Why these networks exist
Google prohibits ICOs, DeFi trading protocols, unhosted wallets, and affiliate aggregators. Meta prohibits ICOs, CFDs, and unlicensed exchange promotion without permission. Demand for clicks did not disappear. Specialist networks and remnant exchanges filled the gap. That is a market fact, not a recommendation.
What you are actually buying
Often: leftover display, apps, and email lists adjacent to trading content. Sometimes: contextual placements on crypto publishers who monetize because Google will not. Rarely: anything with the review quality of AdsBot. Ask for ads.txt, sellers.json, a malware policy, and a named entity you can sue. If they cannot produce those, you are the product.
Legal is not optional because Google said no
Platform bans are not the only law. Securities, gambling, and consumer-protection rules still apply to the landing page. The FTC’s truth-in-advertising standard does not care that a banner ran on a Telegram webview. If the claim would be illegal on a billboard, it is illegal in a remnant iframe.
Brand-safety questions that end the call
Walk away if the seller cannot answer.
- Which categories do you still refuse?
- How do you scan creatives for malware?
- Can we see a live placement URL before paying?
- Who is the contracting entity and governing law?
- What happens on invalid traffic — refund, or a shrug?
The adult alternative
Get licensed, get Google and Meta certification where the product fits, or do not run paid acquisition. Content, search organic, and direct sales exist. A studio that offers to ‘get you on a crypto network’ as a substitute for a license is not a media partner.
If the product is real
Build the exchange, wallet, or education product so it can pass a regulator and a walled garden. Related work at Kiwi: SaaS MVP design and development. We do not broker grey inventory.
Frequently asked questions
Are all non-Google crypto networks scams?
No. Some publishers are legitimate. The category is high-fraud. Due diligence is the job. This guide does not endorse a vendor.
Can we run the same creative Google rejected?
If Google rejected it for a prohibited product, another network running it does not make it allowed under the law. If they rejected it for destination bugs, fix the destination and go back to Google.
Does ads.txt matter on crypto sites?
Yes, if they sell web inventory. It is the minimum publisher hygiene IAB specified. Absence is a signal.
Will Kiwi introduce us to a crypto ads network?
No.
Sources
- Google Ads policies — Cryptocurrencies and related products
- Meta Transparency Center — Cryptocurrency products and services
- IAB Tech Lab — ads.txt specification
Figures cited above are drawn from the linked publications and are the responsibility of their sources; we date and scope them rather than presenting them as universal guarantees.