Posted on

Not Just ‘Hype’ but ‘Genuine Value’: Binance CMO Rachel Conlan Decodes Exchange’s Crypto Marketing Playbook

The
highly
lucrative
crypto
sector
has
a
global
market
capitalisation
of
$2.32
trillion
(roughly
Rs.
1,95,03,927
crore),
but
it
does
come
with
concerns,
especially
because
of
its
volatile
and
largely
unregulated
nature.
Given
the
situation,
Web3
firms
trying
to
establish
their
brands
are
often
facing
a
challenging
roadmap
to
market
and
bring
their
services
to
potential
customers.
Ahead
of
the
Binance
Blockchain
Week
scheduled
to
be
held
in
Dubai
this
week,
company’s
chief
marketing
officer
Rachel
Conlan
talked
to
Gadgets360
about
the
exchange’s
areas
of
focus
in
terms
of
its
marketing
dos
and
don’ts
as
the
firm
expands
its
businesses
globally.

Conlan
was
appointed
to
the
position
of
Binance’s
CMO
back
in
2023
right
after
Richard
Teng
replaced
company
founder
Changpeng
Zhao
as
the
CEO.
Over
the
past
year,
Conlan
has
keenly
observed
what
works
for
Web3
marketing
and
what
are
its
major
challenges.

The

Binance

executive
told
Gadgets360
that
the
exchange
plans
to
merge
awareness
initiatives
with
Web3
technologies
to
educate
the
international
community
on
how
they
can
use
crypto
to
diversify
their
portfolios.

“I
firmly
believe
that
building
trust
with
new
users
who
are
unfamiliar
with
crypto
should
be
the
top
priority
for
any
player
who
wants
to
be
in
this
industry.
The
space
is
still
comparatively
new
and
can
seem
complex
for
new
users
especially
because
of
regulatory
uncertainty
on
a
global
level,”
Conlan
told
us.
“As
more
regulatory
clarity
will
emerge,
it
will
make
new
users
participate
in
crypto
with
enhanced
transparency.
Web3
firms
must
lay
special
focus
on
education
and
community
engagement
because
they
are
the
key
pillars
to
support
the
brand.”

In
our
chat,
we
also
dived
deeper
into
how
Binance’s
marketing
strategy
has
evolved
as
the
exchange
has
faced
regulatory
scrutiny
and
legal
challenges,
as
well
as
market
restrictions
in
multiple
parts
of
the
world.
Here
are
edited
excerpts
from
our
conversation:


Gadgets360:


How
does
Binance’s
marketing
approach
differ
from
that
of
traditional
financial
services
companies?


Rachel
Conlan:

While
traditional
companies
emphasise
brand
loyalty
and
rely
heavily
on
conventional
advertising,
our
strategy
is
centered
around
community-driven
engagement,
events
and
education.
We
leverage
social
media
and
digital
platforms
to
create
authentic
conversations
with
our
users,
simplifying
complex
crypto
concepts
and
making
the
space
more
accessible.

Moving
forward,
we’re
evolving
our
marketing
strategy
to
meet
the
next
generation
of
users

wherever
they
are
on
their
crypto
learning
journey.
We’re
tailoring
our
content
and
engagement
to
provide
value
at
every
stage.
This
allows
us
to
guide
users
while
ensuring
they
feel
informed.


Gadgets360:


How
do
you
incorporate
community
feedback
into
Binance’s
marketing
strategies?
How
important
do
you
think
community-driven
events
are?


Rachel
Conlan:

Through
direct
feedback,
surveys,
and
interactions
at
events,
we
try
to
incorporate
their
inputs
to
shape
everything

from
product
development
to
the
way
we
communicate.

We
have
introduced
#BinanceBuild,
a
weekly
social
update,
where
we
share
updates
with
our
community
on
the
progress
of
various
initiatives.
Through
#BinanceBuild,
users
can
see
if
their
suggestions
are
being
implemented
and
the
progress,
giving
them
insight
into
how
their
feedback
is
driving
real
change.

Community-driven
events
make
for
an
essential
part
of
this
approach.
Whether
through
online
forums,
in-person
meetups,
or
larger
initiatives
like
Binance
Blockchain
Week,
we
actively
engage
with
our
community
to
gather
real-time
feedback.

It’s
imperative
for
Web3
firms
to
ensure
that
their
marketing
plans
are
aligned
with
the
needs
and
expectations
of
their
community
members.


Gadgets360:


Do
you
see
NFTs
and
the
metaverse
being
part
of
the
future
of
Binance’s
marketing
efforts?


Rachel
Conlan:

Although
the
NFT
market
has
seen
a
decline
in
recent
years,
we
believe
these
cycles
are
a
natural
part
of
any
emerging
industry,
particularly
in
the
evolving
crypto
space.
At
Binance,
we
see
NFTs
not
merely
as
digital
assets
but
as
powerful
tools
for
building
deeper,
more
authentic
connections.
NFTs
do
have
the
potential
to
strengthen
engagement.

The
metaverse,
meanwhile,
represents
an
exciting
new
frontier
for
virtual
engagement.
It
offers
vast
opportunities
for
brands
to
create
interactive
digital
spaces,
host
virtual
events,
run
immersive
educational
experiences,
and
open
new
doors
for
user
interaction.

Our
long-term
vision
is
to
harness
these
technologies
to
create
a
seamless
connection
between
the
digital
and
physical
worlds,
expanding
what’s
possible
with
the
innovations
of
Web3.
Ultimately,
these
tools
represent
different
entry
points
for
users
to
interact
with
blockchain
and
web3
technology.


Gadgets360:


How
do
you
balance
marketing
Binance’s
products
while
adhering
to
regulatory
guidelines
in
different
countries,
given
that
crypto-related
ads
are
restricted
in
multiple
nations?


Rachel
Conlan:

While
we’ve
secured
20
licenses
and
registrations
globally,
the
regulatory
landscape
remains
unclear
in
many
markets,
adding
complexity
to
balancing
marketing
and
compliance.
Conducting
thorough
research
on
local
regulations
and
working
within
the
frameworks
enables
us
to
tailor
our
strategies,
even
when
the
rules
aren’t
fully
defined.

In
markets
where
regulatory
clarity
is
still
evolving,
we
focus
on
education
and
community
engagement
rather
than
aggressive
product
promotion.
We
look
at
content
like
webinars,
articles,
and
social
media
resources
to
users
understand
the
crypto
landscape,
the
benefits
and
risks
of
our
products.
We
also
maintain
an
open
dialogue
with
local
regulators
to
ensure
our
messaging
complies
with
the
evolving
rules.

We
have
been
ramping
up
our
engagement
with
crypto
influencers
to
reach
users
who
are
already
familiar
with
the
space.
We
have
also
partnered
with
names
like
Cristiano
Ronaldo
and
F1’s
Alpine
team
to
reach
beyond
the
crypto
world
and
into
everyday
conversations.
These
collaborations
help
make
Binance
more
relatable
and
recognisable
to
a
broader
audience.


Gadgets360:


What
are
some
of
the
biggest
challenges
you
face
as
CMO
in
an
industry
that
is
constantly
evolving?


Rachel
Conlan:

The
crypto
landscape
is
constantly
shifting
due
to
rapid
technological
advancements,
evolving
regulations,
and
changing
market
conditions.
The
constant
requirement
to
keep
up
with
this
ever-changing
crypto
landscape
to
stay
relevant
is
a
challenge.
Customising
marketing
campaigns
as
per
the
requirements
of
specific
regions
takes
bone-breaking
research
and
discussions.

Balancing
the
excitement
around
emerging
trends
with
the
responsibility
to
educate
our
audience
needs
us
to
always
be
alert.
With
so
much
attention
on
technologies
like
decentralised
finance
and
the
metaverse,
it
is
extremely
important
that
our
marketing
efforts
focus
not
just
on
hype
but
on
providing
genuine
value
and
understanding
to
our
users.

Posted on

Google Search Now Supports Ethereum Name Service: Here’s What it Means

Google,
which
has
recently
been
found
to
be
holding
a
monopoly
on
web
search,
has
taken
a
crypto-friendly
decision
amidst
its
ongoing
legal
battles
in
the
US
and
the
EU.
As
per
a
fresh
update,
Google
has
fully
completed
the
integratigration
of
Ethereum
Name
Service
(ENS)
into
Search.
This
feature
was
being
tested
with
select
users
for
a
while
and
has
not
been
made
live
for
Google’s
global
users.
Former
Google
engineer
Nick
Johnson
presented
the
concept
of
ENS
to
the
Ethereum
Foundation
in
April
2016,
following
which,
in
May
2017,
the
first
batch
of
ENS
names
were
minted.

This
development
now
makes
it
easier
for
people
to
search
for
any
name
based
on
the

ENS
domain
,
signified
by
‘.eth’.

ENS
can
be
explained
as
a
decentralised
domain
name
protocol.
These
Ethereum-based
name
domains
are
used
by
crypto
users
who
wish
to
simplify
complicated
Ethereum
wallet
addresses
to
make
them
readable
by
humans.
Otherwise,
crypto
wallet
addresses
usually
comprise
a
bunch
of
random
alphabets
and
digits
that
are
not
only
difficult
to
remember
in
sequence
but
also
maintain
that
these
addresses
are
only
readable
by
computers.

Nalin
Basu,
product
manager
for
Web3
at
Google,
was
the
first
to
confirm
the
development
of
X,
explaining
its
utility.

“You
all
asked
for
@ensdomains
integration,
and
it’s
live.
You
can
search
for
any
.eth
name
and
get
the
balance
right
in

Google
Search
!
Kudos
to
the
Search
team
for
fully
rolling
this
out!”
Basu

posted

on
October
9.

Around
July
2022,
ENS
addresses
emerged
among
the
most
popular
liquid
assets
trading
on
marketplaces
for
virtual
assets.
Usually,
easier
ENS
domains
like
‘xyz.eth’
are
usually
more
in
value
than
others
like
‘asd1as.eth’.

The
same
year,
Google
had

reportedly

first
introduced
this
ENS
feature
to
let
Ethereum
wallet
holders
track
their
Ether
balances
directly
through
search
results.


Nike’s

Web3
arm
called
‘RTFKT’
and

Puma

are
among
global
brands
that
have
purchased
ENS
domains
in
the
past.

Posted on

How World Mobile Plans to Globalise Web3 Wireless Networks

The
potential
use
cases
of
blockchain
technology
appear
to
be
gaining
pace
in
the
telecom
sector.
London-based
World
Mobile
Group
is
a
firm
that
aims
to
globalise
decentralised
Web3
networks.
Founded
in
2018,
the
company
says
its
mission
is
to
deliver
high-quality
web
connectivity
through
a
decentralised
hybrid
network
that
is
12
times
more
cost
efficient
per
square
kilometre
of
coverage.
The
World
Mobile
network
states
that
it
currently
offers
services
in
Zanzibar,
Pakistan,
UK,
and
the
US.

How
World
Mobile’s
Network
Works

The
network,
rather
than
being
powered
by
traditional
telecom
servers,
runs
on
a
blockchain
network.
At
the
time
of
its
launch,
a
layer-2
blockchain
was
created
atop
the
Ethereum
mainnet.
This
blockchain
is
named
the
World
Mobile
Chain
(WMC)
and
its
native
currency
is
the
World
Mobile
Token,
represented
at
WMTx.

“World
Mobile’s
blockchain-based
sharing
economy
underpins
its
unique
connectivity
solution,
where
decentralised
network
infrastructure
is
owned
and
operated
by
the
people.
Whether
you’re
providing
mobile
connectivity
as
an
AirNode
Operator,
processing
transactions
operating
an
EarthNode,
staking
WMTx,
or
mapping
network
coverage
through
the
World
Moble
app,
there’s
a
role
for
everyone,”
the
company
website

said
,
explaining
how
its
users
can
earn
WMTx
rewards.

Users
can
also
win
rewards
by
identifying
and
reporting
weak
network
spots
through
the
World
Mobile
app
and
also
by
managing
data
bundles
and
Web3
assets
on
the
app.

At
the
time
of
writing,
the
price
of
the
WMTx
token
stood
at
$0.2268
(roughly
Rs.
19.05),
showed
data
by

CoinGecko
.

According
to
a

blog

by
DePin
Hub,
“It
(the
network)
uses
a
combination
of
existing
infrastructure
and
alternative
technology
solutions
to
serve
users.
For
example,
in
some
areas,
it
has
tapped
into
‘TV
white
space’
to
send
and
receive
data
via
unused
television
broadcast
spectrums.
In
others,
it
has
adapted
SpaceX’s
Starlink
satellite
internet
service
for
mobile
customer
use.”

World
Mobile
Launches
Blockchain
Infrastructure
on
Base
Recently,
the
World
Mobile
Network
announced
the
launch
of
its
blockchain
infrastructure
on
Base,
which
is
a
Layer-2
blockchain
built
on
Ethereum.
Through
this
step,
the
platform
has

reportedly

closer
to
being
recognised
as
the
most
extensive

Decentralised
Physical
Infrastructure
Network
(DePIN)

in
the
world.

“By
embracing
interoperability,
we
are
not
only
expanding
our
reach
but
also
building
a
thriving
ecosystem
that
will
revolutionize
the
way
the
world
connects.
Together,
we
are
building
a
future
where
anyone,
anywhere,
can
operate
and
earn
from
a
truly
decentralised,
inclusive
wireless
network,”
Micky
Watkins,
CEO,
World
Mobile
Group

had
said

commenting
on
the
development.

Posted on

Crypto Wallet Drainer App Identified on Google Play Store, Report Suggests $70,000 Stolen

A
report
by
Check
Point
Research
(CPR)
uncovered
a
crypto
wallet
draining
app
on
the
Google
Play
Store,
masquerading
as
the
popular
WalletConnect
app.
CPR
found
that
the
app
used
“advanced
evasion
techniques”
to
steal
$70,000
(roughly
Rs.
58.6
lakh)
over
five
months
from
unsuspecting
users.
The
malicious
app,
named
“MS
Drainer”
after
an
analysis
of
its
JavaScript
code,
is
part
of
a
growing
trend
of
increasingly
sophisticated
crypto
scams.
Recent
FBI
reports
also
warn
that
cybercriminals
have
become
more
efficient
in
executing
global
attacks.

“Check
Point
Research
(CPR)
uncovered
a
malicious
app
on

Google
Play
Store

designed
to
steal
cryptocurrency
marking
the
first
time
a
drainer
has
targeted
mobile
device
users
exclusively.
To
pose
as
a
legitimate
tool
for
Web3
apps,
the
attackers
exploited
the
trusted
name
of
the
WalletConnect
protocol,
which
connects
crypto
wallets
to
decentralised
apps,”
the

report
said
.

The

crypto
wallet

app,
that
has
now
been
removed,
managed
to
amass
over
10,000
downloads.
The
fake
platform
emerged
on
top
of
the
search
on
Google
Play
Store
on
searching
for
‘WalletConnect’
owing
to
multiple
reviews
that
the
CPR
report
flagged
as
‘fake’.


What
is
WalletConnect

WalletConnect
is
an
open-source
protocol
that
connects

decentralised
apps
(dApps)

with
crypto
wallets
through
QR
codes,
allowing
users
to
interact
with
blockchain-based
apps
without
exposing
their
private
keys.

According
to
Check
Point
Research
(CPR),
a
fake
app
mimicking
WalletConnect’s
appearance
and
functions
was
created
using
the
web
service
Median.co.
The
app,
initially
named
“Mestox
Calculator,”
was
published
on
the
Google
Play
Store
on
March
21,
2024,
with
its
name
changed
several
times
since
then.

“An
inexperienced
user
might
conclude
that
it
is
a
separate
wallet
application
that
needs
to
be
downloaded
and
installed.
Attackers
hijack
the
confusion,
hoping
that
users
will
search
for
a
WalletConnect
app
in
the
application
store,”
the
report
noted.

The
X
handle
of
WalletConnect
acknowledged
the
development
in
a
note
to
its
followers.


How
Did
WalletConnet’s
Malicious
Dupe
Work

Upon
download,
the
fake
app
quickly
prompted
users
to
connect
their
crypto
wallets.
When
users
clicked
the
wallet
buttons,
they
were
redirected
to
a
malicious
website
via
a
deep
link.
To
verify
their
wallets,
the
website
requested
users
to
approve
multiple
transactions
consecutively,
unknowingly
authorizing
fraudulent
activity.

“We
assume
that
users
install
this
malicious
app
to
connect
their
wallet
to
Web3
applications
that
do
not
support
direct
connections
to
wallets
like

MetaMask
,

Binance
Wallet
,
or
Trust
Wallet,
but
only
use
the
WalletConnect
protocol.
They
likely
expect
the
downloaded
WalletConnect
app
to
function
as
a
sort
of
proxy.
Therefore,
the
connection
request
does
not
appear
suspicious,”
the
report
explained.

The
CPR,
in
its
report,
said
incidents
like
these
highlight
the
advance
nature
of
techniques
that
are
being
used
to
target
the
crypto
sector,
that
is
presently
valued
at
$2.27
trillion
(roughly
Rs.
1,90,20,364
crore).
The
website
has
strongly
suggested
users
remain
vigilant
and
wary
of
the
applications
they
download,
even
when
they
appear
legitimate.

Back
in
2023,
a

Sophos
report

stated
that
crypto
scammers
have
been
fishing
for
victims
on
Android
systems
using
AI
tools.
Crypto
fraudsters
were
also
identified
to
be

exploiting
advertisements

on
Google
Search
to
promote
scam
websites.