The director of a multi-million dollar ad campaign for a bitcoin exchange has said he has no idea how cryptocurrency works after being questioned about the recent market crash.
FTXs Super Bowl commercial featured the comedian Larry David, who played different characters throughout history dismissing revolutionary technologies like the wheel and the light bulb.
It was one of several high-profile adverts featuring celebrity endorsements over the past year, broadcast amid record-breaking price rallies and billions of dollars pouring into the space from both institutional and retail investors.
Since peaking in November, there has been a major downturn that has wiped more than $1.7 trillion from the overall crypto market, including more than $600 billion from bitcoin.
The capitulation was compounded last week after a leading cryptocurrency completely collapsed, wiping more than 99 per cent from its value.
Celebrities who promoted cryptocurrencies are now facing criticism for not properly highlighting the risks for investors.
The New York Times reached out to many of the famous backers, including actors Matt Damon, Reese Witherspoon and Gwyneth Paltrow, as well as basketball star LeBron James, however few responded. Those that did either refused to comment or claimed to not know anything about the technology.
Unfortunately I dont think wed have anything to add as we have no idea how cryptocurrency works (even after having it explained to us repeatedly), dont own it, and dont follow its market, Jeff Schaffer, who directed the FTX ad, wrote in an email to the publication.
We just set out to make a funny commercial.
FTX did not respond to a request for comment from The Independent before the time of publication, though its founder recently spoke to the Financial Times about the perceived limitations of bitcoin.
Sam Bankman-Fried, who also serves as the firms CEO, said he did not believe the worlds most popular cryptocurrency could serve as a mainstream form of payment, despite both El Salvador and Central African Republic adopting it as an official currency.
The bitcoin network is not a payments network, and it is not a scaling network, he said.
Things that youre doing millions of transactions a second with have to be extremely efficient and lightweight, and lower energy cost.
See the original post:
Crypto crash: Bitcoin ad director says he has no idea how cryptocurrency works - The Independent
- The Worlds First Bitcoin Debit Card Is Almost Here [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Google removes malware Android apps used to secretly mine bitcoin [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Bitcoin runner-up Litecoin emerges as low-price challenger [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- How does Bitcoin work? - Bitcoin - Open source P2P money [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Bitcoin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- POLICE STATE USA - COP Goes CRAZY at INNOCENT Black Guys Filming a Wal-Mart in Houston - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- START MINING LITECOIN with Home Built LITECOIN MINING RIG (FORGET BITCOIN) ----- THE FUTUR - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Bitcoin going to $10,000 - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Bitcoin going over $1,000 - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Trading Robot - The First Automated Bitcoin Robot - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Bitcoin or Gold? Squawk Walk Taipei- Squawkonomics - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Miner AntMiner S1 180 - 200 GH/s Nu in de Aanbieding! - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- New Bitcoin Documentary: Boom or Bust - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- The Bitcoin Revolution Is Just Beginning (Full Interview) - Video [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2014]
- Market Extra: Bitcoin venture capital money hasnt kept up with buzz [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Exchange BTC China Cuts Ties With China Merchants Bank [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin price slips as China steps up regulation [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin price slips on China regulation [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Win .33 Bitcoin ($150 or so, Depending on BTC value) - Meme game for May 1st - Take My Bitcoins - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin May v0.9.1 GitHub Source Code Development Visualization - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Jaromil on Russia TV about Bitcoin - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Atomic-Trade Bitcoin Exchange. AML, BSA, FinCEN compliant - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Breaks Down Bitcoin - global economic crisis - max Keiser - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- The Bitcoin Group #27 - China Bans Bitcoin Again - Politics - Dark Market - Bitcoin VC - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Edan Yago - Free Market Bitcoin regulation and Honduras free trade zones.mp4 - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- btc.sx Bitcoin derivatives platform George Samman clip - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- China Bans Bitcoin Again -- Bitcoin the Movie -- Startup for Startups Raises 2,000 BTC - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Video: Roundup of This Week's Bitcoin News 25th April 2014 - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin and the Internet of Money - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, why he's decided to accept Bitcoin for space travel? - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin for Dummies - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Live Butterfly Labs Mining Cam- Take My BitCoins- win free Bitcoin - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Market Extra: Bitcoin is like the early Internet, minus the VC money [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- 'The Rise And Rise Of Bitcoin' Filmmaker: 'There Is No Answer Yet' [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin the movie: It just had to happen [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Expo 2014: Fireside Chat with Dr Gavin Wood - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- reXBT.com Andreas M. Antonopoulos L.A. Bitcoin Meetup The Network Effect Part 2 of 8 - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Bitcoin: what happens when the miners pack up their gear? [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- New Bitcoin student club at MIT will promote the virtual currency [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Dark Wallet Is About to Make Bitcoin Money Laundering Easier Than Ever [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Vies with New Cryptocurrencies as Coin of the Cyber Realm [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- 4/29/14 - MIT Bitcoin Project, Mt Gox revival plan, Mastercard lobbyists & Team Rubicon - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Mini Bitcoin Mining Rig with 11 USB Block Erupter from ASICminer - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Is Bitcoin Over? Mt. Gox Pauses Withdrawals - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- BitCoin Dentist GoCoin Fox News Interview - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Blockchain Bitcoin BitMe iNjector Instant wallet funds adder - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Generator Feb 2014 NO SURVEY - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Free Bitcoin Generator 2013 1 0v Download Miner Tool 2014 - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- MAX KEISER - BITCOIN Is The FUTURE - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- The Bitcoin Meetup - BitcoinMKE Hosts Jeffrey Tucker - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- MIT Bitcoin Expo 2014 - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Bitcoin, gold and competitive currencies - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Foundation Election Hiccups -- Pathetic Ohio Bans Bitcoins -- Dogecon SF 2014 - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Keiser Report: Gold, Silver, Bitcoin FTW! (E527) - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2014]
- Bitcoin Talk Show #7 -- Skype BitcoinTalkShow to Call in Live! 🙂 - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Bitcoin Turbo Miner | Fast Bitcoin Generator | NEW [Updated April 2014] Direct Download! No waiting! - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Basic Bitcoin Bitches - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Gold standard vs Fiat vs Bitcoin - Truthloader - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Bitcoin Exchange - Bitcoin Predictions & Live Market Action! - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- The Bitcoin Revolution is Just Beginning (Preview) - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- How to Defund the System: Bitcoin vs. the Central Banksters - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Bitcoin, Anarchy and Freedom with Roger Ver - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- bitcoin dogecoin donations and i ramble a ton - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- Techcrunch - Is Bitcoin or Litecoin The New Euro-Disrupt Europe 2013 (Part1) - Video [Last Updated On: May 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 1st, 2014]
- MIT Goes Bitcoin-Wild [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- Bitcoin Weekly 2014 April 30: Bloomberg adds Bitcoin to their market index, MIT to produce campus-wide bitcoin ... [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- 'Dark Wallet' wants to make Bitcoin even harder to trace [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- Better than Bitcoin! Creating Multiple Sources of Income, Growing Tomatoes - Video [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- What is Bitcoin? - Video [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- James Altucher Discusses the Future of Twitter and the Bitcoin - Video [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- Bitcoin made simple (video animation) - Video [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- Jon Matonis: Bitcoin - The future of commerce? - Video [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- $100 in Bitcoin Going to Every MIT Undergrad - Video [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- Should I Invest in Bitcoin? Stock Market Investment Advice Mining, Price, Exchange, Value - Video [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- The Rise of Digital Currency (documentary) - Video [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- Bitcoin: How We Got Here and Where We Are Going [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2014]
- CIA Bitcoin CONSPIRACY, SILVER TO BREAK THE ECONOMY - Andy Hoffman & Chris Duane - Video [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2014]
- 5/1/14 - Larry Summers warns critics, Paym system & Bitcoin Center NYC roundtable - Video [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2014]
- On est Connect S2 #07 1/2 : BitCoin et Musique sur Internet - Video [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2014]