Aldon Huffhines contributed to this story.

GRIDWIDE - While Second Life investment companies have scrambled over the past seven months to rethink their business models, most remain—certainly changed and challenged, but there seems no indication that SL stock exchanges have any intention of going by the wayside on their own volition.

The main exchanges remain mostly stable, with of course, periods of volatility.

The company many believe responsible for the Linden Lab banking ban resumed trading about ten days ago. Readers might recall that the World Stock Exchange (WSE) announced in January that they would close for up to thirty days to make “needed” software upgrades. Within days, LL banned banks, causing many to believe that WSE had some inside knowledge of the upcoming announcement and/or that the whole reason for the ban in the first place stemmed from people threatening to sue LL over money lost in virtual banking, perhaps having to do with WSE. 

Now, seven months later the WSE re-immerged, but their future looks grim. While the company was on “hiatus”, controversies surrounding it continued.

WSE delisted companies, especially those with CEOs critical of the exchange. Companies moved to other exchanges.

Now a mere week or so after their lengthy upgrade, most of the remaining companies listed have not had much active trading and/or have not even opened up for trading.

WSE now sells its own currency called the WIC which roughly seems tied to the linden dollar in that one USD is approximately worth 265 WIC; surely not a coincidence.

WSE markets itself now on Facebook, calling itself a “fictional” “banking role-playing game”, though its mission seems to suggest it exists both as an educational and entertainment tool. It makes no overt mention that WSE exists to profit.

One major SL company Sarah Nerd Land Holdings remains listed on the WSE, and share values have risen.

The Ancapistan Capital Exchange (ACE) has continued to grow.