Influencer marketing for crypto apps as an essential marketing tool

How to choose the right influencer for your crypto app

Choosing the right influencer is not just about follower count but about fit and credibility. Start by understanding who your ideal users are and find creators whose audiences match those profiles. For example, if your app targets beginners, pick influencers who excel at explaining crypto basics clearly and simply. If you want to reach advanced users, look for creators who regularly discuss DeFi, security, or trading strategies.

Look for influencers with high engagement rates — not just big numbers. Smaller influencers with loyal followers often bring better results because their audiences trust their opinions. Equally important is compliance: your influencers need to be familiar with crypto promotion rules, including clear disclosure of paid partnerships, so you avoid regulatory trouble.

Finally, a good influencer tells a story that resonates with their followers. Work with them to create content that naturally highlights your app’s benefits, rather than handing them a strict script. Authenticity drives action.

Platform fit

Different social platforms serve different purposes in crypto marketing:

YouTube breakdowns

YouTube is where long-form, in-depth content thrives. Influencers walk viewers through complex topics like wallet setup, swapping tokens, or understanding staking. These detailed walkthroughs help reduce fear and confusion among new users and build confidence in your app.

TikTok explainers

TikTok appeals mostly to younger audiences who prefer quick, entertaining videos. Short clips showing how to make a swap, explaining a crypto term, or sharing a simple tip can go viral. Memes and trends work well here, but the key is keeping content engaging and easy to digest.

@cleoabram I respond to qs about technology (often with videos), so ask in the comments! #learnontiktok #cryptocurrency #blockchain #eli5 ♬ Blue Blood – Heinz Kiessling

X (formerly Twitter) threads & AMAs

Twitter remains a hub for traders and enthusiasts who want up-to-date info. Detailed threads explaining your app’s features or market news, combined with live Ask Me Anything sessions, help influencers build real-time conversations and trust.

Telegram KOL drops & Kick streams

Telegram channels are central to many crypto communities. Influencers share alerts, answer questions, and provide exclusive content. Kick live streams add an interactive dimension, allowing influencers to demo your app live and respond to viewers instantly, deepening engagement.

A mix of these platforms, chosen based on your audience and goals, usually delivers the best results. Tailor the message and content style to fit each platform’s unique culture.

Vetting checklist

Before partnering, carefully check:

Wallet overlap

Verify the influencer actually uses wallets or exchanges like yours. Ask for evidence such as screenshots or, when possible, on-chain public data. Creators who actively use crypto products come across as more authentic.

Engagement audits

Don’t just look at follower numbers. Read comments to see if the audience interacts genuinely — are they asking questions, discussing topics thoughtfully, or leaving generic spam? Healthy engagement means the audience trusts and values the influencer.

Fake-follower scrub

Use tools like HypeAuditor or Modash to detect bots or inactive accounts inflating follower counts. Even large audiences mean little if they aren’t real or attentive.

Past campaign results

Ask for examples of previous crypto promotions. Look for evidence they can drive meaningful actions like app installs, sign-ups, or deposits — not just likes or views.

Here you can learn more about how we at Famesters vet influencers and protect you from fraud.

Creative formats that convert

Certain formats are proven to work well in crypto influencer marketing:

Live swap demos

Watching a trusted crypto influencer perform a swap or trade live inside your app helps break down barriers and builds user confidence. It makes a complicated process look simple and approachable.

“First-trade” challenge

Influencers share their first transaction experience on your app, emphasizing how easy and rewarding it is. This makes the process relatable for beginners.

AMA sessions

Live question-and-answer streams on platforms like Twitter Spaces or Telegram allow users to ask about your app and get honest, immediate answers, reducing doubts and increasing trust.

Tutorial series

Breaking down features into simple, step-by-step videos or posts over days or weeks keeps users engaged and gradually builds understanding.

Referral contests

Influencers encourage followers to complete specific tasks — like signing up or making a trade — with rewards, which drives measurable user growth.

Measurement ladder

To know if your influencer campaigns are effective, track users beyond just clicks or views. Key metrics include:

Cost-per-KYC

How much you spend to get a user verified and ready to trade. This shows if your campaign moves people through onboarding hurdles efficiently.

Cost-per-funded-wallet

How much it costs to bring in users who deposit real funds. This is crucial because installs alone don’t generate revenue.

30-day retention

The percentage of influencer-referred users still active after a month. Retention shows whether you’re gaining loyal users, not just one-time visitors.

Owned & earned foundations in crypto apps marketing

Building lasting growth for your crypto app, you also need strong foundations in places you fully control — your app store listing, your website, and your community. These owned and earned channels build trust, improve discovery, and keep users coming back.

App-store SEO & ratings hygiene

Your app store page is often the first place a user learns about you. Optimizing it isn’t optional — it’s essential. Start with a clear, honest app title and a short description that highlights your biggest benefits. Use keywords naturally to improve search ranking but avoid stuffing. Include screenshots that show key features and a simple user flow.

Ratings and reviews matter hugely. Aim for a steady stream of genuine positive reviews. Encourage happy users to leave feedback, and respond quickly and helpfully to negative comments. That shows you care and helps turn unhappy users into fans. Don’t ignore bugs or crashes — apps with poor stability get downgraded by app stores and users alike.

Web2 + Web3 SEO

Your website should rank well on search engines to bring organic traffic. Many crypto projects build their sites with modern SPAs that rely heavily on JavaScript. The problem is search engines often struggle to read these properly, which hurts your ranking.

To fix this, use SSR or prerendering tools so search engines see fully formed pages. Also, add schema markup — special code that tells search engines about your tokens, blockchain addresses, or transactions. This helps search engines understand your site and show richer results.

Regularly publish useful content like guides, explainers, and news that answer questions your users have. This improves your authority and brings steady, qualified visitors over time.

Community building at scale

A thriving community is the backbone of long-term success. Start by creating spaces where users can gather, ask questions, share tips, and give feedback. Telegram and Discord remain popular, but consider running ambassador programs to empower passionate users to spread the word.

Use tools like Snapshot to run simple polls or votes on your project’s direction. Letting your community have a say builds loyalty and makes users feel ownership. Reward contributors with badges, early access, or token incentives. Keep conversations active with regular updates and personal engagement from your team.

Remember, a strong community doesn’t just bring users back — it turns them into advocates who bring in new users without extra cost.

PR cadence: launch story, roadmap drops, security-audit news

Good public relations work like a steady drumbeat, keeping your app in the conversation and building trust. Start with a clear launch story that explains what your app does and why it matters. Share this with crypto media, blogs, and newsletters that your target users read.

Follow up with regular roadmap updates showing new features or partnerships. These show your app is growing and keep your community excited. When you complete security audits, share the results openly. Transparency about safety builds confidence, especially in crypto where trust is hard-earned.

Coordinate PR efforts with product milestones and marketing pushes to get the biggest impact. Well-timed news releases can open doors to new audiences and keep existing users engaged.

Owned and earned channels might take time to build, but they create the trust and organic momentum that paid ads can’t buy. Make them the foundation of your crypto app’s growth.

Certified Google & Meta campaigns

Google and Meta (Facebook and Instagram) are huge channels, but they don’t let just anyone run crypto ads. As mentioned above, to get approved, you need to submit proof of your licences for every country you want to advertise in. These platforms review your documents carefully, and if something is missing or expired, your ads get blocked — sometimes immediately.

Geo-gating is key. You can’t run the same campaign everywhere; you need to restrict ads to countries where you’re fully licensed. This means setting up different campaigns or ad sets for each region with separate licence files uploaded. Plan ahead because certification and renewal take time.

Also, be cautious with your ad content. Avoid anything that promises guaranteed profits, highlights token prices, or exaggerates benefits. These trigger automatic rejections.

Crypto-native DSPs (Coinzilla, Bitmedia, BuySellAds)

Beyond Google and Meta, crypto-specific advertising platforms can be powerful tools. These DSPs focus only on crypto-related traffic, so their audiences are highly relevant.

• Coinzilla specializes in banners and native ads on top crypto news sites and forums.
• Bitmedia uses AI to target crypto users across thousands of sites, offering flexible options like CPM or CPC.
• BuySellAds (BSA) gives access to a broad network of crypto publishers and lets you run ads directly on popular crypto sites.

These platforms help you reach people already interested in crypto, often at a lower cost than big social channels, but they come with their own quirks. You’ll want to monitor ad quality closely to avoid bot traffic and adjust targeting as you go.

Programmatic & contextual buys

Programmatic advertising means using software to automatically buy ad space on websites and apps. In crypto, programmatic buys often focus on finance-related sites or niche forums where crypto discussions happen.

Contextual advertising places your ads near content that matches your product, such as a blog post about blockchain wallets. This makes the ads feel relevant and can boost engagement.

These methods can reach broad, relevant audiences at scale but require careful setup to avoid wasted spend. Look for platforms that let you geo-target tightly and exclude low-quality traffic.

Rewarded ads & OEM preload pilots

Rewarded ads — where users choose to watch a short video or engage with content in exchange for a small reward — work well for crypto apps. They attract users who are willing to spend a little time learning about your app in exchange for tokens or perks, increasing chances of conversion.

OEM preload pilots are a longer-term play: partnering with device makers or carriers to have your app installed by default on new phones. This builds awareness in key markets and can deliver steady organic installs. These deals take time to set up and require negotiation but can pay off in user volume.

Budget phasing: test → ramp → optimise

• Start small. Run initial tests with different creatives, audiences, and channels to see what works best. This phase helps you avoid wasting money on unproven ideas.
• Once you find winning combinations, ramp up budgets to scale those campaigns. Keep close watch on key metrics like cost per verified user or funded wallet, not just installs.
• Finally, optimise constantly. Pause or adjust underperforming ads, try new creatives, and refresh your audience segments. Crypto audiences change fast, so your campaigns need to change and get better, too.

A clear paid acquisition plan that respects crypto’s rules and audience mindset will help you grow your app steadily, with fewer surprises and better returns.

Common pitfalls in crypto apps marketing & how to dodge them

Marketing a crypto app comes with its own set of traps that can waste budget, hurt your brand, or even get your ads pulled. Knowing these pitfalls — and how to avoid them — can save you time, money, and headaches.

Non-certified ads leading to account bans

One of the fastest ways to lose access to major ad platforms like Google and Meta is running crypto ads without proper certification. These platforms require proof that you hold the right licences and meet their compliance rules before approving ads. Ignoring this can lead to sudden account suspensions and months-long delays getting back online. Always submit your licence documents ahead of time and keep them up to date. Make compliance part of your daily checklist — not an afterthought.

Over-indexing on vanity installs vs funded accounts

It’s easy to get caught up celebrating big download numbers, but installs alone don’t pay the bills. Many users download apps, try them once, then disappear. The real value is users who complete verification and deposit funds. Focus your tracking and reporting on quality metrics like cost per funded wallet or active trader. This shift keeps your budget working toward growth that matters, not just surface-level stats.

Ignoring fraud and bot traffic in long-tail ad networks

Smaller, niche ad networks can be tempting because of lower prices and specialized audiences. But they also carry a higher risk of fraud, fake clicks, and bot traffic. Running ads blindly on these networks can drain your budget with worthless impressions. Use fraud-detection tools, set strict targeting parameters, and monitor performance closely. If something looks off — like a sudden spike in clicks with no conversions — pause campaigns and investigate immediately.

Under-budgeting for community management and scam mitigation

Building a loyal crypto community takes work. Users expect quick replies to questions, active moderation to prevent scams, and regular updates. Neglecting community management can lead to frustration and churn, and can even cause reputational damage if scammers infiltrate your channels. Allocate enough budget for dedicated community managers and tools to keep conversations healthy and users supported. Remember, your community is one of your best growth engines.

Not using influencer marketing

Influencer marketing isn’t just a trendy add-on; it’s a critical channel for crypto apps. Influencers bring trusted voices and real user stories that paid ads alone can’t match. Skipping this channel means missing out on deeper engagement and often better user quality. Plan influencer campaigns early, choose creators carefully, and track the right outcomes to make this a core part of your growth strategy.