So, I’ve been running crypto ads for a while now, and honestly, figuring out who to target is way harder than I expected. When I first started, I assumed “crypto people” were all the same — tech-savvy, interested in Bitcoin, maybe trading on weekends. But wow, was I wrong.
After wasting a few campaigns and watching my budget disappear faster than a meme coin crash, I realized I didn’t actually know my audience at all. I was basically shooting ads into the void and hoping someone out there cared enough to click. Spoiler: they didn’t.
This was my first big “oh” moment. I used to think crypto ads were all about hype words — blockchain, DeFi, Web3, tokens. But people respond differently based on what they actually want from crypto.
Some folks are hardcore traders looking for data tools and charts. Others just want to learn how to buy their first coin. And then there’s a crowd that loves NFTs but couldn’t care less about altcoin news. Trying to speak to all of them at once? Total chaos.
I once ran a banner ad that said something like, “Join the Future of Blockchain Investing!” It got decent impressions but terrible engagement. Later, I realized my ad was showing up to casual crypto-curious people who didn’t even understand what “blockchain investing” meant. That one hurt.
Like a lot of people, I started tweaking small things — headlines, keywords, audiences. I tried targeting by age, location, even device type. Still, the results were hit or miss.
Then I started hanging out in crypto subreddits and Telegram groups, just lurking and reading what people actually talked about. That helped more than any analytics tool at the start. It was eye-opening to see the difference between what people say in surveys and what they do online.
For example, younger users (20s–30s) were way more into crypto gaming tokens, while older audiences seemed more focused on security and investment returns. Once I split my ad sets based on that — boom, way better click-through rates.
Another mistake I made early on was running ads on random finance sites, thinking “money = crypto interest.” Nope. Many users there were traditional investors who saw crypto as risky nonsense.
Eventually, I found that ad networks specializing in crypto audiences performed way better. These platforms already filter for people who’ve shown interest in blockchain content. That alone made a huge difference.
I won’t lie — it’s still tricky. Even within “crypto people,” you have mini-segments: NFT collectors, meme coin hunters, long-term holders, DeFi devs, and more. But once you start grouping them that way, targeting becomes a lot less confusing.
For example:
It’s weirdly satisfying to finally see ads reaching the right people — like the difference between yelling into a crowd and having a real conversation with someone who actually cares.
If you’ve been running ads and can’t figure out why they’re not landing, don’t panic. You’re not alone. Just slow down, learn who you’re talking to, and tweak from there. It’s not instant, but it’s worth it.
After wasting a few campaigns and watching my budget disappear faster than a meme coin crash, I realized I didn’t actually know my audience at all. I was basically shooting ads into the void and hoping someone out there cared enough to click. Spoiler: they didn’t.
Pain Point
When you realize “crypto audience” isn’t one big groupThis was my first big “oh” moment. I used to think crypto ads were all about hype words — blockchain, DeFi, Web3, tokens. But people respond differently based on what they actually want from crypto.
Some folks are hardcore traders looking for data tools and charts. Others just want to learn how to buy their first coin. And then there’s a crowd that loves NFTs but couldn’t care less about altcoin news. Trying to speak to all of them at once? Total chaos.
I once ran a banner ad that said something like, “Join the Future of Blockchain Investing!” It got decent impressions but terrible engagement. Later, I realized my ad was showing up to casual crypto-curious people who didn’t even understand what “blockchain investing” meant. That one hurt.
Personal Test / Insight
The trial-and-error phase (aka: the expensive part)Like a lot of people, I started tweaking small things — headlines, keywords, audiences. I tried targeting by age, location, even device type. Still, the results were hit or miss.
Then I started hanging out in crypto subreddits and Telegram groups, just lurking and reading what people actually talked about. That helped more than any analytics tool at the start. It was eye-opening to see the difference between what people say in surveys and what they do online.
For example, younger users (20s–30s) were way more into crypto gaming tokens, while older audiences seemed more focused on security and investment returns. Once I split my ad sets based on that — boom, way better click-through rates.
Where to Run Ads
It’s not just “who” but also “where”Another mistake I made early on was running ads on random finance sites, thinking “money = crypto interest.” Nope. Many users there were traditional investors who saw crypto as risky nonsense.
Eventually, I found that ad networks specializing in crypto audiences performed way better. These platforms already filter for people who’ve shown interest in blockchain content. That alone made a huge difference.
I won’t lie — it’s still tricky. Even within “crypto people,” you have mini-segments: NFT collectors, meme coin hunters, long-term holders, DeFi devs, and more. But once you start grouping them that way, targeting becomes a lot less confusing.
Helpful Link (insight / solution)
If you’re in the same boat, you might want to check out how to Target the right users for crypto ads. That guide breaks down audience profiling in a pretty straightforward way. It helped me rethink who I was actually talking to instead of treating everyone like a generic “crypto fan.”What Really Clicked
After a bunch of trial and error, I realized I was overcomplicating things. The best-performing ads I ran were the ones that spoke directly to a specific type of user — not everyone.For example:
- When I ran an ad saying “Track real-time crypto trends before they blow up,” it appealed directly to traders.
- Another ad saying “Learn how to start earning with crypto safely” worked better for newcomers.
Small but Useful Tips
Here are a few takeaways that I wish someone had told me earlier:- Define your sub-audience first. Don’t just say “crypto users.” Are they traders, investors, learners, or builders?
- Use forums and social groups. Real conversations tell you way more than generic data dashboards.
- Keep your message simple. Avoid technical overload. Even crypto enthusiasts like clarity.
- Run multiple smaller ad sets. Test, test, test. Don’t pour your whole budget into one guess.
- Match tone to experience level. What excites a DeFi pro might confuse a beginner.
Takeaway
Finding the right audience for crypto ads isn’t about luck — it’s about listening. Once I stopped guessing and started observing how people interacted with crypto communities, things began to click.It’s weirdly satisfying to finally see ads reaching the right people — like the difference between yelling into a crowd and having a real conversation with someone who actually cares.
If you’ve been running ads and can’t figure out why they’re not landing, don’t panic. You’re not alone. Just slow down, learn who you’re talking to, and tweak from there. It’s not instant, but it’s worth it.