Super Bowl LVI best crypto moments
This year the most star studded event was invaded with a movement of digital assets and crypto enthusiasm.
2021 marked the upsurge of mainstream adoption of web3 protocols such as the smart contract, DAOs, and the common factor, crypto currency. With stars like Paris Hilton, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem diving into the technology to create their own personal collections to share. So it’s no suprise that advertising firms are calling this year’s Superbowl LVI the ‘Cryptobowl’.
A Super Bowl commercial can cost upwards of $6.5 Million dollars for placement, not counting production. A good commercial is nothing if it does not stimulate at least 10 million in sales. The best Super Bowl ads are gifts that keep on giving, long after the broadcast has ended. Popular superbowl ads get an upwards of 100-150 million views online.
1. Coinbase QR code ad
Coinbase had an ad I could watch for hours if given the chance…
Showing what looked like a DVD sleeping screen with a moving, color changing QR code. Maddeningly missing the corner of the TV at every attempt and bumping around the screen in various parallelogram shaped paths.
This obviously invoked questionable nostalgia to those who didn’t want to explore the QR code, and instead simply watch the bouncing image until it finally hits the victorious corner…for those who did explore and scan, a crypto ad starring Larry David was presented. Revealing a 2 minute and 30 second video that reportedly crashed the app.
2. Vayner Media
Wine enthusiast and early internet investor Gary Vee was excited and gives Proof Of Protocol, nft to fans in celebration of the game. Gary, founder of Vee Friends, Vayner NFT, and Vayner Media, has been a catalyst in NFT adoption this past year. His marketing firm Vayner Media, and new Vayner NFTs, recently partnered with Budweiser for a truly wonderful music inspired NFT collection.
This Super bowl, Vayner Media was responsible for Draft Kings, Planters nuts, and a Budweiser commercial.
Did you know that while around 100 million people watch the Super bowl, 70% of those watch it with a phone in their hand?
Twitter was lively with community football inspired giveaways promotions and mints. Vayner NFT decided to make a swing at a very “nounish” partnership that we would see later in the superbowl during Bud Lite NEXT’s superbowl ad. A little foreshadow for a later Super Bowl commercial…
3. Lebron Crypto.com commercial
The ad transports us back to a teenage James’ bedroom, in 2003. There young Lebron sits with an older Lebron. A Dr. Dre CD playss on his stereo, perhaps a salute to this year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show. He is enamored with new technology such as Cd’s and stereos. He asks aloud if he’s ready for the league.
“I can’t tell you everything,” the older James says, “but if you want to make history, you’ve got to call your own shots.”
4. Bit buy
A canadian exchange decided to tug at the hearts of those who miss out, featuring point guard Kyle Lowry at an investment consultation with an enthusiastic broker. The broker says “So many Canadian’s wish they bought tech stocks, or real-estate stocks..”
When Lowry turns around his computer to expose the BITBUY website and says, “It’s happening again with crypto”
Then the broker proceeds to show a taunting video with an ominous voice, declaring to Kyle ALL of the shots he’s missed in his life, of which there are 6000.
The voice says, “Don’t be like Kyle and miss your shots, again, and again, and again…”.
The ad is urging users to go to BITBUY and begin trading cryptocurrency.
5. Bud Lite NEXT and NOUNS DAO
Bud Lite NEXT shows a digital gallery featuring NFT project NOUNS,(mentioned above by Vayner Media) inspiring the digital era. Featuring digital music experiences and stating that there is “Zero in the way of possibility”. This commercial not only mentioned a quirky line of generative, glasses-wearing art, but it seems to resonate with online creators.
“Nouns” is a generative non-fungible token project on the Ethereum blockchain. Nouns are 32x32 pixel characters based on people, places, and things. One noun is generated every day.
According to Corey Brown, a senior director at Bud Light, this partnership further gives Bud Light credence in the NFT space.
It’s their hope that the partnership will allow Bud Light to connect with more consumers, The Super Bowl ad introduced Bud Light Next, to over 100 million consumers, while being pretty supportive of creators in the NFT space.
6. Expedia snubs crypto
An Expedia ad starring the actor Ewan McGregor, urges viewers to book more trips on this travel platform instead of collecting more unnecessary “stuff,” and silently lumps virtual currency into the category of “stuff”.
7. Larry David Commercial for FTX
(Also known as the Coinbase commercial extended version)
FTX hired comedian and producer Larry David whom is famed for being hilariously skeptical. The David spot was a fun surprise for Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld fans alike.
The commercial was accessible only by a QR code, but looked like a sleeping DVD screen otherwise during the Superbowl LVI broadcast.
For those who didn’t get to see the 2 minute and 30 second story. The commercial features Larry David being told about the invention of the wheel, which he says is kind of useless. The wheel, the fork, the toilet, coffee, voting rights, the light bulb, the dishwasher, the appollo 13 mission, portable music, of which he flat-out rejects and is very skeptical of.
Finally he is skeptically introduced to FTX cryptocurrency and Larry’s character remarks “nah, I don’t think so, and I’m never wrong about this stuff, never.”
Never.
Several ad experts said they had déjà vu, noting similarities to the gush of money dedicated to marketing the dot-com boom more than 20 years ago — NYT
“The number of crypto companies advertising more than tripled last year, and their spending more than quintupled, according to a sample of 200 companies” -MediaRadar.
Influencers wished they saw themselves out there.
Celebs even opted to show their crypto support at the crypto bowl. online.
And projects showed support for those participating in the game!
If you don’t have an NFT, POAP, or profile picture wearing a jersey, did you really support your team this Super Bowl season?
What brands did you want to see support NFT and crypocurrency at this years Super Bowl?
written by
W.A.Morgan
