cryptoglobe.com
Ads mentioning Ethereum are being blocked by Google Ads services, reports Belgrade-based Ethereum (mostly) project incubator Decenter. They reported the phenomenon on Reddit and Twitter, and claim that the strange behavior began on January 8.
Notably, Decenter claims the apparent ban is only affecting the keyword “Ethereum” - other cryptocurrency phrases such as “bitcoin,” “ICO,” and “EOS” are not being blocked. Curiously, when using the “Ethereum” keyword the group claims to get a location error, to wit: “This candidate is not permitted to show ads in your targeted location.”
We are seeing a hard stop on Google Ads containing "Ethereum" as the keyword in the last two days. Is anyone else noticing the same change? Where there any new policy changes introduced @GoogleAds? #ethereum pic.twitter.com/P5XMGphdiV
— Decenter (@DecenterTeam) January 10, 2019
Google responded publically to Decenter’s concerns on the microblogging platform, but the interaction shed no light on the matter - Google’s respondent first essentially repeated what the error message had already said, and then referred Decenter to this Google Ads policy page, which offers guidelines for advertising financial products and services.
The policy page limits by country only advertisements for cryptoasset exchanges (only allowed in the US and Japan), which must apply for permission from Google to advertise even in those countries. Although Decenter isn't an exchange, nor does it develop one, they tried routing traffic through the safe countries anyway - to no avail.
History of Crypto Bans
Big Tech has a history of banning cryptoasset ventures. In 2018, Google banned all mention of “cryptocurrencies and related content” from its platform, while simultaneously developing their own interest in blockchain. This policy was, however, revised in September to its current status.
Facebook too banned virtually all ads related to crypto on their platform a year ago, before they too rolled back the ban to a more graceful application system during mid-2018. Microsoft's search engine Bing soon followed the trend<v:rect alt="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==" filled="f" o:gfxdata="UEsDBBQABgAIAAAAIQC75UiUBQEAAB4CAAATAAAAW0NvbnRlbnRfVHlwZXNdLnhtbKSRvU7DMBSF dyTewfKKEqcMCKEmHfgZgaE8wMW+SSwc27JvS/v23KTJgkoXFsu+P+c7Ol5vDoMTe0zZBl/LVVlJ gV4HY31Xy4/tS3EvRSbwBlzwWMsjZrlprq/W22PELHjb51r2RPFBqax7HCCXIaLnThvSAMTP1KkI +gs6VLdVdad08ISeCho1ZLN+whZ2jsTzgcsnJwldluLxNDiyagkxOquB2Knae/OLUsyEkjenmdzb mG/YhlRnCWPnb8C898bRJGtQvEOiVxjYhtLOxs8AySiT4JuDystlVV4WPeM6tK3VaILeDZxIOSsu ti/jidNGNZ3/J08yC1dNv9v8AAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAAACEArTA/8cEAAAAyAQAACwAAAF9y ZWxzLy5yZWxzhI/NCsIwEITvgu8Q9m7TehCRpr2I4FX0AdZk2wbbJGTj39ubi6AgeJtl2G9m6vYx jeJGka13CqqiBEFOe2Ndr+B03C3WIDihMzh6RwqexNA281l9oBFTfuLBBhaZ4ljBkFLYSMl6oAm5 8IFcdjofJ0z5jL0MqC/Yk1yW5UrGTwY0X0yxNwri3lQgjs+Qk/+zfddZTVuvrxO59CNCmoj3vCwj MfaUFOjRhrPHaN4Wv0VV5OYgm1p+LW1eAAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAAACEAZX2tai0DAADUBgAA HwAAAGNsaXBib2FyZC9kcmF3aW5ncy9kcmF3aW5nMS54bWykVV1y2zYQfu9M74DBc2mSKiSLTOgM RUlOpm6syOkBIBIiMQUBFoB+3Ewu06v0Yl2AlCXbmT4knJG4ABYfvv12F3z77tgKtGfacCUzHF9F GDFZqorLOsN/fF4GU4yMpbKiQkmW4Udm8Lubn396S9Na067hJQIEaVKa4cbaLg1DUzaspeZKdUzC 2lbplloY6jqsND0AcivCURRNwpZyiW/OUHNqKdpp/h1QQpV/sqqgck8NQIoyvZwZOIryx5FpKve3 unvoVtoxLz/uVxrxKsOgnKQtSITDYWFwg2H4Yld9Bjhudev81XaLjh7l0f17DHa0qITJmMSTaIxR CUuD3Z/R3H9jV9ks/ncfkOkPBeOCiOkcDbl/HRk5RbZm9t9/ZL0TCsFcxUypM1xB0lLe0pqFNd++ 2VDDJuSXdSRu7+eiyT/ls3zlfmEYHvI8L96PZ/niN7DyO/eXw1q+gNeHYg3v+0OWPQl4omK6O0iv QVIVDZU1y03HSgtaALHTlNbq0DBaGTfdSw656RG8/GcwSNjm8LuqIFd0Z5WvwO9Pw5OcNO20sbdM tcgZGdZA0oPT/Z2xPaeTi9daLbkQPpNCPpsAzH4GKgC2ujVXC741viRRspgupiQgo8kiINF8HuTL ggSTZXw9nv86L4p5/NWdG5O04VXFpDvm1KYxedUDLS+1Mmprr0rVhlCIvGSnVoVGjaNzoxoleOXg HCWj600hNNpTkeGlfwblL9zC5zR8L0AsL0KKRySajZJgOZleB2RJxkFyHU2DKE5mySQiCZkvn4d0 xyX78ZDQIcPJeDT2Wbog/SK2yD+vY6Npyy3TSPA2w9MnJ5q6QlzIyqfWUi56+0IKR/8sBaT7lGgw zXC12OODb0l7nKnq0Qm2gTcUr1ZQXHDdwLUNRqP03xgd4DLOsPlrRzXDSHyQ0AdJTAi4WT8g4+sR DPTlyuZyhcoSoDJsMerNwsIItuw6zesGToq9TFLl0DRbPhR0z8mxE8Y+2EfBfNSeOZPVimq6Bs4C +jbDnQ1WnwcdwQOCPQe3M+yhW0PL9I3SR+/lAMcX97nfOnx/3EfjcnzzHwAAAP//AwBQSwMEFAAG AAgAAAAhAJJ9h+AdBwAASSAAABoAAABjbGlwYm9hcmQvdGhlbWUvdGhlbWUxLnhtbOxZS28bNxC+ F+h/WOy9sWS9YiNyYMly3MQvREqKHCmJ2mXMXS5Iyo5uRXLqpUCBtOihAXrroSgaoAEa9NIfY8BB m/6IDrkvUqLiB1wgKGwBxu7sN8PhzOzM7PDO3WcR9Y4xF4TFbb96q+J7OB6xMYmDtv9osP3Zbd8T EsVjRFmM2/4MC//uxqef3EHrI0qSIUN8PAhxhD0QFIt11PZDKZP1lRUxAjISt1iCY3g2YTxCEm55 sDLm6AQWiOjKaqXSXIkQif0NkCiVoB6Ff7EUijCivK/EYC9GEax+MJmQEdbY8VFVIcRMdCn3jhFt +yBzzE4G+Jn0PYqEhAdtv6L//JWNOytoPWOicgmvwbet/zK+jGF8tKrX5MGwWLReb9Sbm4V8DaBy Eddr9Zq9ZiFPA9BoBDtNdbFltla79QxrgNJLh+yt1latauEN+bUFnTcb6mfhNSiVX1/Ab293wYoW XoNSfGMB3+isdbZs+RqU4psL+FZlc6vesuRrUEhJfLSArjSatW6+2wIyYXTHCV9r1Ldbq5nwEgXR UESXWmLCYrks1iL0lPFtACggRZLEnpwleIJGEJNdRMmQE2+XBCEEXoJiJoBcWa1sV2rwX/3q+kp7 FK1jZHArvUATsUBS+nhixEki2/59kOobkLO3b0+fvzl9/vvpixenz3/N1taiLL4dFAcm3/ufvvnn 1Zfe37/9+P7lt+nS83hh4t/98tW7P/78kHjYcWmKs+9ev3vz+uz7r//6+aVD+iZHQxM+IBEW3j4+ 8R6yCDbo0B8P+eU4BiEiJsdmHAgUI7WKQ35PhhZ6f4YocuA62LbjYw6pxgW8N31qKdwP+VQSh8QH YWQB9xijHcadVnig1jLMPJjGgXtxPjVxDxE6dq3dRbHl5d40gRxLXCK7IbbUPKQolijAMZaeesaO MHbs7gkhll33yIgzwSbSe0K8DiJOkwzI0IqmkmmHROCXmUtB8Ldlm73HXodR16638LGNhHcDUYfy A0wtM95DU4kil8gBiqhp8F0kQ5eS/RkfmbiekODpAFPm9cZYCBfPAYf9Gk5/AGnG7fY9OotsJJfk yCVzFzFmIrfYUTdEUeLC9kkcmtjPxRGEKPIOmXTB95j9hqh78AOKl7r7McGWu8/PBo8gw5oqlQGi nky5w5f3MLPitz+jE4RdqWaTR1aK3eTEGR2daWCF9i7GFJ2gMcbeo88dGnRYYtm8VPp+CFllB7sC 6z6yY1Xdx1hgTzc3i3lylwgrZPs4YEv02ZvNJZ4ZiiPEl0neB6+bNu9BqYtcAXBAR0cmcJ9Avwfx 4jTKgQAZRnAvlXoYIquAqXvhjtcZt/x3kXcM3sunlhoXeC+BB1+aBxK7yfNB2wwQtRYoA2aAoMtw pVtgsdxfsqjiqtmmTr6J/dKWboDuyGp6IhKf2wHN9T6N/673gQ7j7IdXjpftevodt2ArWV2y01mW THbm+ptluPmupsv4mHz8Tc0WmsaHGOrIYsa66Wluehr/f9/TLHufbzqZZf3GTSfjQ4dx08lkw5Xr 6WTK5gX6GjXwSAc9euwTLZ36TAilfTmjeFfowY+A75nxNhAVn55u4mIKmIRwqcocLGDhAo40j8eZ /ILIsB+iBKZDVV8JCUQmOhBewgQMjTTZKVvh6TTaY+N02FmtqsFmWlkFkiW90ijoMKiSKbrZKgd4 hXitbaAHrbkCivcyShiL2UrUHEq0cqIykh7rgtEcSuidXYsWaw4tbivxuasWtADVCq/AB7cHn+lt v1EHFmCCeRw052Plp9TVuXe1M6/T08uMaUUANNh5BJSeXlO6Lt2e2l0aahfwtKWEEW62EtoyusET IXwGZ9GpqBdR47K+XitdaqmnTKHXg9Aq1Wjd/pAWV/U18M3nBhqbmYLG3knbb9YaEDIjlLT9CQyN 4TJKIHaE+uZCNIDjlpHk6Qt/lcyScCG3kAhTg+ukk2aDiEjMPUqitq+2X7iBxjqHaN2qq5AQPlrl 1iCtfGzKgdNtJ+PJBI+k6XaDoiyd3kKGT3OF86lmvzpYcbIpuLsfjk+8IZ3yhwhCrNGqKgOOiYCz g2pqzTGBw7AikZXxN1eYsrRrnkbpGErpiCYhyiqKmcxTuE7lhTr6rrCBcZftGQxqmCQrhMNAFVjT qFY1LapGqsPSqns+k7KckTTLmmllFVU13VnMWiEvA3O2vFqRN7TKTQw5zazwaeqeT7lrea6b6xOK KgEGL+znqLoXKAiGauVilmpK48U0rHJ2RrVrR77Bc1S7SJEwsn4zFztnt6JGOJcD4pUqP/DNRy2Q JnlfqS3tOtjeQ4k3DKptHw6XYTj4DK7geNoH2qqirSoaXMGZM5SL9KC47WcXOQWep5QCU8sptRxT zyn1nNLIKY2c0swpTd/TJ6pwiq8OU30vPzCFGpYdsGa9hX36v/EvAAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAA ACEAnGZGQbsAAAAkAQAAKgAAAGNsaXBib2FyZC9kcmF3aW5ncy9fcmVscy9kcmF3aW5nMS54bWwu cmVsc4SPzQrCMBCE74LvEPZu0noQkSa9iNCr1AcIyTYtNj8kUezbG+hFQfCyMLPsN7NN+7IzeWJM k3ccaloBQae8npzhcOsvuyOQlKXTcvYOOSyYoBXbTXPFWeZylMYpJFIoLnEYcw4nxpIa0cpEfUBX NoOPVuYio2FBqrs0yPZVdWDxkwHii0k6zSF2ugbSL6Ek/2f7YZgUnr16WHT5RwTLpRcWoIwGMwdK V2edNS1dgYmGff0m3gAAAP//AwBQSwECLQAUAAYACAAAACEAu+VIlAUBAAAeAgAAEwAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAW0NvbnRlbnRfVHlwZXNdLnhtbFBLAQItABQABgAIAAAAIQCtMD/xwQAAADIBAAAL AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADYBAABfcmVscy8ucmVsc1BLAQItABQABgAIAAAAIQBlfa1qLQMAANQGAAAf AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACACAABjbGlwYm9hcmQvZHJhd2luZ3MvZHJhd2luZzEueG1sUEsBAi0AFAAG AAgAAAAhAJJ9h+AdBwAASSAAABoAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAigUAAGNsaXBib2FyZC90aGVtZS90aGVt ZTEueG1sUEsBAi0AFAAGAAgAAAAhAJxmRkG7AAAAJAEAACoAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA3wwAAGNsaXBi b2FyZC9kcmF3aW5ncy9fcmVscy9kcmF3aW5nMS54bWwucmVsc1BLBQYAAAAABQAFAGcBAADiDQAA AAA= " stroked="f"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> <w:wrap type="none"> <w:anchorlock> </w:anchorlock></w:wrap></o:lock></v:rect>.
CryptoGlobe recently reported on one Dutch exchange’s efforts to get around such restrictive policies, by advertising on the side of a bus. The SATOS exchange, on the scene since 2014, was running the ad in the streets of Amsterdam since the summer.