- Google has announced a new ads policy easing its restrictions for cryptocurrencies.
- New guidelines still have caveats that advertisers must follow.
- Some experts saw this as bullish news for cryptocurrencies in general.
- Easing restrictions could usher in another wave of crypto fraud and scams.
In an unexpected reversal to its 2018 ban on crypto advertising, Google has announced a new promotional policy easing its restrictions on ads for cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets. The new policy, which takes effect later this summer, states:
Beginning August 3, advertisers offering Cryptocurrency Exchanges and Wallets targeting the United States may advertise those products and services when they meet the following requirements and are certified by Google.
The original June 2018 ban blocked all crypto-related digital-asset advertisements regarding “…cryptocurrency-related content, including initial coin offerings (ICOs), wallets, and trading advice.” Later that year, Google removed some of the restrictions but most still remained in place.
This latest action by the internet giant removes significant ad barriers to two key elements of mainstream crypto adoption – namely, exchanges to buy digital assets and places to store it such as digital wallets. However, the new guidelines do have a few caveats that certified advertisers must follow.
To be certified by Google, [crypto] advertisers will need to:
- Be duly registered with
- FinCEN as a Money Services Business and with at least one state as a money transmitter; or
a federal or state chartered bank entity.
- Comply with relevant legal requirements, including any local legal requirements, whether at a state or federal level.
- Ensure their ads and landing pages comply with all Google Ads policies.
Under the new guidelines, Google still prohibits adverts for initial coin offerings; DeFi trading protocols; the direct purchase, sale or trade of specific coins; token liquidity pools; celebrity-endorsed crypto projects; cryptocurrency buying/selling signals, aggregators or trading advice.
Companies that stand to benefit from this development include coin exchanges such as Coinbase, Kraken, KuCoin, as well as decentralized autonomous organizations, and crypto wallets that include off-chain-cold-storage platforms Trezor and Ledger.
Could Be Positive
At least one cryptocurrency influencer – MMCrypto – saw this as bullish news for Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies in general since Google is used by more than a billion people globally. MMCrypto said that crypto advertisements to an audience that size could drive awareness and boost mainstream adoption of digital assets.
He further stated this news could be a positive catalyst for crypto coins in a video posted to his 400,000 YouTube subscribers and a tweet to his 310,000 Twitter followers.
QUOTE: "[b]eginning August 3, advertisers offering Cryptocurrency Exchanges and Wallets targeting the United States may advertise those products and services when they meet the following requirements and are certified by Google."— MMCrypto (@MMCrypto) June 2, 2021
Google’s parent company, Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), reportedly earns 80% of its total revenue from Google advertising, which was $147 billion in 2020. The company is expected to keep its decade-long digital ad dominance by capturing nearly a third of the total online ad spending projected in 2021.
On the Flipside
- While some may say lifting the advertising ban is bullish for crypto, easing restrictions could usher in another wave of cryptocurrency fraud and digital coin scams.
- Any increase in perceived or real fraudulent activity related to cryptocurrencies could needlessly add to the enduring negative narrative from crypto-coin critics.
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