TD Ameritrade Superbowl Ad: Bitcoin Futures, Fiesta Forever

Feburary 5th, 2018

If you're like most Americans, the Superbowl is one of those made-for-TV events that brings families and groups together. There is something for everybody. Top-notch Hollywood entertainment at halftime, advertisements that make us feel connected through shared interest in consuming or wanting to consume products, visit vacation destinations, or enjoy other programming on the network. Oh yeah, there is a sporting event that takes place that people like too! The Superbowl has something for everybody.

Perhaps lost in translation was an interesting advertisement by TD Ameritrade. It is another installment of their 24/5 campaign that promotes extended trading hours and access to markets for retail investors. The ad stars Lionel Richie and features his hit song 'All Night Long'.

Video courtesy of TD Ameritrade via YouTube

What came at the end of the ad is what stood out to me. While you hear Ritchie's hit song in the background, after a tease throughout the ad, text appears on screen "Bitcoin Futures, Fiesta Forever". This is referencing the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, which was largely ignored in the mainstream, until it was vilified by thought leaders and authorities, despite exuberance by investors which led to a massive surge in market capitalization in 2017 and has led to Bitcoin Futures being traded on the CME and Cboe exchanges.

So, what's the message here? What's the cause for a "fiesta". Yes, the markets have been pumped-up to new all-time highs but trading can't always be a party, right? Pullbacks can happen at any time based on political and social events, earnings reports, product recalls, interest rate hikes, etc. Or, is this ad a signal for more nuanced investors who may be trying to manipulate the price of Bitcoin via Futures contracts? After all, the mainstream talks about cryptocurrency in a biased way most of the time to try to control the narrative and shape opinion.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies after all, pose a threat to traditional finance because they have the potential to disrupt the incumbents like banks, insurance companies, credit reporting bureaus, etc. Also, investing in crypto assets themselves are done on a retail level, taking market share from traditional financial assets. Another thing to note is on TD Ameritrade's "How to Trade Bitcoin Futures" webpage, they state the account minimum is $25,0000, making it unlikely the average Superbowl viewer is getting in on the action. I look for this ad to re-air on CNBC, Bloomberg, and Fox Business, unlike other ads that aren't designed to be re-aired as much.

2018 will likely be a pivotal year for crypto assets, has many nations, including the United States, are exploring ways to regulate the market. This comes as awareness is increasing, which could lead to increase demand. This of course is happening has Blockchain technology remains the hottest trend right now and will have a huge impact on our lifestyle in the near future.

About the Author
Mark Baer is the founder of the Phuture Gains blog and works as an Independent Agent in FinTech, BizTech, and personal ID Protection.
You can follow him on Twitter @baerbusiness
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