Bankless Goes Viral With Manhattan Billboard Urging People to Ditch Banks

Bankless has kicked off one of the most talked-about crypto campaigns of the year, unveiling a provocative billboard in Manhattan that bluntly challenges the role of traditional banks. The visual is simple but powerful: a pen chained to a metal stand — the kind found at bank counters for decades — paired with a message implying that this is how banks trust their customers.

The campaign’s core statement is direct: if banks don’t trust you, why should you trust them? It’s a message that resonates strongly with the crypto community, especially in a year when blockchain adoption, stablecoin usage and tokenized finance continue to rise.

Bankless framed the installation as a symbolic call to action, urging people to consider financial systems where trust is replaced by verifiable cryptographic guarantees. According to the publication, the billboard reflects its long-standing mission: accelerating the shift away from legacy banking toward decentralised, blockchain-based alternatives.

Striking visuals drive viral attention

The billboard went live on Manhattan’s busy streets earlier this week, instantly catching the attention of passers-by — and soon after, crypto Twitter. Users praised the creativity, calling it “one of the best Web3 ads in years” and “a perfect metaphor for outdated institutions.”

The chained pen, familiar to anyone who’s ever signed a bank form, acts as a metaphor for financial systems built on restrictions, intermediaries and asymmetric trust. The contrast with blockchain — permissionless, borderless and programmable — is intentionally sharp.

Why this message lands in 2025

The timing of the campaign is no coincidence. Institutional adoption is accelerating, stablecoin settlement volumes continue to hit new highs, and regulators — including members of the SEC — have openly discussed blockchain as the future backbone of U.S. financial markets.

At the same time, public trust in banks remains fragile after years of rate shocks, liquidity concerns and uneven customer policies. Crypto media outlets like Bankless see this moment as an opportunity to reframe the conversation about what a modern financial system should look like.

Community reaction: overwhelmingly positive

The campaign triggered a wave of support across X, with many users sharing photos of the billboard and adding their own commentary about the need for more transparency and autonomy in finance. Some called for similar installations in other major cities.

“Simple, clear, and impossible to ignore. This is how you get people thinking about decentralization.”

Whether or not it changes minds outside the crypto world, the Manhattan billboard has already achieved its primary goal: sparking conversation, challenging assumptions and bringing the crypto-vs-banks narrative back into the spotlight.

Bankless’ campaign is a reminder of a growing sentiment in digital finance: trust is shifting from institutions to technology — and Web3 advocates intend to accelerate that shift.