Bitcoin Exchanges Flood London's Metro With Adverts

Two cryptocurrency exchanges chose to kick off advertising campaigns on London's Underground transport system Monday.

AccessTimeIconDec 14, 2020 at 12:15 p.m. UTC
Updated May 9, 2023 at 3:14 a.m. UTC

“If you’re seeing bitcoin on the Underground, it’s time to buy,” according to one of the many posters now plastered across London’s vast metro network.

In fact, two cryptocurrency exchanges chose to kick off advertising campaigns with Transport for London (TFL) on Monday. 

  • What Do EigenLayer's Outflows of $2.3B Signal?
    00:57
    What Do EigenLayer's Outflows of $2.3B Signal?
  • What Do TradFi Crypto Moves Mean for Decentralization?
    04:20
    What Do TradFi Crypto Moves Mean for Decentralization?
  • Marathon Digital Buys $100M BTC; India's Special Task Force for Crypto-Related Drug Trafficking
    02:02
    Marathon Digital Buys $100M BTC; India's Special Task Force for Crypto-Related Drug Trafficking
  • Ether Slides as Grayscale's ETHE Outflows Ramp Up
    00:53
    Ether Slides as Grayscale's ETHE Outflows Ramp Up
  • Coinfloor, the U.K.’s longest-running exchange, launched a mix of large digital billboards and posters across London’s main tube stations. Meanwhile, Luno, the crypto exchange recently acquired by Digital Currency Group (also the owner of CoinDesk), combines its London Underground ads with 650 Greater London buses and a bunch of large roadside billboards.

    While crypto prices are perched close to an all-time high of $20,000, the coronavirus pandemic has greatly reduced the cost of running advertising campaigns in the U.K. 

    “Prices for prime ad space are highly competitive,” said Obi Nwosu, founder and CEO of Coinfloor. 

    And with London in a lower tier of COVID-19 restrictions (although this may change soon) and Christmas around the corner, the trains are busy, Nwosu said.

    “Footfall remains high at major stations, owing to the lockdown ending and Christmas run up,” he said. “Also, bitcoin is now finally being seen as a bona fide investment for the everyday person and so broader advertising starts making sense.”

    Luno advert, London Underground
    Luno advert, London Underground

    James Lanigan, chief revenue officer at Luno, agreed that a combination of the winter holiday and the coronavirus has been favorable for bullish crypto advertising.

    “At this time of year, the price of advertising around London would normally be almost out of reach,” Lanigan said. “But of course, everyone's been really hit and so actually on TFL and on the global network there's a lot of inventory out there. So there are great opportunities.”

    Luno’s London push is part of a global campaign that includes national TV and radio in South Africa, the transport network across Lagos in Nigeria, print and radio in Malaysia and a mix of transport and radio in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia.

    Lanigan was buoyed by the fact Coinfloor was launching its London Underground campaign at the same time as Luno.

    “If we can get lots of crypto companies advertising at the same time, that would be fantastic,” he said. “You got Luno shouting about [cryptocurrency], and Coinfloor shouting about it and if we had two or three others it would just naturally lift the whole industry.”

    Disclosure

    Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.