Emerging Tech

Art Basel Miami Community Embraced Web3—But Use Cases Remain Stuck in Web2

Brands and technology platforms need to take more cues from the culture shapers

A woman presenting an art installation to two onlookers. — The trend seen at Art Basel was the idea of identity as a value to be owned and reworked depending on context.Sean Drakes/Getty Images

Brandweek will feature live discussions with marketing pros at ULTA Beauty, Converse, UPS and more. Meet us in Miami Sept. 11–14 to boost your business and elevate your brand.

“Subdued” is not a typical description associated with Art Basel Miami. But this year, the twentiethtime since the city first hosted the global art and tech fest, that’s the word that fits.

The wildly imaginative community representing luxury brands, contemporary art and emerging tech that converges in Miami at the end of every November is not known for restraint and practicality. But as talk of crypto winter set in as 2021’s NFT hype cooled, the mood in Miami last week was much more down to earth.

And