Community Anticipates Bitcoin ETF Ads on Google

The cryptocurrency community is abuzz with anticipation over the possible effects on spot Bitcoin ETFs following Google's policy update, which, starting Monday, January 29, will permit advertising of specific crypto products. This change comes as Google handles an immense volume of 100,000 searches per second.

This update was first mentioned in a December 2023 Cointelegraph report, highlighting that Google's revised advertising policy, effective January 29, will include ads for "Cryptocurrency Coin Trust targeting the United States." With the U.S. SEC's recent approval of 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs on January 10, the speculation within the crypto industry has intensified.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs enable investors to buy shares representing a portion of the fund's Bitcoin holdings, fitting Google's new ad criteria for financial products associated with large digital currency pools. Industry analysts are hopeful about the potential increase in Bitcoin ETF investments, considering Google's massive daily search processing volume of 8.55 billion, as reported by DemandSage.

Google's policy update vaguely defines the permissible products as "cryptocurrency coin trusts." Notably, the GBTC, one of the major Bitcoin trusts, transitioned to a spot Bitcoin ETF, among several approved by the SEC.

Previously, GBTC shares were primarily accessible to accredited investors, subject to a six-month lock-up period. Accredited investors are typically individuals with a net worth exceeding $1 million or an income above $200,000 in the past two years, aimed at safeguarding less experienced investors from high-risk ventures.

In contrast, spot Bitcoin ETFs are open to all U.S. investors and are regulated under the Securities Act of 1933, presenting a potentially safer option for Google's advertising considerations.

Reflecting on the potential impact of Google ads on Bitcoin-related products, prominent cryptocurrency trader Michael van de Poppe expressed optimism in August 2021, particularly in the context of the SEC chair's exploration of Bitcoin Futures ETFs, which received approval in October 2021.

Cointelegraph