Algorand Foundation’s new ad criticized Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana for their efficiency. The ad received mixed reactions from the crypto community and sparked a conversation about the art of advertising crypto products.
Algorand’s latest ad has sparked controversy for “dissing” three networks. Titled “When Blockchain Meets The Real World, Only One Can Deliver,” the ad features a classic grocery store checkout line format.
The video shows three customers trying to pay for groceries with crypto: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. During the ad, the three shoppers have problems with their respective transactions, seemingly suggesting that the rival networks are unsuitable for everyday use.
The customer using Bitcoin had to wait 27 minutes for the transaction to be completed; the one paying with Ethereum was told the transaction fees were $112, and the Solana payer had his transactions repeatedly failing. All three issues in the ad are common criticisms that the three targeted networks receive.
The commercial then shows the next checkout line, with buyers using Algorand as a payment method. As this line moves quickly, the video displays text stating “Instant Finality. Low Fees. Designed for the speed of life.”
The ad finished with the cashier saying, “Should have shopped with Algorand,” and Anthony Scaramucci, investment guru and founder of SkyBridge, asking how to get in the fast-moving line.
The Crypto Ads Conundrum
The video received mixed reviews from the crypto community. Many applauded the ad, stating that Algorand is the future of Layer-1 and payments. One X user :
I can’t stress enough how much the Algorand Foundation does compared to others. All the meetings, tweets, events, etc…this isn’t happening on other chains!
However, the negative responses didn’t take long to follow. Several community members considered the jab at other chains an unnecessary and “embarrassing” attack. A user jokingly that Algorand achieved an “impossible goal” with the ad: “uniting all the factions of crypto to dunk on you.”
Crypto commentator Zach Rynes that this type of marketing doesn’t make sense as he is unsure who it appeals to. In an X post, Rynes explained that the ad would leave the wrong impression on non-crypto people.
To him, the video will make the public think that “crypto sucks,” not knowing that the ad is for crypto. The commentator believes it’s a “lose-lose either way” since “Crypto-native people will see this as unnecessarily combative.”
Similarly, Mert, CEO of Helius Labs, up a point repeated by several community members. Mert criticized Algorand for spending money on an ad when its “top two explorers [are] going out of business due to no funding.”
Moreover, he seems to consider the jab at other networks ironic when Algorand’s got its “entire economic security flipped by two dog coins on Solana (WIF + BONK).”
Cardano Joins The Advertisement Conversation
Despite the criticism, the discussion also sparked interest in the ADA community. X account ADA Whale praised the commercial for being funny.
Another community member Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson in the video, suggesting he should start looking for a marketing team to promote Cardano. The user cited the US government’s U-turn, possibly bringing regulatory clarity, as a decisive factor.
This is not the first time Cardano has received criticism over its marketing approach. In March, the conversation sparked when the “Cardano Girls” video became viral.
Content creator Lily Brodi suggested that despite having the technology aspect figured out, Cardano has an “unattractiveness problem.” This problem prevents a broader audience from entering its community and adopting the technology.
Ultimately, crypto ads remain a hot topic and a useful tool for the industry. Whether users find them “cringy” or “unnecessary” sometimes, they have the potential to help with broader adoption through educational and entertaining crypto-related content.
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Rubmar is a writer and translator who has been a crypto enthusiast for the past four years. Her goal as a writer is to create informative, complete, and easily understandable pieces accessible to those entering the crypto space. After learning about cryptocurrencies in 2019, Rubmar became curious about the world of possibilities the industry offered, quickly learning that financial freedom was at the palm of her hand with the developing technology.
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From a young age, Rubmar was curious about how languages work, finding special interest in wordplay and the peculiarities of dialects. Her curiosity grew as she became an avid reader in her teenage years. She explored freedom and new words through her favorite books, which shaped her view of the world. Rubmar acquired the necessary skills for in-depth research and analytical thinking at university, where she studied Literature and Linguistics. Her studies have given her a sharp perspective on several topics and allowed her to turn every stone in her investigations.
In 2019, she first dipped her toes in the crypto industry when a friend introduced her to Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, but it wasn’t until 2020 that she started to dive into the depth of the industry. As Rubmar began to understand the mechanics of the crypto sphere, she saw a new world yet to be explored.
At the beginning of her crypto voyage, she discovered a new system that allowed her to have control over her finances. As a young adult of the 21st century, Rubmar has faced the challenges of the traditional banking system and the restrictions of fiat money.
After the failure of her home country’s economy, the limitations of traditional finances became clear. The bureaucratic, outdated structure made her feel hopeless and powerless amid an aggressive and distorted system created by hyperinflation. However, learning about decentralization and self-custody opened a realm of opportunities. Cryptocurrencies allowed her to experience financial control for the first time and expand her financial education.
Moreover, the peculiar nature of the crypto community sparked Rubmar’s curiosity about the other layers of the industry. As a result, she found a particular interest in discovering the diverse perspectives of investors, market watchers, experts, and developers. Her attempts to better understand the crypto space made her realize the strong links of the community with other industries, enriching her perspective of the sector. As someone who spends most of her day online, Rubmar enjoys finding the points where the crypto world meets with her other passions and hobbies –or her favorite memes.
In her free time, she usually finds joy in different art forms. As a child, she enlisted in every extra-curricular activity in her hometown, including music classes, dancing, jewelry making, and the local chorus. Despite her many attempts to learn different instruments, Rubmar only knows how to play the xylophone, which she played for 7 years in her school’s marching band.
She also has a passion for learning new languages and cultures, having set the goal to learn another six languages – currently attempting to learn Italian and Korean. Scrapbooking, paper crafting, and bookbinding are her biggest interests outside of work, constantly taking classes and attending workshops to learn new techniques. The rest of her free time is spent stressing over football matches and transfer market news or feeding cats –hers or stray.
In summary, Rubmar seeks to present entertaining and educational pieces to be enjoyed by everybody, aiming to report on the latest news and offer a unique perspective while adding a meme or a pun whenever possible.
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