Ad Age is extending the deadline to complete submissions for its inaugural Web3 Marketing Trailblazers award—applicants now have until Monday, Feb. 6. at 5 p.m. EST to enter. The new deadline was set to accommodate a swell of interest from top brands, ad agencies and tech startups that want to be considered for the honors.

The Web3 Marketing Trailblazers award is designed to identify the most outstanding, talented individuals who are adopting the most advanced technologies to guide brands and consumers into the future. Ad Age has been scouring the landscape to profile these individuals, of all levels, in the Web3 Marketing Trailblazers feature coming this spring.

Plus, the inaugural class of honorees will each receive a new type of trophy—a digital award authenticated on the blockchain. It’s the first time Ad Age will hand out digital tokens of appreciation in one of its honors, and the winners can showcase the award on their social media profiles, including LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Minero, an Austin-based, women-led multicultural creative studio, is creating the digital award, which can be displayed as NFTs on the recipients’ social pages.

In November, Ad Age opened entries for the first Web3 Marketing Trailblazers as a sign that the industry is changing. In the past year, the term “metaverse” has gone mainstream and cryptocurrency fortunes have risen and fallen, with brands still trying to navigate the digital transition. Even during the so-called “crypto-winter,” brands are enthusiastic about new tools like generative AI and virtual reality. Communities are being built around concepts born out of Web3, like NFT-based loyalty programs.

Through it all, Ad Age has followed the developments. Last week, Ad Age covered the marketing lessons to be learned from Porsche’s recent stumble in NFTs. Brands clearly are looking for guidance, and talent, to help their growth. BMW and L’Oréal, which just appeared in Ad Age’s list of most popular Gen Z brands, are among the most forward-looking brands when it comes to the metaverse and virtual commerce. This week, Warner Music Group created “Rhythm City” in Roblox.

Ad Age has also set dates for its second annual metaverse conference, May 9 and 10, where marketers will go into virtual reality with ad agency and brand leaders. There also will be a live gathering, where attendees will explore everything from digital wallets to avatar fashion.

Don't forget to submit your entry for the Web3 Marketing Trailblazers awards by Feb. 6. More details can be found at AdAge.com/Web3Awards.