Miami NFT Week Announces 3-Day, Packed Conference | News

We have all heard of cryptocurrency. The volatile digital market has its pros and cons and ups and downs, but experts believe that the current “crypto winter” (representing the decline in cryptocurrency prices and a reduction in market capitalization) is almost over.

That makes this year’s Miami NFT Week (March 31 – April 2, 2023) the perfect kickoff event for Miami Tech Month.

“Now is the time for real people to build,” said Gianni D’Alerta, co-founder of Miami NFT Week, in a statement about the opportunities that can come out of a bear market like this. “Now it’s time for the stars to start coming out and new ideas will start to come out. And then we might have another boom.”

Along with D’Alerta, other co-founders Erik LaPaglia and Ted Lucas is hosting this event at the Mana Wynwood Convention Center. Lucas is a philanthropist and CEO of legendary Miami hip-hop label Slip ‘N Slide Records.

The trio has planned a packed agenda with more than 250 experts covering NFTs, DeFi and Blockchain technology through workshops, panels, pitch competitions, creative installations, immersive art, performances and more.

There are some heavy hitters that will take the stage that will focus on four main pillars: culture, the metaverse, business and Web3.

Miami’s mayor Francis Suarez, Grammy Award-winning producer, singer-songwriter Timbalandtwo-time NBA star Baron DavisCEO Lin Dai, financier Anthony Scaramucci, Web3 creator Swan SitDecentral founder and co-founder of Ethereum Anthony De Lorio, Magdalena “Mags” Kala of Double Down, and The Miami Ape LLC co-founder Laura Rodriguez will all grace the stage during the conference, which is expected to draw in more than 5,000 attendees.

Digital content is the most important use of NFTs today, and black and brown people continue to grow in this area.

“Educating the younger generation about what’s happening in the Web3 space will be valuable information for them to incorporate into their future careers. It will be exciting to not only give them the opportunity to do that, but also to network and ask questions with someone by the speakers on the future of NFTs,” said Lucas. The conference organizers gave out 100 tickets to the young people at iTech and Turner Tech, as well as free passes to students at Florida Memorial University, Miami Dade College and Florida International University.

The conference promises to bring in an even younger group of creators this year to bring new innovators into the space. Miami NFT Week hosts a group from NFT Kids, featured in NFTKidsMagazine, the first-ever NFT publication for digital kids and teen artists, founded by a 13-year-old NFT artist and photographer Gemeidon. The kids, ages 7 to 15, will have a booth at the conference to showcase their art, sign autographs and bring a new perspective to the room.

There is also a concerted effort to bring more Latin Americans into the crypto community. “My partners and I did not see people from Latin America and the Caribbean — the people we see every day, who live here and visit here — included in other Web3 events,” D’Alerta said. “These people weren’t being represented. So we wanted to increase the Latino conversation because that’s what Miami is.”

In addition to the various panel topics and networking opportunities, Miami NFT will also host a buildathon. This year’s competition, which is free to enter, will provide an interactive environment where participants will not only hear about industry-leading tools, artists and founders; they will be able to interact and build with them. Prizes worth $25,000 will be awarded to the winning teams.

“Miami NFT Week 2022 was my first introduction to a scene for crypto and Web3,” Laura Rodriguez, host and co-founder of The Miami Ape, told BusinessWire. Miami Ape is a Web3 and consulting agency.

“As a young woman, I tried to understand the space and my place in it all. After my participation in the conference, I knew my passion was this new emerging world and I started my company, The Miami Ape shortly after. Without Miami NFT Week 2022 I never would have taken the chance to speak on so many stages around the country and the world. A year later I get to look back on my journey and stand up in front of everyone at Miami NFT Week 2023 as a speaker to share my story and hopefully inspire young people women like me.”

For more information, check out miamiftweek.com.