FTX Super Bowl Commercial Features Larry David as Crypto Sceptic

FTX came out to be a crowd favorite with its recent advertisement in the Super bowl. Not only was the commercial appreciated for making a bold move with its ‘not-so conventional’ ad, but it also managed to rope in the American Comedian Larry David as part of its humourous promotion video.

It was the cryptocurrency exchange FTX’s first time advertising their platform on one of the largest and most-viewed events in the United States. The writer and producer of the famous series Seinfeld, Larry David is seen in the minute-long commercial as a person who is not impressed by many historical innovations. From one era to the other, Larry disses every scientific discovery until someone introduces him to FTX. Larry dismisses the idea saying he’s ‘never wrong about this stuff ever’. The advertisement ends with a message that says, ‘ Don’t be like Larry’.

Jeff Schafer, another colleague of David’s from Seinfeld, directed the advertisement and exclaimed at the boldness of the cryptocurrency exchange to make an advertisement where David is seen calling the product unusable.

According to Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX’s co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, FTX’s marketing strategy revolves around accepting and embracing people who don’t follow cryptocurrency. Many people who initially had their reservations about crypto are today its biggest supporters.

Along with FTX, crypto firms like Coinbase and Crypto.com have aired their commercials on the newly formed category of Super Bowl advertisements- cryptocurrency. According to Schaffer, David usually is asked to perform in several commercials, however, due to creative differences between the companies and the writers, he has to decline the offers. However, with this particular ad, and FTX’s ad agency dentsuMB, there was an idea which the writers were totally in ‘ lockstep with’, and eventually brought Larry into the picture.

Having said that, Schafer confirms that the advertisement was under work since before October when Dentsu reached out to Larry. With Larry having recently wrapped a shoot for the last season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm”, the actor-comedian was available to take up other projects. As Schafer puts it, ” the timing was perfect”. The actual advertisement, was, however, shot in January recently.

David was very particular about not previewing a teaser of the commercial in advance of the Super Bowl debut. When the advertisement agency was observed to have similar plans, Larry was delighted. Schaffer along with his wife, plan to view the Super Bowl commercial with David at the actual venue.

As a sports event, Super Bowl is famous for providing a massive audience to companies and firms looking for a better way to reach out to people. While the creative team of the advertisement is proud of its brainchild, it is also eager to know whether the audience would appreciate the commercial as well.