Crypto Ads: Where Are They in Super Bowl LVII?

The Crypto Commercial Conundrum

As fans gear up for the showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII this February, there’s one noticeable absence on the field: cryptocurrency ads. Unlike the previous year’s flashy crypto spots, this year’s game will reportedly feature none of the digital currency juggernauts. What happened to the high-octane marketing blitzes we saw last year?

The FTX Fallout

Remember the hasty retreat of crypto companies after the FTX calamity? That’s the primary reason! Following the bankruptcy filing of the infamous exchange in November, four potential ad deals—each costing up to a whopping $7 million—completely disintegrated. Fox Sports’ ad sales chief, Mark Evans, even declared that major crypto companies would have “zero representation” during the event expected to attract around 100 million viewers. Talk about going from heroes to zeros!

Flashbacks to Super Bowl LVI

In stark contrast, last year, crypto was the life of the Super Bowl party. Firms like FTX, eToro, Crypto.com, and Coinbase dazzled viewers with their ads. One of the most memorable was FTX’s spot featuring comedian Larry David. Who knew that simply telling people “don’t miss out” would lead to a class-action lawsuit against him later? Seems that crypto isn’t just a game of football; it’s a game of legal football too!

Enter Limit Break: The Lone Ranger

Despite the gloom surrounding crypto advertising, there’s a flicker of hope: gaming startup Limit Break announced it will air an interactive ad this year. Their dragon-themed NFT giveaway promises to be unique—no celebrity endorsements here, just good old-fashioned scanning of QR codes. Forget celebrity fads, this might be the only commercial attempting to be both blockchain-savvy and budget-friendly!

Regulatory Scrutiny and the Future of Crypto Advertising

As the dust settles on the 2022 crypto debacle, authorities are stepping up their oversight. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is investigating several crypto firms for potential misconduct. Additionally, the Central Bank of Ireland is advocating for a ban on crypto advertisements targeted at young people. Crypto marketing is facing more hurdles than a lineman trying to make a catch!

The Final Whistle?

With an ad-free crypto landscape this Super Bowl Sunday, fans will have more time to focus on touchdowns instead of token trades. It’s a reminder that even in the glitzy world of football, reality has a way of tackling expectations. Whether crypto can bounce back in future Super Bowls remains to be seen, but for now, it seems they’d better stick to cheering from the sidelines.