YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — Lots of people look forward to the Super Bowl ads as much as, if not more than, the big game itself. We all know that the Kansas City Chiefs claimed the trophy for the second time in a row after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 last night, but who gets the highest prize for the best crypto ad played during a Super Bowl? Here are top five Super Bowl crypto ads that highlight the unique approaches companies took to capture viewers’ attention during one of the most watched events in the United States.
1. FTX Ad Featuring Larry David as a crypto skeptic
Super Bowl 2024 took place without any cryptocurrency ads. Unless, of course, you want to count Jack Dorsey’s presence with his SATOSHI T-Shirt. But, one of the most popular crypto ads of all time, even outside of the Super Bowl, remains the one launched by Sam Bankman-Fried’s defuncted crypto exchange FTX.
The ad took a humorous approach by showcasing Larry David skeptically dismissing various historical innovations. Those included the wheel, the fork, coffee, the lightbulb, and space travel.
The ad ends with someone presenting David with FTX as “a safe and easy way to get into crypto”. However, the skeptic that David is, he rubishes it, saying “Eh, I don’t think so. And I’m never wrong about this stuff. Never!”
The tagline encouraged viewers not to miss out on crypto like Larry did with other innovations.
However, the Super Bowl ad did not age well. Soon after, FTX filed for bankruptcy and Sam Bankman-Fried was arrested on several counts of fraud.
Recently, in hindsight, David called himself “an idiot” for listening to people and agreeing to do the ad. The popular comedian also stated that he lost money because of FTX and would love to join a class-action suit.
2. Coinbase: Remember the QR code Super Bowl crypto ad?
During the 2022 Super Bowl, the iconic ad by Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange, caught the attention of many.
This ad cleverly played on viewers’ nostalgia and attention with a bouncing QR code on the screen, reminiscent of a DVD screensaver, which led to a significant increase in app downloads following the ad’s airing.
3. Crypto.com LeBron James Ad
Basketball star LeBron James starred in the popular ad, visiting his younger self in 2003 in his room. Telling himself bits from the future, the time-traveler James informs his younger avatar that he won’t be using compact discs (CDs) for music. Instead, he would be listening to them through his phone, with cordless headphones. They also speak about electronic cars in the future.
Curious about his career, the young James asks if he is ready for the NBA.
“I can’t tell you everything, but if you want to make history, you’ve got to call your own shots,”
the older James replies.
The ad subtly promoted Crypto.com’s platform without direct mention of digital assets, making it one of the top five Super Bowl crypto ads on our list.
4. Bitbuy ropes in NBA champion
Featuring another basketball star, Kyle Lowry, this ad played on the idea of not missing out on investment opportunities in crypto, using humor and a self-deprecating tone from Lowry to engage viewers.
The 2022 Super Bowl ad brought a lot of traction to Bitbuy – Canada’s first regulated crypto marketplace.
5. eToro To The Moon through Super Bowl Crypto ad
This witty, light-hearted take on a crypto ad also makes it on the list of top Super Bowl ads. It highlighted eToro’s social investing platform with a visual of flying people forming a thumbs up, aiming to emphasize community and the sharing of investment strategies among users.
These ads not only sought to promote their respective platforms but also to bring cryptocurrency further into mainstream consciousness. Leveraging celebrity appearances, humor, and engaging visuals to capture the Super Bowl audience’s attention, they have become embedded in the memory of the crypto community.
