Cryptocurrency advertising: best platforms, strategies, and compliance tips

What is cryptocurrency advertising?

Cryptocurrency advertising maximizes paid media services to promote the use of crypto assets and blockchain technology. For a quick overview, here are the trending forms of crypto advertising:

• Crypto banner ads on websites
• Sponsored posts on social media platforms
• Paid mentions on affiliate and aggregator sites
• PR link-building on crypto-specific sites (like CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap)

Crypto advertising is different from organic crypto marketing, which takes on a more long-term approach. Organic marketing uses SEO, content marketing, and community building to reach crypto users without ad spend. It’s where a reliable crypto SEO agency can help you.

Meanwhile, crypto ads utilize ad spend to engage with the crypto community instantly. Of course, it’s best to combine the best of both strategies, so as to maximize your entire marketing budget.

According to Statista, the number of crypto users is accelerating further every year. That’s why almost every player in the crypto industry is joining the party.

• Cryptocurrency exchanges (e.g., Binance, Uniswap)
• Non-Fungible Token (NFT) crypto projects
• Cryptocurrency wallets (hardware wallets and software wallets)
• Blockchain technology platforms (e.g, Ethereum, Solana)
• Crypto payment providers

It’s not surprising that there’s a high demand for crypto advertising. According to Gitnux, this is a $175-billion market.

But where can you advertise cryptocurrency assets without stepping out of bounds?

Launch Smarter Crypto Ad Campaigns

Maximize ROI with strategic ad placements tailored to the crypto market. Our Paid Media service keeps you compliant and visible.

Paid Media service

Where can you advertise cryptocurrency?

These platforms, when properly used, provide opportunities for you to advertise to crypto audiences.

Google Ads policy for cryptocurrency

Google places cryptocurrency content under the Your Money, Your Life (YMYL) category. Search engines are stricter on YMYL topics since they could affect people’s financial well-being.

• Certifications are required: Along with your business license, Google also requires a certification from them. This Google Ads certification allows you to run ad content on crypto exchanges and search engine results.
• Great for high-intent keywords: Google Ads allows you to target specific audiences through high-intent keywords. In the cryptocurrency world, these keywords focus on encouraging users to sign up or submit a form on your website.
• Use Google Ads to drive conversions: Leave general brand awareness to your social accounts and online forums. On Google, your target audience should be those who are already looking for specific crypto assets and additional services.

Facebook / Instagram crypto ad rules

As we all know, Facebook and Instagram are under the Meta umbrella. Therefore, you must align with Meta’s policies for different crypto ad formats.

• Meet eligibility requirements: Your business must meet eligibility requirements, including regulatory licenses. You must also submit a form to obtain written permission from Meta.
• Ads shouldn’t promise guaranteed profits: Don’t deceive the crypto space with promises of profits. Moreover, Meta requires disclaimers about risks in cryptocurrency transactions.
• Build brand awareness through engaging visuals: Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram thrive on visual content. Aim for visually-appealing ad formats like infographics and short reels.

X (formerly Twitter) & crypto promotions

X is a legitimate hub for conversations in the cryptocurrency market. As compared to other online platforms, the crypto community here knows what they’re talking about. Our best recommendation is to naturally position yourself in these conversations.

• Fewer restrictions on crypto ads and gambling-related content: X is more lenient with crypto advertising. You can promote tweets and reach more people with a verified (blue-check) account.
• This is a community-driven advertising channel: Crypto degens, as they call it, are already invested in this space. So, you must show that you’re knowledgeable about trending topics like cryptocurrency mining, futures trading, and token liquidity pools.
• Build a loyal following: X is the way to go if you’re building a strong community. As long as you know your stuff, crypto audiences on X will follow you.

Reddit, LinkedIn, and other social platforms

Increasing visibility on Reddit and LinkedIn can help increase brand trust. Similar to X, you must exhibit a strong knowledge of cryptocurrency if you want to succeed here.

• Contribute your insights on subreddits: Reddit has topical categories called subreddits. Before you can write a post yourself, you must reply to other threads to build “karma”. You can post ads on Reddit, but these should naturally blend into the threads.
• Reach decision-makers on LinkedIn: Company executives and professionals compose the bulk of the users on LinkedIn. This is a good way for your brand to reach enterprise-level clients. LinkedIn is more appropriate for blockchain ads that promote tech solutions and legal services for crypto companies.

Crypto-specific ad networks (Coinzilla, Bitmedia, etc.)

If you want to target crypto-specific audiences, you should consider working with crypto ad networks. Platforms like Coinzilla, Bitmedia, and Cointraffic will place your ads on crypto news sites and thought blogs.

• Targeted advertising: Maximize your ad spend and reach people with a high interest in cryptocurrency assets.
• Experiment with different ad formats: Crypto ad networks offer various ad formats, including banner ads, push notifications, display advertising, and contextual advertising. This way, you can track which format or copy works best for your brand.
• Safer way to launch crypto and blockchain ads: Mainstream platforms might restrict some crypto projects. Crypto ad networks present a hassle-free option B. You don’t have to manually navigate platform regulations.

Cryptocurrency advertising strategies that work

Crypto advertising is a whole playbook of strategies that cater to different types of audiences.

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) campaigns

PPC campaigns are cost-efficient because you only pay when someone clicks on your ad. It almost guarantees that your ads are shown to high-intent audiences. You can also work with trusted PPC agency services to maximize your ad spend.

• Get certified: Sign up for a Google Ads account and get certified first.
• Geo-targeting: Through geo-targeting, your ads will only be shown to a target audience within a specific location. This allows you to focus on locations with higher demand for your product.
• Perform ad testing: Take advantage of Google Ads’ testing features, including Custom Experiments and Ad Variations. You can see which copies, headlines, and URLs work best for your crypto project.

Banner & display ads on niche crypto websites

Crypto banner ads are those large advertisements that you see on websites. These ad formats work best when promoting on ad spaces from crypto-focused websites.

• Focus your budget on crypto-focused platforms: Don’t just put up ads on irrelevant websites. Try cryptocurrency news sites like CoinTelegraph or Decrypt, or crypto ad networks like Coinzilla.
• High-intent placement: Visitors of these websites are already invested in crypto exchanges, blockchain technology, and digital currency. You can even buy ad spaces to promote cryptocurrency mining hardware, and people will be interested. These are great grounds for building brand recognition.

Influencer & community marketing (YouTube, X, Discord)

Influencers are living up to their billing. According to Statista, its market value could reach $30 billion in 2025. A successful influencer marketing strategy can be a solid piece in your crypto advertising playbook.

• Connect with crypto-related influencers: They don’t have to be specifically affiliated with crypto. Even influencers who talk about financial services or tax services can work. Engage with niche audiences who have overlapping interests in blockchain technology, cryptocurrency trading signals, and related topics.
• Be authentic: Keep your promotions genuine, especially when marketing on community platforms like Discord, Telegram, and X. You can do this by contributing valuable insights to existing discussions.

Content marketing + paid promotion

As we always mention, there should be a balance between organic engagement and paid ads. For example, SEO and PPC can work together if you take the right approach.

• Develop educational materials: Address pain points that you can eventually connect to your product. For instance, companies that offer cryptocurrency wallets can write guides about virtual currency, initial coin offerings, and security services.
• Then, use paid ads to promote your content: The next step is to capitalize on your online following to promote helpful content. Post your articles on social platforms to increase your brand’s authenticity.

Sponsorships at crypto events

It’s one of those old ways, but sponsorships still work in any sector. In crypto, these could come in the form of conferences and summits where you can showcase your products.

• Ensure that you have a vision: Along with a working product, you should have a long-term goal for your crypto project. Investors in these events are attracted to brands that have future-proof plans.
• Go ahead and network: Sponsorships are not just about promoting your product. Establish real connections with real people, and talk about trends in cryptocurrency today.

Drive Conversions with Crypto PPC

Reach high-intent crypto audiences with targeted PPC campaigns. We help you optimize ad spend and unlock growth opportunities.

PPC agency services

Compliance and regulations of cryptocurrency advertising

Since cryptocurrency is viewed as part of financial services, many countries hold the niche to a strict standard. What makes it tricky is that regulations vary by country or region.

For instance, each region is governed by a different regulator. Here are examples:

• United States: Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
• Europe: Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework
• United Kingdom: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
• Asia: Securities and Futures Commission (Hong Kong), Securities Commission (Malaysia)
• Australia: Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)

However, it’s not enough that you secure licenses from these regulatory bodies. Some crypto brands make compliance mistakes during their advertising campaigns. Here are some of these common mistakes:

• Promising guaranteed profits
• Saying that this is a “safe investment” or that it’s “risk-free”
• Targeting locations that don’t allow crypto ads
• Failing to include necessary disclaimers

Take note that online channels have automated reviews, so multiple violations might trigger an account suspension. You don’t want that to happen to your brand, especially if you’ve already built a following.

Measuring crypto ad campaign success

This isn’t a simple social media post where “likes” and “shares” dictate success. In digital currency and blockchain technology, you need form submissions, account sign-ups, and deposits.

Remember, your ultimate goal here is to convert visitors into paying customers. That’s where your revenue will kick in.

For your campaigns to work, you need to monitor the right metrics.

• Click-through rate (CTR): How often do people click on your ad when they see it? If your CTR is low, you might have to optimize your copy or improve audience targeting.
• Conversion rate: When people click on your ad, do they sign up for an account or at least download a resource? This could dictate the effectiveness of your landing pages.
• Customer acquisition cost (CAC): How much did it cost you to acquire one new customer?
• Return on ad spend (ROAS): Is your ad revenue significantly higher than your ad spend? If it’s not, you have to change your targeting approach or creative direction.

The updated Google Analytics 4 guide now offers more insights into user behavior and conversions. This is a great tool for knowing the effectiveness of your programmatic advertising and banner ads.

Other performance-monitoring tools include Google Search Console (free), Google Tag Manager (free), Semrush (paid), and Ahrefs (paid). Of course, social platforms like Meta, X, and LinkedIn offer their own analytics tools.

Challenges in cryptocurrency advertising

Brand trust is at the heart of cryptocurrency advertising. You need to gain the trust of not just your audiences, but also the platforms you’re using.

• Getting banned from a platform: Don’t test the limits of platform policies. If you have already built a huge audience base, it would just go to waste if you get banned. That’s thousands of dollars of marketing budget going down the drain. Review the policies, obtain written permission, and secure necessary licenses.
• Dealing with a skeptical audience: If your crypto and blockchain ads appear out of the blue, people will naturally become skeptical about them. We recommend building an organic following first, before you push ads on cryptocurrency exchanges, socials, and crypto trading platforms. Contributing insights on crypto-related discussions and creating content around current trends can help you do this.

Of course, it’s not just about navigating platform regulations and gaining the trust of your audience. Don’t forget that you’re facing stiff competition, too. You need to future-proof your strategy, both in the short and long term.

One way to do that is by working with trusted SEO experts like Fortis Media.

With a 95% client retention rate and over 100 optimized websites, we approach SEO for crypto in a sustainable manner. We know how to organically build a following, while also maximizing your ad spend for immediate visibility.

If there’s a healthy balance between organic posts and paid content, you’ll have a stronger chance of leveling up with the competition.

Partner with Crypto Marketing Experts

Let’s build a compliant and scalable crypto advertising strategy together. Connect with Fortis Media’s expert team today.

Contact now

Future trends in crypto advertising

Cryptocurrency is trending towards technologies that offer more features to its users. If you’re advertising your crypto brand, you might as well hop on the bandwagon.

• Web3 native advertising: You don’t have to rely solely on mainstream platforms like Google or Meta. You can integrate your ads and additional services into NFT marketplaces, defi trading protocols, and decentralized applications (dAPPs).
• AI-powered targeting: Use artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to refine your audience targeting. With central bank digital currencies (CBDC) steadily emerging, you need more accuracy with your targeting approach.
• Metaverse advertising: Crypto brands are already experimenting with ad spaces inside virtual or digital worlds. Cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets can sponsor metaverse events. This allows them to feature products like safeguarding private keys and additional services.

With trends and policies evolving by the day, you need a dedicated crypto marketing team. Take, for example, Fortis Media, a full-service search marketing agency that also specializes in crypto SEO.

We have a wide network within the crypto space, which allows us to get ahead of trends and pain points. We use this as our advantage, particularly in fine-tuning your crypto advertising playbook. More importantly, we have powerful tracking tools that measure the effectiveness of your ads.