Marketing, Web3

In 2014, crypto advertising barely existed. The term “Web3” hadn’t been coined, Facebook banned crypto ads and startups promoting their tokens were mostly confined to forums and niche publications. But for Bitmedia founder Matvii Diadkov, the opportunity was obvious.

“The community was small, fragmented and underserved by traditional platforms,” recalls Diadkov, who had already been active in crypto for two years. Spotting a widening gap between blockchain innovation and its ability to reach real audiences, he launched Bitmedia, one of the first ad networks built specifically for the crypto space.

Marketing, Web3
Here’s how Bitmedia looked back in 2014 — a Bitcoin-focused advertising network built to promote early Bitcoin startups, crypto faucets and ICOs. Source: Bitmedia.io

Initially, it was a Bitcoin-only ad network with a simple promise: deliver measurable results for emerging blockchain projects. A decade later, Bitmedia has evolved into a full-stack Web3 marketing engine, powering growth for protocols, exchanges, decentralized finance (DeFi) apps and Web3 games across thousands of campaigns.

The company now offers everything from wallet-level targeting and real-time onchain analytics to influencer partnerships and compliance-tuned campaign strategies. “We don’t just run ads,” Diadkov says. “We optimize for community, culture and long-term user value.”

In this interview, Diadkov reflects on the evolution of crypto advertising, explains how AI is changing the rules of engagement and outlines Bitmedia’s vision to become the first truly AI-native ad platform for Web3.

Cointelegraph: With the rise of AI and data-driven marketing, how do you see these technologies reshaping crypto advertising? What unique advantages does Bitmedia offer in this space?

Matvii Diadkov: Oh, that’s my favorite topic. The convergence of AI and data-driven strategies is transforming the entire marketing industry — and crypto is no exception. At Bitmedia, we’ve been early adopters of AI/machine learning capabilities, using them to power key functions like ad creative performance analysis, real-time fraud detection, predictive bidding strategies and behavioral targeting. But we’re going beyond that.

We believe we’re on the cusp of a shift to agentic marketing, where autonomous AI agents, not humans, are running the bulk of performance campaigns. That’s why we’re actively redesigning our platform to be agent-friendly.

This means creating a framework where AI tools can seamlessly launch, manage, optimize and analyze campaigns end-to-end, using real-time onchain data, audience segmentation and campaign logic.

The ultimate goal is to make Bitmedia a truly AI-native crypto advertising platform, intuitive for human marketers, but also fully operable by next-gen AI agents. This will give our clients, especially those in DeFi and Web3, a unique edge in agility, precision and scalability.

CT: Regulatory uncertainty remains a challenge for blockchain projects. How does Bitmedia navigate compliance to help clients reach global audiences effectively?

MD: It is one of the most pressing challenges in Web3 marketing, and Bitmedia has built its approach with flexibility, compliance and transparency at the core. As a global crypto advertising platform, we work with clients across multiple jurisdictions, each with their own advertising rules, Know Your Customer (KYC)/Anti-Money Laundering (AML) frameworks and content restrictions.

To ensure compliance, we’ve implemented multi-layered moderation systems that filter ad content based on geo-specific regulations. Our ad review process screens for prohibited claims, high-risk messaging and regional restrictions, helping clients avoid accidental noncompliance. We also stay in close contact with legal advisers and publishers to keep our network aligned with the latest policy changes.

What truly sets Bitmedia apart is the balance we strike between compliance and performance. While many platforms rely on blanket restrictions, we provide granular control, allowing DeFi, Web3 and blockchain brands to safely advertise within legal frameworks while still targeting high-intent audiences worldwide.

CT: Data-driven strategies are a key differentiator for Bitmedia. Can you share a success story where Bitmedia’s analytics significantly boosted a client’s return on investment (ROI)?

MD: We have a lot of them! One standout example is a DeFi protocol that came to us after underperforming on traditional ad platforms. They had a solid product but were struggling to reach wallet-active users who would actually engage. Bitmedia’s onchain behavior analytics, wallet segmentation and real-time campaign tracking restructured their targeting strategy from scratch.

We identified high-converting segments based on historical wallet activity, like interaction with decentralized exchanges (DEXs) or staking contracts, and focused the campaign spend there. The result? A 62% increase in clickthrough rate (CTR), a 34% drop in cost-per-acquisition and, most importantly, 3.5x higher user retention over 60 days.

That’s the power of combining blockchain-native analytics with a precision ad delivery engine. It’s not just about getting clicks — it’s about finding the right users who actually stay.

CT: Many crypto campaigns see short-term spikes but fade quickly. How does Bitmedia ensure the long-term success of its campaigns?

MD: Honestly, there’s no magic formula — it’s all about delivering real, sustained value. At Bitmedia, we focus on quality traffic, performance consistency and constant optimization. Every campaign is treated as a living system: we refine creatives, targeting and bidding strategies daily based on real-time analytics and onchain engagement data.

This hands-on approach helps prevent the common boom-and-bust cycles many crypto projects experience. It’s also why leading blockchain brands continue to trust us — not just for one-off spikes, but for long-term growth, community building and user retention. Our resilience through multiple bear markets proves that success isn’t about chasing hype — it’s about building smarter, every single day.

CT: You’re also the founder of Chainers.io. How do Bitmedia and Chainers synergize, and what lessons from gaming inform your ad network’s strategy?

MD: Games have always been my passion — I started coding to build immersive worlds and interactive experiences. That creative drive eventually evolved into something bigger. With Bitmedia already established as a leading crypto marketing agency and ad network, launching Chainers, a next-gen NFT game, was a natural next step.

The synergy between the two is powerful. Bitmedia provides the distribution engine — real-time user acquisition, targeted Web3 advertising and deep analytics. Chainers gives us firsthand insight into what Web3 users want — not just clicks, but meaningful engagement and retention.

We test strategies across both platforms, optimizing ad funnels, gamification elements and onchain engagement mechanics. This dual perspective, as a crypto marketing company and a Web3 game developer, gives us a unique edge.

We don’t just run campaigns; we build and grow real products. That’s why Bitmedia’s strategies go beyond traffic — they focus on community, culture and user lifetime value.

CT: What’s next for Bitmedia? Can you share any upcoming innovations, partnerships or expansion plans with us?

MD: Absolutely! We’re currently working on some truly disruptive technology that’s set to transform the way blockchain and digital advertising intersect. While it’s still in stealth mode, I can tell you this — we’ve uncovered a breakthrough approach that addresses several critical challenges in the ad tech space, such as user privacy, data storage and targeting accuracy.

This new solution leverages blockchain innovation to provide an entirely new level of transparency, security and precision. We believe it has the potential to be a game-changer for AI, blockchain and Web3 projects looking to scale their marketing efforts.

We can’t reveal too much yet, but if you want to stay ahead of the curve, subscribe to our newsletter on Bitmedia.io — exciting updates are coming soon!

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