UK Bans Coinbase TV Ads Amid Crypto Clampdown

Recently, Coinbase introduced a satirical video campaign titled “Everything Is Fine,” which humorously addresses the economic challenges and archaic regulations in Britain—but the UK prohibited it from airing on television. Consequently, the advertisement was only shown online, as regulators intervened due to increased vigilance regarding cryptocurrency promotions.

Why the U-turn? Coinbase won FCA registration in mid-2025, but the ASA and FCA are clamping down on crypto marketing in Britain. Ads from High Street bank TSB and financial services company Interactive Investor fell foul of the regulator last year, alongside listings from trading platforms Coinbase and Kraken for making “misleading ads with insufficient risk warnings” in 2021.

At the same time, it is about to set tough new rules on cryptocurrency gateways and reporting requirements to help out with illicit activity. By January 2026, platforms such as Coinbase will have to obtain detailed user data and transaction histories or face fines of up to £300 per user.

Industry voices are mixed. The chief of Coinbase UK said that the UK has a second mover advantage, and instead of copying regulations from the EU or US, it is able to work on refining them. Yet George Osborne, former Chancellor, has cautioned that the UK risks being outpaced by slower progress on reforms.

So, the question is whether banning Coinbase’s ad is a responsible form of consumer protection or symptomatic of UK policy lagging behind innovation.