With the ascendance of
metaverse technologies, virtual dispute resolution mechanisms have undergone
rapid development, challenging the foundational principles of traditional
arbitration. This article examines the theoretical foundations of independence
and impartiality within the international arbitration framework and analyses
how the virtualization of the arbitrator’s role in the metaverse creates new
institutional tensions and normative challenges. Drawing on comparative
practices from China, Singapore, and platform-based mechanisms, it further
explores the potential impact of remote hearings, algorithmic assistance, and
decentralized systems on procedural justice. Based on these findings, the
article proposes reconstructing the arbitrator regime by refining appointment
procedures, fortifying digital identity verification, and delineating the
boundaries of AI-assisted decision-making to ensure the continuity and
legitimacy of arbitral principles in the evolving technological environment.