Battle Of Networks? Algorand Pokes At Other Chains In New Ad

Algorand
Foundation’s
new
ad
criticized
Bitcoin,
Ethereum,
and
Solana
for
their
efficiency.
The
ad
received
mixed
reactions
from
the
crypto
community
and
sparked
a
conversation
about
the
art
of
advertising
crypto
products.

Algorand,
The
Only
One
“Delivering”

Algorand’s
latest
ad
has
sparked
controversy
for
“dissing”
three
networks.
Titled
“When
Blockchain
Meets
The
Real
World,
Only
One
Can
Deliver,”
the
ad
features
a
classic
grocery
store
checkout
line
format.

<br />

The
video
shows
three
customers
trying
to
pay
for
groceries
with
crypto:
Bitcoin,
Ethereum,
and
Solana.
During
the
ad,
the
three
shoppers
have
problems
with
their
respective
transactions,
seemingly
suggesting
that
the
rival
networks
are
unsuitable
for
everyday
use.

The
customer
using
Bitcoin
had
to
wait
27
minutes
for
the
transaction
to
be
completed;
the
one
paying
with
Ethereum
was
told
the
transaction
fees
were
$112,
and
the

Solana
payer
had
his
transactions
repeatedly
failing.
All
three
issues
in
the
ad
are
common
criticisms
that
the
three
targeted
networks
receive.

The
commercial
then
shows
the
next
checkout
line,
with
buyers
using
Algorand
as
a
payment
method.
As
this
line
moves
quickly,
the
video
displays
text
stating
“Instant
Finality.
Low
Fees.
Designed
for
the
speed
of
life.”

The
ad
finished
with
the
cashier
saying,
“Should
have
shopped
with
Algorand,”
and
Anthony
Scaramucci,
investment
guru
and
founder
of
SkyBridge,
asking
how
to
get
in
the
fast-moving
line.

The
Crypto
Ads
Conundrum

The
video
received
mixed
reviews
from
the
crypto
community.
Many
applauded
the
ad,
stating
that
Algorand
is
the
future
of
Layer-1
and
payments.
One
X
user

said:

I
can’t
stress
enough
how
much
the
Algorand
Foundation
does
compared
to
others.
All
the
meetings,
tweets,
events,
etc…this
isn’t
happening
on
other
chains!

However,
the
negative
responses
didn’t
take
long
to
follow.
Several
community
members
considered
the
jab
at
other
chains
an
unnecessary
and
“embarrassing”
attack.
A
user
jokingly

claimed
that
Algorand
achieved
an
“impossible
goal”
with
the
ad:
“uniting
all
the
factions
of
crypto
to
dunk
on
you.”

Crypto
commentator
Zach
Rynes

considers
that
this
type
of
marketing
doesn’t
make
sense
as
he
is
unsure
who
it
appeals
to.
In
an
X
post,
Rynes
explained
that
the
ad
would
leave
the
wrong
impression
on
non-crypto
people.

To
him,
the
video
will
make
the
public
think
that
“crypto
sucks,”
not
knowing
that
the
ad
is
for
crypto.
The
commentator
believes
it’s
a
“lose-lose
either
way”
since
“Crypto-native
people
will
see
this
as
unnecessarily
combative.”

Similarly,
Mert,
CEO
of
Helius
Labs,

brought
up
a
point
repeated
by
several
community
members.
Mert
criticized
Algorand
for
spending
money
on
an
ad
when
its
“top
two
explorers
[are]
going
out
of
business
due
to
no
funding.”

Moreover,
he
seems
to
consider
the
jab
at
other
networks

ironic
when
Algorand’s
got
its
“entire
economic
security
flipped
by
two
dog
coins
on
Solana
(WIF
+
BONK).”

Cardano
Joins
The
Advertisement
Conversation

Despite
the
criticism,
the
discussion
also
sparked
interest
in
the
ADA
community.
X
account
ADA
Whale
praised
the
commercial
for
being
funny.

Another
community
member

tagged
Cardano
founder
Charles
Hoskinson
in
the
video,
suggesting
he
should
start
looking
for
a
marketing
team
to
promote
Cardano.
The
user
cited
the
US
government’s
U-turn,
possibly
bringing
regulatory
clarity,
as
a
decisive
factor.

This
is
not
the
first
time
Cardano
has
received
criticism
over
its
marketing
approach.
In
March,
the
conversation
sparked
when
the
“Cardano
Girls”
video

became
viral.

Content
creator
Lily
Brodi
suggested
that
despite
having
the
technology
aspect
figured
out,
Cardano
has
an
“unattractiveness
problem.”
This
problem
prevents
a
broader
audience
from
entering
its
community
and
adopting
the
technology.