STAFF NEWS & ANALYSIS
Google to Ban Cryptocurrency Ads, Deepening “Crypto Blackout”
By Joël Valenzuela - March 16, 2018

(Dash Force News) Google has announced that it will be cracking down on cryptocurrency-related advertising, furthering the “crypto blackout” online.

According to new policies relating to financial services to be rolled out in June, among newly banned content will be anything related to cryptocurrency:

“Cryptocurrencies and related content (including but not limited to initial coin offerings, cryptocurrency exchanges, cryptocurrency wallets, and cryptocurrency trading advice)”

While the spirit of the ban appears to be targeted at ICOs and speculation, it will also affect other cryptocurrency information as well, from simple usage guides to wallets, news sites, general information, and more.

Google joins Facebook in the crypto ad blackout

Google follows in Facebook’s footsteps in the crypto ad crackdown. Earlier this year, Facebook similarly banned cryptocurrency-related advertising. Now with Google joining in the ban, two of the most powerful online advertising networks have blocked out cryptocurrency. This united front will make reaching new users considerably more difficult, and will increase the value of earned media, solidifying gatekeeper status by major publications. Additionally, it may also give rise to more covert approaches to dodging ad filters, with cryptocurrency-related content packaged as something else.

Ad difficulties increase the importance of Dash’s partnerships and in-person promotions

Dash’s competitive advantage over other cryptocurrencies is its significant treasury, which can fund all manner of promotional initiatives in-house. However, the recent ad blackout has significantly complicated purely advertising-related proposals, reducing the ability to simply fund Dash ads to increase its user base. This situation increases the importance of other promotional measures such as conference sponsorships and speaking opportunities, as well as grassroots promotional initiatives including meetup programs.

Additionally, difficulties in running normal advertisements increase the value of strategic media partnerships. For example, rather than simply advertising on major ad networks utilized by media outlets, Dash sponsored US-based radio show and podcast Free Talk Live directly, bypassing ad bans by partnering directly with the media platform. Similarly, Dash exclusively sponsored independent journalist Ben Swann, lending his impressive reach to Dash, as well as making a strong statement about uncensored media made possible only by Dash’s DAO.

Posted in STAFF NEWS & ANALYSIS
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