Google Lifts Ban on Crypto Ads But Only in the U.S & Japan

Following its earlier ban of advertising cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings on any of its platform, Google is easing on the ban, as they announced on Tuesday that it would allow only regulated cryptocurrency exchanges to advertise in the United States and Japan.

According to their blog post, the changes will take place in October 2018 and advertisers will need to be certified with Google for the country where the ads are to appear.

According to a report by Reuters, Google’s move to ban such ads had sent the price of the best-known cryptocurrency, bitcoin, down by more than 10%.

The ban of advertising cryptocurrencies by Google effective of June 2018, followed Facebook’s footsteps but later they (Facebook) in June 27 lifted the ban. Later in the same month, micro-blogging firm; Twitter, also announced effective March 27th, banning cryptocurrency advertising on its platform.

The prohibition by Twitter covered advertising of initial coin offerings (ICOs) – crowdfunding used to raise cash by creating new coins – as well as token sales. The new policy also banned ads by cryptocurrency exchanges and cryptocurrency wallet services, unless they are public companies listed on certain major stock markets.