Negative full page Bitcoin ad in Swedish newspaper, paid by big Swedish bank(!)

The article is a full page ad, marked as "sponsored content".

Link: http://www.svd.se/det-kan-bli-bitcoins-dodsstot

Machine translated to English: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=sv&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=sv&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.svd.se%2Fdet-kan-bli-bitcoins-dodsstot&edit-text=

Is the bank trying to show that they are in the loop? Are they afraid of Bitcoin and getting desperate? Did they invest in secret?

Holy shit, must they be scared. Of course they are: Sweden wants to eliminate cash, as part of a financial dictatorship. Banks have found out that Bitcoin is one way out of the totalitarian future of a cashless society.

This is bullish for Bitcoin, no question. Grin

The ad might also been a reaction to http://norran.se/nyheter/blaljus-nyheter/drev-knarkliga-pa-natet-har-ar-huvudmannen-371642

A band of people from the north of Sweden had been running a professional "high" volumes sales drugs operation on the darkwebs but got busted. All handled in Bitcoin. A Google translated article here, hope it handles the norrlandish accent Wink

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=sv&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=sv&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fnorran.se%2Fnyheter%2Fblaljus-nyheter%2Fdrev-knarkliga-pa-natet-har-ar-huvudmannen-371642&edit-text=

I can't read the source language but the machine translation doesn't seem that negative to me. Johan Javeus believes that Bitcoin cannot survive and achieve adequate stability without the blessing and input of governments.

I don't see any serious problems with his logic (allowing for losses in translation) but I do reject this key assumption. There are things which not only survive but thrive worldwide despite strong government opposition (the drug trade he referred to is a good example). I believe that financial privacy is one of these things, something with real value that cannot be nullified by the will of governers. As the war against cash continues (a war in which SEB plays no small part), I expect we'll see precious metals and crypto-currencies become more prominent where privacy is most valued.

"The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers."
―Princess Leia

It doesn't seem particularly negative, but it does focus on some of Bitcoin's negative aspects. It also includes stuff on some of the positives. Most of the facts are correct, except that it says the Bitcoin is anonymous. Bitcoin is actually pseudonymous. Other than that, it isn't really negative, it seems to just be something to spark debate.

Having read through the translated version, I would say it's not entirely negative in a way that it also throws in some positive fact about bitcoin. I would say it's more towards sending a message of caution that "you will need to find out more information before investing in it". Other than that, I would say overall it's okay.

Even if it was totally bad (which it isn't) it is still good to get bitcoins in publications like this. People are hearing about it on a regular basis now. It is slowly going from "what is that, I never heard of it" to "oh yea, isn't it that scam thing?" The next step of course is when people realize that it is not a scam but rather a currency.

Where was the full page add, on a website?

It's good when big banks notice and talk like this. Obviously it would be better if banks were supportive, but the fact that they're not ignoring bitcoin is a very big deal.

Actually this type of ad about Bitcoin will create more awareness and help to grow more.The real innovation makes its way by itself no government can stop the real technology for long time.I see it in good sense for bitcoin's future as this way people who were not knowing before they will come to know about this.Bitcoin is to stay and survive .

the negativeness of all things concerning bitcoin, it's still balanced by it's benefit, or i would say that its benefits are still superior to it

the only thing that really matter is keeping the interest in bitcoin high(keeps talking about it everywhere), and not ignore it, ignoring it, could be the very first step to destroy it

The banks will take notice, because it was announced that they will void the VAT on Bitcoin for tax purpose and this will encourage more people to use it.

We have to accept that banks would go through this phase of disruption... {fighting back} They ignored and laughed at us for years and now they have to fight back.

They have two choices... 1. Spread fud, in the hope that people would turn against it. {Cheap option}
2. Change their business model to stay competitive. {expensive option}

Knowing banks and how they are profit driven, they would opt for option 1. Sad

there is no negative advertising for bitcoin - so it is good advertising and for free Cheesy

wow that's awesome news for bitcoin.....hard to think of a better accolade.

I think the actual purpose of the ad is just to make an ad that people actually read, and hoping that they will pay attention to the advertiser too. It's not really about Bitcoin at all. Bitcoin was just the most interesting thing they could think of that has some connection to banking.

It was quite an underwhelming article really. Nothing new just a bit of exposure for both the bank and bitcoin.

We can follow the basic principle that any article is just advertisement for bitcoins. Articles like these certainly don't demotivate people from quitting bitcoin.

Quote from: Randian Hero on June 13, 2015, 09:58:40 PM

Is the bank trying to show that they are in the loop? Are they afraid of Bitcoin and getting desperate? Did they invest in secret?

be 100% sure that they are afraid of BTC my friend, i have no dude that they already invest in secret, why would they lost this opportunity? Wink

btw as i always sayd: all free advertisisng about BTC are welcome, and this is what they are doing by bring to us those news hehe

Quote from: Harry Hood on June 14, 2015, 06:09:17 AM

Where was the full page add, on a website?

It was in a newspaper, mentioned right there in the title!

If the banks start feeling afraid, you know that Bitcoin's next breakthrough is right around the corner. We could have some new age bank accepting bitcoins and challenging the cozy club that banks currently maintain. No amount of negative advertising is going to prevent that.

Quote from: pitham1 on June 14, 2015, 12:03:36 PM

Quote from: Harry Hood on June 14, 2015, 06:09:17 AM

Where was the full page add, on a website?

Banks became nervous because decentralized Bitcoin appeared, to which they have no influence, and BTC is much faster, safer and easier to use. They are aware that they can not offer what BTC offers to its customers and that in the long run they will lose this battle if they do not do something now.
Banks alone can not stop the BTC but national governments and financial institutions can, with restrictive laws and financial regulations.
I hope that such scenario will not happen.
Every man should be free to choose the financial service that suits him the best but I am afraid that national governments will try to protect their banks and financial institutions, and even go against the interests of its citizens.

Quote from: Daniel91 on June 14, 2015, 12:51:00 PM

Banks alone can not stop the BTC but national governments and financial institutions can, with restrictive laws and financial regulations.
I hope that such scenario will not happen.

It is really only the government which can (if anybody can) try and restrict the adoption of Bitcoin. The problem is financial institutions have huge lobby groups out there trying to influence the government. We don't have anything close.