Article details
The article highlights how crypto and trading firms have increasingly relied on affiliate marketing and social media ads after being banned from mainstream platforms like Google and Facebook. This shift has led to a surge in fraudulent activities, with Meta's internal documents revealing $16 billion in 2024 sales from scam-related ads. The trust deficit created by this environment is now threatening legitimate businesses, as consumers struggle to distinguish between genuine platforms and scams. The proliferation of AI-driven fraud and phishing-as-a-service tools has exacerbated the issue, with crypto scams reaching $17 billion in 2025. For traders, this means heightened regulatory scrutiny and a need for robust due diligence when engaging with online platforms. The long-term implications include potential market fragmentation and increased costs for compliance, particularly for Gulf investors navigating a volatile digital landscape.
