"Crypto has truly arrived": Larry David's super bowl crypto ads spark mass hysteria

From the realms of the niche and nerdy, cryptocurrency has burst into mainstream culture, largely thanks to an ad blitz during the 2022 Super Bowl. Larry David and LeBron James, two titans of popular culture, took center stage. As reported by Gizmodo in 2022, "Crypto has truly arrived," if Super Bowl ads were any indication.

"Your Favorite Stars are All Doing Crypto Ads Now"

Larry David's ad for FTX Trading emerged as a high-profile promotion during the grand football showdown. In a comedy sketch that's pure David, the 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' star played history's skeptic, questioning every key human invention with his signature cynicism. From questioning the need for a fork to ridiculing indoor plumbing, David left no stone unturned.

The ad, which is still viewable on YouTube, addressed public skepticism around crypto by ridiculing anyone who deems it a risky investment. The irony, of course, is that crypto indeed is a high-risk venture, with bitcoin losing over 30% of its value since November 2022.

"Fortune Favors the Brave" in Crypto Land

Meanwhile, Crypto.com chose a more sports-relevant star for their Super Bowl spot, with LeBron James engaging with a CGI version of his younger self. The ad, also available on YouTube, gently pushes the tagline "Fortune Favors the Brave." Unlike the previous Matt Damon ad, this one refrains from portraying crypto skeptics as weak, instead focusing on the journey of 'bravery' that is cryptocurrency investment.

In a curious twist, James does not advise his younger self to invest in Bitcoin back in 2009 and sell at an all-time high in November 2022 – a piece of advice that could arguably change anyone's financial fortunes.

An Ad That "Crashed Coinbase's Website"

In contrast to the narrative-heavy ads of FTX Trading and Crypto.com, Coinbase took a minimalistic approach. They ran a Super Bowl ad with a floating QR code that took viewers to a website offering $15 of free bitcoin. The site couldn't handle the traffic, crashing within minutes of the ad airing. The bizarre event proved how the cryptocurrency phenomenon had gripped the nation's curiosity.

Looking back, Larry David's skeptical humor, LeBron James' sports charisma, and Coinbase's QR code spectacle underscore the moment crypto truly entered the mainstream cultural lexicon. Even as we acknowledge the inherent risks, it's clear the world of finance will never be the same.

(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)