Marketing

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May 23, 2025

Boost Your Project with Banner, Rich Media & Video Ads

The world of digital advertising in 2025 is defined by scale, segmentation, and sophistication — and nowhere is this more evident than in the crypto industry. With global digital ad spend projected to surpass $700 billion, crypto marketers are under huge pressure to adopt formats that are not just visible, but high-performing and measurable.

The Rise of Crypto Ad Formats in 2025

The world of digital advertising in 2025 is defined by scale, segmentation, and sophistication — and nowhere is this more evident than in the crypto industry. With global digital ad spend projected to surpass $700 billion, crypto marketers are under huge pressure to adopt formats that are not just visible, but high-performing and measurable. 2025 may well be remembered as the year traditional marketing campaigns and static ad formats became obsolete. Meanwhile, crypto business strives to catch all trends in order to overtake competitors who appear literally every day in all niches.

Will we say goodbye to google ads tomorrow?

The days when placing static banners on general crypto sites could drive results are gone now. In today’s super competitive Web3 ecosystem, active advertisers are leaning into data-driven crypto banner ads, programmatic advertising and interactive ads to stand out in saturated markets and win user attention across fragmented traffic channels.

Banner advertising hasn’t simply changed — it has evolved with emerging technologies and new targeting options. Banners are often animated, built in HTML5 and optimized for responsiveness and cross-device display. These aren’t simple rectangles anymore; they include motion, hover effects, dynamic messaging, and even gamified elements. The number of available targeting options is overwhelming — and still growing.

Meanwhile, display ads for crypto are being bought and optimized through programmatic crypto ad platforms, which use real-time bidding to place ads in front of targeted users based on behavioral, contextual, and intent signals.

In 2025, video advertising is no longer a supplementary format — it’s the centerpiece of digital campaigns across all industries, including crypto. With consumers spending an average of 95 minutes per day watching online videos and mobile video ad spend in the U.S. surpassing $58.9 billion, it’s clear that attention has shifted to motion-based, immersive storytelling.

However, marketers are still debating its effectiveness. There isn't a single major project where the marketing budget distribution looks even remotely similar. Let’s break it down together and figure out what’s really worth betting on.

Video & In-Stream Advertising: Dominating Attention in 2025

For crypto projects, where user trust and education are critical, crypto video ads offer a unique opportunity to deliver both impact and clarity. Whether promoting a token launch, an NFT drop, or an exchange’s trading features, video lets brands distill complexity into digestible, dynamic content.

Why Video Works in Crypto

Video outperforms static formats for several reasons:

  1. Visual explanation of complex products (e.g., how a staking protocol works)
  2. Emotion-driven storytelling (used by NFT brands and DAOs)
  3. Higher CTR and conversion: Studies show that video ads can improve conversions by up to 80% in verticals where trust is a barrier — a common challenge in crypto.

In the crypto world, where skepticism runs high and user acquisition costs can be steep, in-stream crypto video ads embedded into relevant content streams (e.g., DeFi tutorials, market analyses, or blockchain news) are especially effective.

In-Stream vs. Out-Stream: What’s the Difference?

In-stream video ads play before, during, or after other video content. They're ideal for platforms like YouTube, CoinTelegraph TV, and crypto-focused video crypto influencers. These formats deliver higher view-through rates and are often skippable, encouraging better creative strategy.

Out-stream video ads (also known as “native video ads”) auto-play within text content on crypto news platforms, mobile apps, or wallet dashboards. They provide broader reach but often lower engagement unless paired with smart targeting or interactive features.

In crypto, in-stream placements dominate — especially in high-trust environments like CoinBureau, Finematics, or educational channels with loyal audiences. They provide brand lift, introduce token utility, and educate users before they’re prompted to act.

Interactive Video Ads: Engagement Meets Performance

Interactive crypto video ads allow users to engage with the content through hotspots, scrollable choices, or wallet integrations — is reshaping how performance is measured. Rather than clicks, advertisers now track:

  • Engagement depth (how long users stay)
  • Interaction rate (taps, clicks, choices)
  • In-ad conversions (email capture, wallet connect, sign-up)

For example, a DeFi project might run a video ad where users can explore different APY options via dropdowns within the video itself. This format not only educates but also pre-qualifies traffic based on behavior.

Retargeting & Sequenced Storytelling

Smart crypto brands are now using sequential video campaigns — a strategy where a viewer sees a series of ads in a pre-defined order:

  1. Awareness – 15s brand intro video
  2. Consideration – 30s feature breakdown or product demo
  3. Action – direct call-to-action to sign up or connect a wallet

This mirrors the buyer’s journey and enables granular performance tracking, especially when paired with programmatic crypto ad platforms.

ad formats and trends in 2025

Rich Media & Interactive Ad Experiences: Engagement That Converts

One of the most notable shifts in crypto advertising is the focus on rich media crypto formats. These allow brands to build highly engaging, immersive ad experiences that go beyond banners and into interactive territory — think swipeable story units, expandable wallet widgets, or clickable animations embedded in dApps.

Why Crypto Advertisers Need Rich Media

The crypto audience is digitally native, highly skeptical, and often overloaded with information. To break through this noise, advertisers must deliver value and interaction within seconds — and this is exactly where rich media excels.

Instead of merely showing a banner that says “Buy Token X,” imagine an ad where users can simulate staking returns in real-time, adjust the slider to see expected APY, or explore tokenomics through an animated interface. This is rich media in action, and it's far more likely to engage than a passive impression.

Moreover, with growing privacy restrictions and ad fatigue, traditional metrics like CPM and CTR are no longer sufficient. Rich media allows you to track engagement depth, dwell time, in-ad clicks, and multi-step interaction — making it a goldmine for crypto analytics.

Better Than Crypto Ad Networks?

Recent performance studies across global digital campaigns confirm that rich media ads deliver significantly higher engagement compared to standard display formats. According to Google and Celtra benchmarks, rich media formats consistently outperform by driving interaction rates 2.5–4× higher and extending average view time by up to 105%. In the crypto vertical, where users are typically tech-savvy but attention-fatigued, interactive ad experiences like quizzes, real-time token simulators, or wallet-connected previews have proven especially powerful. A campaign by a Web3 gaming platform showed that rich media ads with playable previews led to a 36% higher signup rate compared to non-interactive assets, while maintaining a completion rate of over 70% for in-ad experiences.

Marketers in the crypto ads space are increasingly leaning into gamified and responsive ad formats as a way to compress onboarding, build trust, and drive action — all within the ad unit itself. Campaigns utilizing rich media across NFT marketplaces, DeFi apps, and multichain wallets have reported engagement times exceeding 60 seconds, with users actively exploring interactive elements before deciding to click through. One Layer 2 protocol even used an expandable rich media format to visualize transaction savings live, leading to a 28% boost in trial signups with zero paid retargeting.

The Rise of Gamified Advertising Campaigns in Web3

Gamification is taking rich media to the next level. Gamified crypto ads include micro-games or challenges that not only entertain users but educate them as well. A wallet provider might create an ad where users solve a security puzzle; a DeFi platform could simulate real-time trading in demo mode.

These experiences are not gimmicks — they serve a deeper psychological purpose:

  • Tap into intrinsic motivation (curiosity, mastery)
  • Trigger dopamine through interactivity
  • Improve memory recall and brand perception

Case studies show that interactive crypto ads deliver 20–40% higher engagement rates and reduce bounce by up to 50%, especially when targeting Web3-native audiences.

Crypto Advertising Using Banners in 2025: Do They Still Work?

For over two decades, banner ad formats have been the workhorse of digital advertising. But in 2025 — a year defined by personalization, privacy shifts, and AI-driven content — does this format still deliver results?

Surprisingly, yes — but only when done right.

Despite their simplicity, modern banner ads have evolved to accommodate the demands of a changing cryptocurrency space. Brands now leverage diverse formats — from static to responsive, from promotional overlays to embedded tokens — tailored for various digital assets and digital currencies. To stay competitive in this environment, advertisers integrate tracking tools to monitor real-time performance and rely on support teams for optimization. Combined with detailed insights and audience-based targeting options, these strategies help ensure campaigns remain relevant and result-driven.

Banner advertising in the crypto world is no longer just about impressions — it’s about delivering measurable value. From blockchain technology startups to full-scale crypto businesses, many now combine banner deployment with sponsored articles, native embeds, and new campaign bursts across targeted media outlets. Even blockchain projects entering early-stage promotion cycles benefit from clear ad copy, optimized for pricing models and scaled across online services with the help of exceptional service from crypto ad networks and ad formats.

Ads by the Numbers

According to Statista, global display advertising spend (which includes banners) is projected to reach $171 billion in 2025, making up over 24% of all digital advertising formats spend. In crypto advertising networks such as Cointraffic:

  • The average CTR for animated crypto banners ranges from 0.18% to 0.35% — significantly above the average global banner CTR of 0.07%.
  • Targeted promo banner campaigns report up to 8–10% conversion when driving to optimized landers or token registration flows.
  • Over 60% of crypto exchanges use animated banners as part of their launch and seasonal campaigns.

What’s driving this continued performance? Two things: creative evolution and audience targeting.

ctr comparison

Creative That Converts: HTML5 & Animated Crypto Banners

Modern HTML5 crypto ads are nothing like their static ancestors. These banners are now:

  • Responsive across devices and screen sizes
  • Animated, often with storytelling motion (e.g., staking animations, token burning)
  • Actionable, with interactive elements like countdowns, hover triggers, or live data (e.g., token price feeds)

This format is especially powerful for promo banners during airdrops, IDOs, or trading contests — time-sensitive campaigns where urgency and clarity matter most.

In a 2024 performance report by Coinzilla, HTML5 crypto banners outperformed static formats by 220% in click-throughs, and by over 300% in average engagement time when paired with gamified landing pages.

static or html5 banners

Contextual Placement & Wallet-Targeted Inventory

Another reason banner ads still work in crypto: intent-driven placement. Networks specialize in targeting based on:

  • Site category (DeFi, NFTs, exchanges, education)
  • Device type (desktop for trading, mobile for wallets)
  • Behavior (engaged on multiple crypto pages within a session)

Platforms like Cointraffic offer wallet-intent targeting, where banners are shown only to crypto community who've previously engaged with token tools or smart contracts — improving quality and reducing waste.

These promo banner ads aren’t just placed on any crypto site — they appear alongside content that amplifies their relevance, like exchange comparisons, staking tutorials, or market forecasts.

When Banners Work Best

While banners aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution, they excel in:

  • Top-of-funnel awareness (brand, token, exchange)
  • Short-term promotions (airdrops, staking boosts, limited offers)
  • Retargeting warm audiences with incentives

For best results:

  • Use motion to guide the eye
  • Keep text minimal but high-impact
  • Test creative variations based on geo, device, and user cohort

In 2025, banner advertising in crypto is far from obsolete — it’s just smarter. With animated crypto banners, promo-driven creative, and contextual targeting, brands can still win attention in a noisy ecosystem.

The key is to stop thinking of banners as static boxes — and start treating them as interactive entry points to real Web3 experiences.

As crypto users grow more selective, display advertising must evolve beyond mass impressions. Smart advertisers combine responsive formats with data from crypto audiences to serve the right message at the right moment. Whether deployed through a crypto advertising network or as part of self serve campaigns, banners today are layered into wider crypto ad networks` strategies, adapted for every target audience.

Conclusion: The Format Is Not the Answer — Strategy Is

In 2025, the question “Which advertising format works best?” is no longer just a tactical inquiry — it’s a reflection of how we understand the user journey in crypto. Marketers debate fiercely over performance metrics, advocate for video, defend banners, and champion rich media. But beneath the surface of CTRs and view times lies a more important truth:

The format does not carry your message — the strategy does.

Let’s be honest: each format — video, rich media, or banner — has proven its effectiveness in the right context. And each has failed miserably when deployed without thought, story, or synergy with the product itself.

Video remains one of the most powerful storytelling tools in crypto. When done well, a 15-second spot can capture the essence of your protocol, demonstrate value, and evoke emotion. It’s no accident that crypto giants like Binance, Coinbase, and Bitget lean into cinematic explainer ads and promo videos.

Rich media advertising is where crypto marketing begins to resemble product design. These formats — expandable layers, token simulators, staking sliders, gamified animations — don’t just talk to your audience. They involve them.

And in crypto, that’s everything.

What better way to market a DEX than by letting users “swap” mock tokens inside the ad itself? What better way to pitch an NFT drop than by letting users explore the collection before clicking? This is the power of interactive crypto ads: they reduce friction, enhance memory, and pre-qualify intent — all before the user even lands on your site.

Banner ads are often dismissed as outdated — relics of Web2, long surpassed by more dynamic tools. And yet, in crypto, they continue to generate real traffic, especially during promo campaigns, exchange listings, or seasonal airdrops.

Well-crafted HTML5 banner with sharp copy and urgency (Countdowns! Bonuses! “List now!”) can outperform even a polished video in the right ecosystem — especially when distributed across native crypto publishers with warm traffic.

But banners are unforgiving. Poor design, low-resolution graphics, or vague CTAs instantly lose trust — especially among skeptical Web3 users. You’re speaking to people who’ve seen airdrop scams and “1000% APY” promises. A banner must not just catch attention — it must hold credibility.

That’s why banners work best when:

  • The offer is time-sensitive
  • The visuals reflect the brand’s UI
  • The targeting is contextual (e.g., on DeFi or trading-specific sites)

In other words, banners are the billboard of crypto — use them for speed, not storytelling.

Which Format Wins?

That question misses the point

  • A video without a product story is noise.
  • A rich media ad without UX flow is a gimmick.
  • A banner without urgency is just a rectangle.

None of these formats work in isolation — they work in sequence.

  • First you grab attention with a banner
  • Then you explain through a video
  • Then you let them try via rich media
  • Then you convert on a page that feels like the ad promised

This is the new anatomy of crypto advertising — format isn't hierarchy, it's choreography.

Test, Don’t Assume

The real power lies in testing and iteration. You might be surprised:

  • A gamified quiz ad might outperform your highest-budget video.
  • A smartly animated promo banner might drive more traffic than your explainer series.
  • A simple staking simulator might do more than any headline ever could.

Test different offers, formats, pricing models, online platforms, geo targeting, device targeting and flows. Airdrops vs. waitlists. Promos vs. education. Narrative vs. utility. Then look beyond CTRs: who clicked? Who stayed? Who connected a wallet? Maybe my blockchain project needs to target specific audiences? What is going on cryptocurrency market? What are the latest cryptocurrency news? Do I need to launch a new campaign right now?

Only by analyzing all available data as much as possible will you get detailed insights. In crypto, the funnel is nonlinear. Crypto users don’t just scroll, click, buy. They explore, research, bounce, return, engage on Discord, get retargeted — and then maybe, they act. Your ads must match this complexity. At the heart of it all is one truth: users are not targets — they’re collaborators. Crypto is built on transparency, participation, and decentralization. Your marketing should reflect that.

Don’t shout — invite. Don’t trick — educate. Don’t interrupt — integrate.

A good crypto advertising doesn't look like an ad. It looks like a preview of the product. It behaves like the interface. It speaks the tone of the target audience and offers high quality traffic in return.

Which means you must align your creative, your product logic, your promotion mechanics, and your format. Only then can your marketing feel like part of the ecosystem — not noise around it.

Before launching your next crypto ad campaign, ask yourself — are you really reaching the right crypto space, or just echoing through channels that no longer convert? In an era where google ads face diminishing returns and the crypto community expects more than static impressions, brands must rethink how they speak to crypto audiences. Whether you're a growing crypto project, a crypto news outlet, or part of a fast-scaling cryptocurrency business, success starts with knowing your target specific audiences — and ends with testing the right targeting options.

Modern cryptocurrency advertising is no longer about blasting messages; it’s about layered precision. Leverage geo targeting, device targeting, and contextual advertising to craft relevance. Tap into programmatic ads, machine learning algorithms and push notifications with intent-driven logic. Use programmatic advertising to scale dynamically across crypto related websites, optimizing for high quality traffic — not vanity metrics. If you rely on display ads, ensure your visuals match the tone of the cryptocurrency market, your pricing models are transparent, and your ad copy is grounded in real product value. Also, never hesitate to contact the support team of any crypto ad network.

Think of your ad spend not as a cost, but as a learning engine. Run self-serve campaigns, supported by a personal account manager if needed, and experiment across platforms beyond just the big aggregators. Whether you launch a campaign with a clear ad budget, or experiment with native ads embedded in crypto exchanges, the key is to continuously refine your creative, your flow, and your offer.

The most active advertisers today know this: scale doesn’t come from shouting louder — it comes from targeting better. From aligning your ad strategy with your crypto investments. From building a vast network of traffic sources that actually resonate. And from integrating anti fraud measures that safeguard both your brand and user trust.

In the end, no matter how sophisticated the tools, the essence remains simple: know your audience, serve real value, and launch campaigns that feel less like ads — and more like useful experiences.

FAQ

Are banners still relevant in the crypto world?

Yes. When placed through trusted crypto ad networks and tailored to target audiences, banners remain a high-ROI tool. Combine responsive ad formats and contextual advertising for best results — especially across crypto news websites and dApps.

What formats work best for crypto advertisers today?

Crypto advertisers rely on a mix of native ads, display ads, and programmatic ads. Each suits a different goal: display for reach, native for trust, and programmatic for efficiency. The format depends on your product and user flow.

What’s the advantage of self-serve campaigns?

Self-serve campaigns give advertisers control over spend, copy, and segmentation. You can launch quickly, test creatives, and scale across a vast network without needing a middleman.

Is anonymous advertising still possible in Web3?

Some anonymous ads still run via niche publishers, but transparency and crypto marketing rules are tightening. Platforms demand KYC even for wallet-based traffic, especially in regulated markets.

How do I choose the right crypto ad network?

Look for reach across the crypto industry, wallet-integrated data, and smart targeting options. Ad network like Cointraffic support both advertisers and publishers.

What if I have limited crypto knowledge?

Many platforms now offer onboarding tools, FAQs, and support teams to help even non-native advertisers. Having strong crypto knowledge is a plus — but it’s not required to get started and scale responsibly.

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Written by:
Juri Filatov
CEO