Coinbase, the US’s biggest crypto exchange, is reportedly set to roll out a $15 million TV advertising campaign. It is expected to play a crucial role as the campaign will run during the NBA playoffs. It is being done to promote the advantages of cryptos over traditional payment methods. This major move comes in when the exchange is dealing with legal challenges pushed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Coinbase goes big in crypto game
Looking at the campaign launched suggests that Coinbase is aiming to educate viewers about the complexities of traditional conventional payment systems. However, they have used a creative pizza themed narrative to do so.
According to reports, the crypto linked commercials are set to air on TNT, ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC. Faryar Shirzad, Coinbase’s Chief Policy Officer, to FOX Business, stated that “We’re under the illusion that when we use credit cards or Venmo, things are happening instantly, but they’re just part of very complex plumbing that’s masked by a digital interface.”
One of the commercials shows a large pizza that goes through various stages of approval and authorization. This represents the lengthy process of a typical credit card transaction. As the pizza moves along an assembly line, people are shown taking bites to illustrate the intermediaries taking their share. This cleverly highlights the hidden fees consumers often encounter.
However, the ad concludes with a delivery guy collecting the pizza which is half eaten in between. He later states that “we deserve a better system, easier, simpler, faster. That’s how crypto works.”
Jesse Pollak, a Coinbase executive, mentioned the company’s commitment to offering a better payment system for consumers. He reportedly said “Crypto is a solution for Americans who are fed up with the middlemen taking a bite every time they order and pay for pizza.”
SEC is still waiting
It is important to note that recently a US court ruled against Coinbase’s attempt to dismiss a case pushed by the SEC. The crucial decision had allowed the commission to proceed with its lawsuit against the exchange.
The watchdog had alleged that the exchange functioned as an unregistered exchange, broker, and clearing agency.
However, the legal battle began back in June 2023 when the commission alleged Coinbase of violating federal securities laws. It mentioned the listing of 13 tokens which it deemed as securities.