I've been knee-deep in the crypto space for a while now—mostly as a writer, sometimes as a trader, and occasionally as someone who tries to dabble in marketing for a few side projects. Recently, though, I found myself asking a pretty simple question that turned out to be not-so-simple: are crypto ads even worth it anymore in 2025?
It started with a client asking me to help boost some exposure for their Web3 wallet project. Nothing huge—just get some traffic, eyeballs, maybe a few signups. Easy, right? That's what I thought too. Until I realized most of the usual ad networks either don't touch crypto or have weird restrictions. And even when they do allow it, I kept wondering: Is anyone actually clicking on these things? Is there even ROI left in this game?
It started with a client asking me to help boost some exposure for their Web3 wallet project. Nothing huge—just get some traffic, eyeballs, maybe a few signups. Easy, right? That's what I thought too. Until I realized most of the usual ad networks either don't touch crypto or have weird restrictions. And even when they do allow it, I kept wondering: Is anyone actually clicking on these things? Is there even ROI left in this game?
The Crypto Ad Struggle No One Talks About
Here's the thing: advertising in crypto isn't like running a campaign for a food blog or a SaaS tool. The space is noisy. People are skeptical—especially in 2025, after years of rug pulls, overhyped NFT drops, and token launches that never went anywhere.
The biggest challenge? Trust.
No one's just going to click your banner ad and whip out their MetaMask anymore. I was seeing bounce rates that made me question everything. CTRs in decimals. It felt like the money was disappearing faster than the ETH gas fees during a bull run.
On top of that, platforms like Google and Meta still treat crypto like a red flag. The approval process is long, the targeting options are limited, and the rules are... well, foggy at best.
So what's a small crypto brand (or a solo marketer like me) supposed to do?
The biggest challenge? Trust.
No one's just going to click your banner ad and whip out their MetaMask anymore. I was seeing bounce rates that made me question everything. CTRs in decimals. It felt like the money was disappearing faster than the ETH gas fees during a bull run.
On top of that, platforms like Google and Meta still treat crypto like a red flag. The approval process is long, the targeting options are limited, and the rules are... well, foggy at best.
So what's a small crypto brand (or a solo marketer like me) supposed to do?
My “Wait, This Actually Worked?” Moment
After wasting a decent chunk of budget on traditional channels, I decided to take a step back and think like a user. What would make me click a crypto ad?
It wouldn't be something flashy or salesy. I'd probably click on something that felt honest, straightforward, and relevant to where I already hang out online.
That led me down the rabbit hole of alternative ad networks. Ones that actually get the crypto audience and aren't afraid to work with blockchain projects. I started experimenting—slowly. A few banner ads here, a text ad there. Nothing massive. But the results surprised me.
For the first time in a while, the numbers begin to make sense.
Was it perfect? No. But it feels like I was finally reaching real people again—wallet holders, DeFi users, NFT collectors. Not just generic traffic.
It wouldn't be something flashy or salesy. I'd probably click on something that felt honest, straightforward, and relevant to where I already hang out online.
That led me down the rabbit hole of alternative ad networks. Ones that actually get the crypto audience and aren't afraid to work with blockchain projects. I started experimenting—slowly. A few banner ads here, a text ad there. Nothing massive. But the results surprised me.
For the first time in a while, the numbers begin to make sense.
Was it perfect? No. But it feels like I was finally reaching real people again—wallet holders, DeFi users, NFT collectors. Not just generic traffic.
So What Should Crypto Advertisers Actually Focus On?
If you're in this game, chasing ROI, here's what I've learned:
- Target the right crowd, not the biggest one. The crypto world is niche. Stop thinking like a mainstream brand and start focusing on the micro-communities.
- Be transparent. No one wants to feel tricked. Ads that lead to value-driven landing pages (not hype) always do better in my experience.
- Test small, then double down. Seriously—don't blow your entire budget in one go. You need to test creatives, placements, and formats.
I know it's tempting to throw money at “big” platforms just to feel legit. But if you're trying to be scrappy, there are better ways to spend your ad dollars — especially if you're testing the waters.
I've had good luck when I started to launch a test campaign on platforms that are built with crypto in mind. I'm not here to name-drop endlessly, but if you're stuck, that might be a good place to start experimenting without breaking the bank.
I've had good luck when I started to launch a test campaign on platforms that are built with crypto in mind. I'm not here to name-drop endlessly, but if you're stuck, that might be a good place to start experimenting without breaking the bank.
Conclusion:
If you're feeling frustrated by the lack of traction in crypto ads, you're not alone. I've been there. The space is evolving fast, and what worked in 2021 doesn't work in 2025.
But I've also seen that with the right approach—and a bit of patience—there's still room to make crypto advertising actually work. Just don't follow the same old playbook. Think smaller, sharper, and smarter.
But I've also seen that with the right approach—and a bit of patience—there's still room to make crypto advertising actually work. Just don't follow the same old playbook. Think smaller, sharper, and smarter.