FER CAGGIANO

The first NFTNYC I attended was by invitation from my onboarding collector. By the following year, I applied to be a speaker and got on a panel to talk about the shift from traditional art to web3. Fast forward a year, and I was doing a solo presentation on how blockchain can help preserve art and history.

This year was a bit different because I went through work representing Vitruveo, a new blockchain I’m helping to launch. Once again, as a speaker, I talked about building trust and elevating NFTs to the level of fine art.

(watch the videos from my presentations here.)

Someone told me NFTNYC felt like speed dating, and I could not have said it better! I met so many people, old friends, new friends, people I admire, yet I felt like I didn’t have enough time with anyone. But those brief moments with each other were genuinely precious, and now, even if we only maintain a virtual relationship, it has a deeper connection because we met in person.

Some highlights for me this year were meeting the Crypto Mondays community, participating at Nolcha Shows, sponsoring our own mobile gallery showcasing 210 artists, my presentation at Javits with a full room, and our Vitruveo meetup on the last evening.

There were some other awesome side events as well. I attended Brunch by Fidel (what a legend!), the Stellar exhibition, HUGFEST, and a few other events whose titles I don’t remember.

Despite some crazy personal things that happened, from me forgetting my wallet and having to trade meals for DEGEN tips, having to be Uber queen due to rain and no card for subway trips, to experiencing an earthquake on my way out and a five-hour delay on my flight home, it was absolutely a year to remember.

The energy at NFTNYC is just incredible. You leave with your head spinning from all the connections, the ideas, and the excitement for what’s next. I already can’t wait for next year.