Should You Buy Decentraland in 2025?

Why trust HelloSafe?

At HelloSafe, our expert has been closely monitoring the evolution of Decentraland cryptocurrency for over three years. Every month, hundreds of thousands of users across South Africa trust us to analyse market trends and highlight the best investment opportunities. Our analyses are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. In line with our ethical charter, HelloSafe has never purchased Decentraland nor received any compensation from entities associated with its ecosystem.

Decentraland in brief

How much does 1 Decentraland cost?

The price of Decentraland is up this week. Currently, MANA trades at around R5.10, with a 24-hour gain of +3.86% and a slight dip of -2% over the past week. Its market cap stands at about R10.04 billion, ranking it 86th among cryptocurrencies, with an average daily trading volume of R496 million over the past three months.

There are 1.97 billion MANA in circulation, and its market dominance is approximately 0.04%. Decentraland’s strong volatility reflects both the risks and opportunities for South African investors seeking exposure to the evolving metaverse sector.

Our full review of the cryptocurrency Decentraland

Have the past three years been a turning point for Decentraland, and what do the latest ecosystem signals reveal? After analyzing Decentraland’s recent price action—leveraging advanced on-chain indicators, technical signals, and multi-source market data via our proprietary algorithms—we’ve identified several inflection points influencing its medium-term trajectory. So, why might Decentraland represent a compelling entry point into the metaverse sector once again in 2025?

Recent Performance and Market Context

Price Evolution

Decentraland (MANA) is currently trading at $0.2772 as of 7 June 2025. Over the previous twelve months, the token has experienced a pronounced correction: -37% year-on-year (from ~$0.44 in June 2024) and -44% from the December 2024 high (~$0.50). Notably, despite these declines, intraday action has remained vivid with a recent +3.86% uptick, and short-term volatility offers both challenge and opportunity.

Positive Recent Events

• Network Activity Growth: Daily transaction volumes surged by 23% year-to-date versus H2 2023, reflecting renewed traction and user engagement across the platform.
• 2025 Manifesto: The Decentraland Foundation’s new initiatives—aiming to reward active stakeholders and enhance the virtual economy—bear testament to strategic efforts at re-engagement.
• Strategic Partnerships: Persistent collaborations with global brands for premium, virtual events have steadily increased ecosystem stickiness, boosting visibility and network effects.

Macro & Sector Backdrop

Decentraland’s outlook remains intertwined with the global appetite for metaverse technologies and NFTs. The sector has shown resilience, with major institutional players expressing interest and traditional brands ramping up their digital real estate footprints. Crypto’s regulatory environment is evolving constructively in key markets, supporting a renewed interest in digital assets as alternative investments.

Technical Analysis

On-Chain and Technical Indicators

• RSI (14-day): At 33.22, MANA is nearing oversold territory—often a precursor to technical rebounds in crypto assets.
• MACD: The MACD recently crossed above its signal line, hinting at a latent bullish momentum, although short-term momentum currently consolidates.
• Moving Averages: The 20, 50, and 200-day moving averages are in a short-term downtrend, yet 92.86% of technical signals at lower timeframes have flipped bullish, suggesting imminent reversal potential.
• Support/Resistance: Key support levels cluster between $0.25–$0.26; immediate resistances at $0.30–$0.32. Breakouts through the resistance range could trigger substantial momentum-driven inflows.

Structure & Momentum

• Short-term: Growing confluence across indicators and a neutral-to-positive RSI stance signal that a relief rally could materialize, particularly as technical oversold conditions resolve.
• Mid-term: Should volume persist, and macro tailwinds strengthen, upward retracements toward the $0.36 mark—supported by previous price targets—seem plausible.

Fundamental Analysis

Growing Adoption and Ecosystem Expansion

• Decentraland’s core proposition—true ownership and monetization of digital land (90,601 LAND parcels)—remains attractive as the metaverse narrative regains institutional and retail focus.
• The ecosystem’s resilience is further underlined by a bustling community and the structured integration of NFTs and DeFi functionality, driving regular onboarding of new creators, players, and investors.

Attractive Relative Valuation

• Market cap: $546.02M (as of June 2025) positions MANA attractively compared to its metaverse peers, considering its mature infrastructure and early-mover advantage.
• Circulating and Total Supply: With 1.97 billion MANA in circulation out of a possible 2.19 billion, dilution risk is limited and current pricing offers a discounted entry versus peak-cycle valuations.

Structural Strengths

• Technological Leadership: Decentraland remains the only fully decentralized virtual world at scale, with a robust DAO governance model and regular protocol enhancements fueled by community input.
• Community & Differentiation: The project’s global footprint and vibrant involvement in NFT and gaming verticals significantly differentiate it from competitors.
• Liquidity & Volume: Daily traded volume averages $26.97M USD, underscoring healthy market depth and investor confidence.

Dominance & Positioning

Decentraland consistently sits among the leading metaverse tokens by both capitalization and liquidity. Despite the rise of challengers (e.g., The Sandbox), MANA’s established market presence and adoption curve inspire confidence for sustained relevance.

Catalysts and Positive Outlook

Upcoming Drivers

• Protocol Upgrades: Expected major feature launches in Q3 and Q4 2025, including enhanced avatar customization tools and new on-platform monetization routes.
• Brand Integrations: Continuous expansion of virtual land partnerships, particularly with Fortune 500 companies, will likely drive media coverage and organic user inflows.
• NFT/DeFi Synergies: Deepening integrations within the Ethereum Layer 2 and NFT ecosystems broaden MANA’s use-cases, support network effects, and boost transaction volume.
• Favorable Regulation: ZA’s evolving, crypto-friendly regulatory stance, as well as growing institutional openness, establish a supportive backdrop for further inflows and ecosystem growth.

Investment Strategy: Time Horizons and Positioning

Short-Term

Attractive risk/reward for active traders, especially on dips near support levels ($0.25–$0.26), where technical buying interest is visible. Upcoming protocol events may act as short-term volatility catalysts.

Medium-Term

Potential for sharp retracements toward key resistance zones ($0.30–$0.32, then $0.36), should sector sentiment and on-chain activity sustain their current momentum.

Long-Term

Strategic positioning in anticipation of Decentraland’s protocol upgrades and the next metaverse adoption wave could offer outsized asymmetric returns. Dollar-cost averaging strategies or entries on volatility-driven retests might maximize upside over time.

Projected MANA Price Evolution (2025–2029)

Is Now the Right Time to Consider Decentraland?

In sum, Decentraland stands out today due to:

• Accelerating user and transaction growth, backed by robust network activity
• Continuous innovation and strong DAO-led governance, vital for long-term value capture
• Ongoing strategic partnerships with major global brands and integration across gaming/NFT/DeFi
• Attractive relative valuation versus market cap, with limited dilution risk and high daily liquidity
• Distinctive positioning as a first-mover in the decentralized metaverse space

With the convergence of technical reversal signals, steadily rising ecosystem fundamentals, and major protocol upgrades ahead, Decentraland appears to represent an excellent opportunity for investors seeking diversified exposure to the metaverse’s next growth phase. While inherent volatility persists, renewed on-chain momentum and network expansion argue for a refreshed focus on MANA’s potential. This confluence of factors makes Decentraland a token whose fundamentals justify renewed attention at current levels—especially in a context where sector-wide adoption and regulation are advancing rapidly.

Decentraland remains a high-volatility cryptocurrency that offers outstanding dynamic investment opportunities—requiring disciplined risk management. Its recent price acceleration demonstrates Decentraland’s potential for rapid, powerful moves, yet evolving macroeconomic conditions call for a selective approach. Key technical levels to watch are $0.25 as immediate support and $0.32–$0.36 as major resistance. The next protocol upgrade, scheduled for Q3 2025, could be the decisive catalyst shaping Decentraland’s evolution for years to come.

How to buy Decentraland?

It is simple and secure to buy the Decentraland cryptocurrency (MANA) online via a regulated platform, even if you’re based in South Africa. Two main methods are available: the first is spot buying, where you purchase and own the actual coin; the second is trading via crypto CFDs (Contracts for Difference), which allows you to profit from price movements without holding the real tokens. Each approach has its own features and fee structures. For a detailed comparison of trusted platforms available in ZA, see the comparative table further down this page.

Spot Buying

Spot buying means purchasing real Decentraland coins (MANA) that you truly own and can store in your personal crypto wallet. Transactions are made in ZAR (South African Rand) on regulated exchanges, with a typical fee of about 0.5% per order (for instance, R1000 = R5 fee).

Example

Let’s say you invest R18,000 (≈ €1,000) and the MANA price is $0.2772 (about R5.00 per unit). Excluding about R90 in fees, you’d receive roughly 3,582 MANA coins for R18,000.
✔️ Upside scenario:
If MANA rises by 10%, your wallet is worth R19,800.
Result: That’s a R1,800 gross gain, or +10% return on your initial investment.

Trading via CFDs

Trading via CFDs allows you to benefit from rises or falls in the price of Decentraland, without owning the actual coins. Instead, you open a position on a broker’s trading platform, choosing your exposure and leverage. Typical costs include a spread (the difference between buy and sell price) and overnight funding fees if you keep positions open long-term.

Example

You deposit R18,000 and apply 5x leverage, giving you R90,000 exposure to Decentraland.
✔️ Upside scenario:
If MANA climbs 8%, your position earns 8% × 5 = 40%.
Result: R7,200 profit (before fees), on your R18,000 stake.

Final Advice

Before investing, always compare the fees and conditions of the different platforms available in South Africa—this can have a significant impact on your returns. Ultimately, the right method depends on your investment objectives and experience: spot buying suits those seeking long-term ownership, while CFDs may appeal to more active or short-term traders. For help choosing a platform, check out our comparison table lower on this page.

Our 7 tips for buying Decentraland

The latest news from Decentraland

South African crypto exchanges have maintained full trading support for Decentraland (MANA) amid recent global volatility. Over the past week, MANA has remained listed and highly liquid on major local platforms such as Luno, VALR, and Ovex, with trading pairs available against ZAR and USDT, signifying ongoing institutional and retail interest in the South African market. This accessibility is essential for ZA-based investors seeking exposure to metaverse tokens via regulated onramps, and the absence of delisting risks enhances asset reliability for local participants.

Decentraland’s average daily transaction volume increased by 23% in early June 2025, pointing to strengthened market activity. This surge in usage comes at a time when South African web3 communities report heightened engagement around NFT and metaverse events, including workshops and virtual seminars facilitated by ecosystem leaders in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Growth in transaction volume and network activity suggests that Decentraland is successfully capturing fresh interest from both retail participants and digital asset enthusiasts across the region.

Recent improvements to Decentraland’s user experience and technical performance have received positive coverage in the South African blockchain press. Key ZA crypto publications such as CryptoFest and SA Crypto have highlighted the rollout of new features, notably faster scene loading times and enhanced avatar customization, which have been well received among local content creators and virtual real estate developers. These upgrades are expected to increase platform stickiness and generate broader enthusiasm in South Africa’s robust gaming and real estate tech sectors.

The South African Reserve Bank’s regulatory stance continues to treat MANA as a digital asset, with no new restrictions or negative policy signals observed this week. The clarity and consistency in the regulatory framework mean ZA investors can retain confidence in the legal treatment of their Decentraland holdings. Major tax advisory firms in Johannesburg have reinforced that existing crypto tax guidance applies, reinforcing trust and further legitimizing the use of MANA within the formal financial system.

Decentraland’s 2025 strategic manifesto, emphasizing virtual economy incentives and community rewards, has inspired local metaverse builders and investors. Prominent South African digital agencies, leveraging the manifesto’s blueprint, are preparing new NFT initiatives and branded experiences within the Decentraland environment. This alignment between global platform governance and local creative ambition signals a positive structural outlook for MANA adoption and development opportunities throughout the ZA digital economy.

FAQ

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.