{"id":2539,"date":"2007-09-05T22:36:35","date_gmt":"2007-09-05T17:06:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/09\/metacard-virtual-l-credit-card-for-second-life\/"},"modified":"2026-10-15T14:12:22","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T08:42:22","slug":"metacard-virtual-l-credit-card-for-second-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/09\/metacard-virtual-l-credit-card-for-second-life\/","title":{"rendered":"MetaCard Second Life Credit Card and Linden Dollars Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In September 2007 Second Life residents got MetaCard, billed as the first credit card for a virtual world, letting them shop now and pay later in <strong>Linden dollars<\/strong> (L$), Second Life&#8217;s official currency. This article looks back at how MetaCard worked, what happened to it, and how to buy and sell Linden dollars safely in 2026.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-67238\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/metacard-second-life-2026-1024x538.webp\" alt=\"MetaCard Second Life credit card and Linden dollars\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/metacard-second-life-2026-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/metacard-second-life-2026-300x158.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/metacard-second-life-2026-150x79.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/metacard-second-life-2026-768x403.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/metacard-second-life-2026.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> MetaCard was a virtual credit card for Second Life made by First Meta, a start-up based in Singapore. In January 2008 Linden Lab banned in-world banking after several Second Life banks collapsed, and credit services like MetaCard were among those affected. Today you buy and sell Linden dollars through Linden Lab&#8217;s own LindeX exchange, inside the Second Life Viewer or on the website.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ad34ab82a308\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ad34ab82a308\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/09\/metacard-virtual-l-credit-card-for-second-life\/#How_the_MetaCard_Second_Life_credit_card_worked\" >How the MetaCard Second Life credit card worked<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/09\/metacard-virtual-l-credit-card-for-second-life\/#Card_types_and_fees\" >Card types and fees<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/09\/metacard-virtual-l-credit-card-for-second-life\/#What_happened_to_MetaCard\" >What happened to MetaCard?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/09\/metacard-virtual-l-credit-card-for-second-life\/#How_to_buy_and_sell_Linden_dollars_in_2026\" >How to buy and sell Linden dollars in 2026<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/09\/metacard-virtual-l-credit-card-for-second-life\/#Stay_safe_with_virtual_money\" >Stay safe with virtual money<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/09\/metacard-virtual-l-credit-card-for-second-life\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/09\/metacard-virtual-l-credit-card-for-second-life\/#Can_you_still_get_a_MetaCard_for_Second_Life\" >Can you still get a MetaCard for Second Life?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/09\/metacard-virtual-l-credit-card-for-second-life\/#What_are_Linden_dollars\" >What are Linden dollars?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/09\/metacard-virtual-l-credit-card-for-second-life\/#Can_you_turn_Linden_dollars_into_real_money\" >Can you turn Linden dollars into real money?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2007\/09\/metacard-virtual-l-credit-card-for-second-life\/#Who_made_MetaCard\" >Who made MetaCard?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_the_MetaCard_Second_Life_credit_card_worked\"><\/span>How the MetaCard Second Life credit card worked<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>MetaCard worked much like a real Mastercard or Visa, but in L$. Instead of paying cash for an item, you charged it to your MetaCard and got the item right away. At the end of each billing cycle you received a statement with the amount due and the minimum payment, and interest was charged only on balances you rolled over.<\/p>\n<p>First Meta also offered extras around the card:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>MetaRewards:<\/strong> reward points for shopping with the card.<\/li>\n<li><strong>MetaSavings:<\/strong> a deposit account that paid interest in L$.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A list of merchants<\/strong> in Second Life that accepted the card.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Card_types_and_fees\"><\/span>Card types and fees<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Standard card:<\/strong> a credit limit of L$5,000 per month. Applications took about three business days.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gold card:<\/strong> a credit limit of L$10,000 per month. You had to provide a real-life credit or debit card number, and applications were approved automatically.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Monthly fee:<\/strong> L$300, waived if you spent at least L$500 in the month. Other charges were set out in the terms and conditions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>TechCrunch covered it as <a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2007\/09\/04\/metacard-the-worlds-first-virtual-world-credit-card\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the world&#8217;s first virtual world credit card<\/a>. At the time it looked like the start of a new era for the virtual world economy, which was booming; Second Life had already produced its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2006\/12\/anshe-chung-is-first-virtual-world-millionaire-on-second-life\/\">first virtual world millionaire<\/a>, Anshe Chung.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happened_to_MetaCard\"><\/span>What happened to MetaCard?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In 2007 several in-world &#8220;banks&#8221; in Second Life promised very high interest and then failed. The best known, Ginko Financial, declared itself insolvent in August 2007 owing about L$200 million to depositors. After many complaints, Linden Lab <a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2008\/01\/08\/virtual-banking-banned-in-second-life\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">banned virtual banking in Second Life<\/a> from January 22, 2008. MetaCard, which had offered bank-style services, was named among the businesses the ban could affect.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_buy_and_sell_Linden_dollars_in_2026\"><\/span>How to buy and sell Linden dollars in 2026<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/secondlife.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Second Life<\/a> is still running, and Linden dollars are still its currency. According to Second Life&#8217;s knowledge base, the official ways to trade L$ are:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Buy inside the viewer:<\/strong> click <strong>BUY L$<\/strong> next to your balance in the Second Life Viewer, enter the amount and click <strong>Buy Now<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Buy on the website:<\/strong> use the LindeX buy page in your account to place a market order, or a limit order if you want a set exchange rate.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sell L$:<\/strong> use the LindeX sell page. You need a payment method such as PayPal or Visa on your account, and some sales need ID checks.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cash out:<\/strong> money from sold L$ goes to your Tilia US dollar balance, which you can use for Second Life fees or transfer to PayPal or Skrill.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>All LindeX transactions carry fees, so check the current rates in your account before you trade.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Stay_safe_with_virtual_money\"><\/span>Stay safe with virtual money<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Only buy L$ through the official LindeX. Third-party sellers can be scams or use stolen cards.<\/li>\n<li>Be wary of anyone in-world promising interest or investment returns. That is exactly what led to the 2008 banking ban.<\/li>\n<li>Never share your Second Life password outside the official website or viewer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_you_still_get_a_MetaCard_for_Second_Life\"><\/span>Can you still get a MetaCard for Second Life?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No. MetaCard was a 2007 product, and Second Life banned in-world banking in January 2008. There is no official credit card for Second Life today.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_Linden_dollars\"><\/span>What are Linden dollars?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Linden dollars (L$) are the official currency of Second Life, used to buy virtual goods, land and services in-world.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_you_turn_Linden_dollars_into_real_money\"><\/span>Can you turn Linden dollars into real money?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes. You can sell L$ on the LindeX, and the proceeds go to your Tilia US dollar balance, which can be transferred to PayPal or Skrill.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_made_MetaCard\"><\/span>Who made MetaCard?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>MetaCard was a product of First Meta, a venture-backed start-up based in Singapore.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In September 2007 Second Life residents got MetaCard, billed as the first credit card for a virtual world, letting them&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":67238,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2539","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2539","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2539"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2539\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67242,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2539\/revisions\/67242"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67238"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2539"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2539"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2539"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}