📺 COINBASE AD BANNED IN THE UK – A CLASH OF SYSTEMS
In late July 2025, Coinbase launched “Everything Is Fine,” a satirical musical ad mocking the UK’s economic struggles — garbage-filled streets, strikes, skyrocketing prices (£100 fish fingers). Its message: crypto is a needed upgrade to a broken financial system.
By early August, major UK broadcasters refused to air it. CEO Brian Armstrong confirmed the ban, though no official ruling came from the ASA. The likely reason: networks avoiding risks under strict UK crypto ad rules, which require prominent risk disclosures. Coinbase had previously been banned in 2021 for similar reasons.
⚖️ The ad sparked controversy not just for its content, but for its challenge to the status quo. Former UK Chancellor George Osborne — now a Coinbase advisor — warned that the UK missed the first crypto wave and can’t afford to miss the next.
📉 Meanwhile, the UK lags on crypto regulation.
– The EU has MiCA (effective 2024)
– The U.S. is advancing the GENIUS Act
– Singapore has licensed stablecoins like USDC
The UK’s framework, proposed in 2023, remains unlegislated.
As of mid-2025, the FCA reports only 43 licensed crypto firms, down 30% from 2022. At least five startups have already moved to Dublin or Singapore. Coinbase has also hinted at scaling back UK operations if clarity doesn’t improve.
🌐 Social media backlash was strong. Analyst Aleksandra Huk wrote on X: “UK 2025: Can’t protest, can’t post, now can’t advertise?” — gaining over 600 likes. Critics call it “peak irony” from a country branding itself as a fintech hub.
📌 Outlook:
– In the short term, ASA may clarify ad rules.
– Long term, the UK risks losing crypto capital to the U.S. or Singapore. With Trump backing crypto, the U.S. is gaining appeal. Delay could cost the UK its place in the digital finance race.
🇬🇧 A banned ad isn’t just a PR moment — it signals deeper resistance to change.
