Coinbase, FTX, Crypto.com: Crypto firms post record Super Bowl advertising

On Sunday, February 13, in the United States, the NFL’s championship game took place. Crypto firms posted a record level of advertising for the industry during the Super Bowl.

In 2022, a 30-second spot cost $6.5 million.

Crypto exchange Coinbase ran a 60-second advertisement featuring a QR code that drifted across the screen and changed colour.

Scanning it opens a link offering $15 in bitcoin for signing up on the trading platform and a chance to win more.

Coinbase reportedly spent $14M on this QR code commercial. Brilliant. pic.twitter.com/E1MSGpzxWk

— The Metaverse (@themetav3rse) February 14, 2022

Social media users noted Coinbase’s minimalist approach amid the scale and cost of other brands’ campaigns. The QR code even attracted the attention of a dog.

Zonk was extremely interested in the tv for the @coinbase #SuperBowl commercial 🤨😆 pic.twitter.com/ZDZGfmAHWq

— Haley Spracale (@haleymspracale) February 14, 2022

Chief Product Officer Surojit Chatterjee said the exchange faced record traffic, which briefly made the site unavailable.

@coinbase just saw more traffic than we’ve ever encountered, but our teams pulled together and only had to throttle traffic for a few minutes. We are now back and ready for you at https://t.co/ZUJqRlnZPH. Humbled to have been witness to this. #WAGMI

— Surojit (@surojit) February 14, 2022

A former employee of the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency, Edward Snowden criticized Coinbase for allegedly spending $16 million on Super Bowl advertising and $0 to ensure the site could withstand user load.

Coinbase spending $16,000,000 on a Superbowl ad to direct people to their website and $0 to make sure that website doesn’t crash 10 seconds after the ad starts is so very internet.

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) February 14, 2022

The cryptocurrency exchange FTX released a commercial in which actor and comedian Larry David criticises humanity’s great inventions across different historical periods. At the end of the video, he also declines to use FTX.

“Don’t be like Larry, don’t miss out,” the spot says.

The Crypto.com cryptocurrency platform’s ad features basketball star LeBron James and a younger version of himself. In the spot, they meet in 2003 to discuss the future.

“Fortune favours the bold,” ends the video.

Notably, at the start of the spot, perfume bottles sit on the table, their names altered from Dior to DYOR (Do Your Own Research).

Investment platform eToro used the phrase “To the Moon” in its advertising.

“Cryptocurrencies? Stocks? Where to start? Imagine a million-strong community, share ideas, trade stocks and cryptocurrencies,” says the spot.

Stocks, crypto and beyond. Discover the power of social investing #FlyWithUs #eToro pic.twitter.com/P01NJLxDZb

— eToro US (@eToroUS) February 14, 2022

In Bud Light’s advertisement, there is an image of unusual glasses that will be available to 12,000 NFT holders at $399 each. The release coincides with the launch of the new N3XT brand.

2/2 Each Bud Light N3XT NFT Collection HODLer will get to claim their EXCLUSIVE pair of very real Nouns-inspired glasses ⌐◨-◨

If you want a pair of these iconic glasses make sure to buy a Bud Light N3XT Collection NFT from https://t.co/ikjzSIndbm pic.twitter.com/1sqYXepfyh

— Bud Light (@budlight) February 12, 2022

A TurboTax, the US tax-preparation software maker, referenced cryptocurrency investments in its advertisement featuring Jason Sudeikis from the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso.

Earlier this December 2021, the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority prohibited seven crypto-related advertising campaigns, deeming that they did not adequately reflect the risks of investing.

The regulator targeted marketing campaigns by Coinbase Europe, eToro, Papa John’s, Luno Money, Exmo Exchange, Payward and Coinburp.

Read ForkLog’s bitcoin news on our Telegram — cryptocurrency news, prices and analysis.