Phillip Torrone has a forward-looking post up at Make, considering the future nexus of real currency, virtual currency, and boutique credit cards. The idea is simple, and analogous to any number of credit card incentive programs: buy things in the real world, to earn currency in your preferred virtual counterpart. But to sweeten the deal, credit card companies could offer unique cards adorned with your (much-labored-upon) avatar.

Torrone writes, "With low(er) cost one-off printing and credit card companies looking to make their offerings more valuable, getting a credit card with your avatar on it is worth a lot. This isn't a new idea, personalized checks and license plates have been around for decades - in the last few years it's been possible to get custom photos on US postage stamps."