Crypto Calls the Shots at the Super Bowl

Super Bowl LVI was home to countless advertisements, but one industry seemed particularly invested in the Big Game. Cryptocurrency brands came in force to make their names known during advertising’s biggest night. Which crypto ads proved to be the most effective? Who are the winners from this year? Let’s find out.

Don’t Miss Out

Close your eyes and imagine that Larry David was an eternal being that had existed throughout humanity’s history. Got that nightmare in your head? Good, now open your eyes. In FTX’s ad we follow the immortal creature as he turns his nose up at some of the greatest innovations throughout history. From the invention of the wheel to the creation of coffee, Larry didn’t like any of them. That’s why when Larry turns down crypto, audiences are left to fill in the blank… DON’T BE LIKE LARRY.

FTX’s ad creates a sense of urgency in the viewer with its very direct message “Don’t Miss Out” and utilizes simple FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) tactics.

The Moment of Truth

Many crypto brands frame the digital currency as a path to the future, and crypto.com found a fascinating way to convey this. The spot is framed as a conversation between LeBron James as we know him today and his younger self before joining the NBA. Young James is interested in his future, and is assured by his present day self that  change only comes with risk and he should take his shot.

Crypto.com does not spend time in the ad talking about the services it offers, but instead  demonstrates the importance of risk taking. The reality is that many audiences remain cautious about cryptocurrency and its viability. That’s why LeBron’s lesson to his past-self is meant more for the audience, “If you want to make history you gotta call your own shots”.

Coinbase QR Code

Countless people have fond memories of watching a DVD logo bounce around their screen, desperately hoping it will touch a corner. Coinbase tapped into this nostalgia in their bold 60-second Super Bowl ad. The spot differentiates itself from any other ad by displaying a single QR code bouncing around the screen like the DVD logo of old and audiences nationwide were scrambling to scan their television screens.

This ad comes as another demonstration of thinking “outside the box” for Super Bowl ads. It harkens back to the brief Reddit ad from 2021’s Super Bowl and proved to be as effective—with Coinbase’s website actually crashing from the massive influx of traffic. That is our selection for the most notable cryptocurrency ads at the Super Bowl this year. Let us know which was your favorite.