As the pandemic continues to upend the experience economy, nostalgic collectors' items have become markers of luxury, as well as a source of comfort and familiarity. Some people have been flocking to the toys of their youth, turning items like Pokémon cards into sought-after luxuries.

NFTs are dominating the cryptocurrency conversation, but they’re still not seen as widely accessible. Start-up Dapper Labs is taking steps to change that with NBA Top Shot, using the power of stardom to open up NFTs to a broader audience and give people an innovative way to express their fandom.

2020 rewrote the rules on what it means to be a fan as many of the IRL focal points of shared passions – such as live events – were put on an indefinite hiatus. In this Spotlight on Fandom, we explore what it means to be a fan in 2021 and how brands can connect fans to the things they love.

Non-fungible tokens offer a way for people to digitally own everything from a tweet to a GIF of an NBA play via blockchain technology. How might they forge meaningful connections between fans and their idols? And how can brands sustain engagement with the tech beyond the initial hype?