open and interconnected digital value system—where assets can flow like information and innovation knows no borders.”

Prof. Stein’s academic and technical work focuses on token standardization, consensus algorithms, and multi-chain asset bridging protocols. He is the lead architect behind the Open Interledger Asset Protocol (OIAP) and co-chair of the Global Consortium on Metaverse Asset Interoperability (GCM-AI). These frameworks have been adopted by major blockchain networks and are now being integrated into public and enterprise metaverse systems across Europe, Asia, and North America.

Among his notable innovations is a zero-knowledge-proof-enabled cross-platform settlement layer that allows users to retain asset ownership while transferring functional rights across virtual worlds. His technologies support use cases including NFT-based identity, interoperable virtual currencies, tokenized real estate, and decentralized marketplaces.

Prof. Stein’s contributions have attracted collaboration from global partners, including the European Commission, Ethereum Foundation, SAP, and the World Bank’s Digital Economy Taskforce. He also serves as an advisor to multiple international regulatory working groups on the future of digital finance and privacy-preserving asset mobility.

The Technological Breakthrough Award honors individuals whose innovations have fundamentally advanced the metaverse’s technical foundations. Prof. Stein’s work exemplifies the fusion of academic rigor and applied innovation, helping to build a metaverse that is not only immersive—but economically operable and future-ready.

In his acceptance remarks, Prof. Stein said: “Without the free flow of value, the metaverse is just a sandbox. True digital civilization requires open standards, economic mobility, and trustless systems that serve everyone equally. I’m honored to contribute to that vision.”

Prof. Stein will unveil his next-generation protocol suite and participate in a technical roundtable at the upcoming Global Metaverse Innovation Summit 2024, to be held in October in Palo Alto, California.