Summary
Email Service Providers (ESPs) largely approach cryptocurrency-related mail with significant caution, often implementing outright bans or stringent restrictions. Major platforms such as Mailchimp, Constant Contact, ActiveCampaign, GetResponse, AWeber, Mailgun, and Zoho Campaigns explicitly list crypto-related content as restricted or prohibited in their acceptable use policies and terms of service. This widespread stance stems primarily from the high incidence of abuse within the cryptocurrency sector, including pervasive issues like phishing, fraud, high spam complaint rates, and speculative schemes. ESPs take these measures to safeguard their sending reputation, maintain deliverability for all clients, and prevent their infrastructure from being used for illicit activities. While a blanket ban is common, some providers may evaluate crypto accounts on a case-by-case basis, depending on the specific content and associated risks.
Key findings
- Widespread Restrictions: Many major ESPs, including Mailchimp, Constant Contact, ActiveCampaign, AWeber, GetResponse, Mailgun, Zoho Campaigns, and Campaign Monitor, have policies that explicitly ban or heavily restrict cryptocurrency-related content.
- Primary Risk Factors: The core reasons for these restrictions are the high risks of abuse, such as fraud, phishing scams, and speculative schemes, which are frequently associated with cryptocurrency mail.
- Reputation Damage: A critical concern for ESPs is the potential damage to their sender reputation and deliverability. High spam complaint rates and low engagement from crypto campaigns can negatively impact shared IP addresses, affecting all users.
- High-Risk Classification: Cryptocurrency is often classified as a 'high-risk' industry, similar to gambling or certain financial services, due to its historical association with excessive spam, abuse, and potential for regulatory scrutiny.
- Case-by-Case Evaluation: While blanket bans are common, some ESPs, like iContact or those with more flexible policies, may consider cryptocurrency accounts on a case-by-case basis, particularly if the content is educational and not associated with high-risk activities.
Key considerations
- Content Specificity: The nature of crypto content matters; educational materials might be viewed differently than promotional content for ICOs or speculative investments. Some ESPs may evaluate accounts on a case-by-case basis depending on the specific activity and associated risks.
- Data Quality and Engagement: For businesses in the crypto space, maintaining excellent data quality and fostering high subscriber engagement are crucial to mitigating risks and improving deliverability, even on platforms with stricter policies.
- Dedicated Sending Routes: If using a mainstream ESP that permits crypto-related mail under certain conditions, exploring dedicated sending routes might offer better performance by isolating your sending reputation from general shared pools.
- Alternative Providers: Given the strict policies of mainstream ESPs, businesses focused on cryptocurrency may need to seek out specialized or smaller email service providers that are more accommodating to the industry.
- Policy Review: Always thoroughly review the Acceptable Use Policy, Terms of Service, and Anti-Spam Policy of any ESP before attempting to send cryptocurrency-related emails to understand their specific restrictions and avoid account suspension.
What email marketers say
11 marketer opinions
Email service providers widely restrict or ban cryptocurrency-related mail due to the high incidence of problematic content associated with the sector. This includes a historical prevalence of spam, phishing, fraudulent schemes, and 'pump-and-dump' activities, which significantly elevate spam complaint rates and negatively impact an ESP's server and shared IP reputation. Many ESPs classify cryptocurrency as a 'high-risk' industry, similar to gambling or certain financial services, necessitating strict policies to protect their core business and ensure deliverability for all clients. While mainstream providers often implement blanket bans, some may evaluate accounts on a case-by-case basis, particularly for educational content, while others, typically smaller or more specialized platforms, might be more accommodating to crypto businesses.
Key opinions
- High-Risk Classification: Many email service providers classify cryptocurrency as a 'high-risk' industry, alongside sectors such as gambling and certain financial services, due to its historical association with problematic email practices.
- Reputation Protection: ESPs primarily restrict or ban cryptocurrency mail to safeguard their sender reputation and protect their shared IP addresses. High complaint rates, phishing, and fraud damage an ESP's ability to deliver emails for all clients.
- Prevalence of Bad Mail: The crypto sector has historically shown a high incidence of spam, phishing scams, fraudulent schemes, and 'pump-and-dump' activities, leading to frequent bans or strict monitoring from ESPs.
- Case-by-Case Review: While many ESPs have blanket bans, some, like iContact or those with more flexible policies, may consider cryptocurrency accounts on a case-by-case basis, weighing the specific content and associated risks.
- Mainstream vs. Specialized: Mainstream email service providers generally avoid cryptocurrency-related mail, whereas smaller or specialized platforms might be more willing to accommodate crypto businesses, albeit potentially with specific conditions.
Key considerations
- Content Specificity: The exact nature of cryptocurrency content, such as educational materials versus speculative ICO promotions, can significantly influence an ESP's decision to allow or restrict mail. Some providers evaluate accounts on a case-by-case basis.
- Data Quality and Engagement: For those in the crypto space, maintaining excellent data quality and fostering high subscriber engagement are crucial. These factors can improve deliverability even when navigating an ESP's stricter policies.
- Alternative Providers: Given the widespread restrictions among mainstream ESPs, cryptocurrency businesses may find more success and flexibility with specialized or smaller email service providers that are more accommodating to the industry.
- Dedicated Sending Routes: If a mainstream ESP permits crypto-related mail under specific conditions, exploring dedicated sending routes can help isolate your sending reputation from general shared IP pools, potentially improving performance.
- Policy Review and Classification: Always thoroughly review an ESP's Acceptable Use Policy to understand how they classify and manage cryptocurrency content. Be aware that it's often grouped with other 'high-risk' industries like gambling or adult content.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that CC and iContact are most likely to monitor closely or disallow cryptocurrency-based mail, based on a discussion where a few ESPs mentioned extra restrictions.
25 Jan 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that his company classifies crypto content under Forex, a restricted category, requiring clients to bring it to their attention for evaluation.
28 Feb 2023 - Email Geeks
What the experts say
3 expert opinions
Email service providers frequently restrict or outright ban cryptocurrency-related mail due to its consistent association with high-risk activities, which severely impacts sender reputation and overall deliverability. This stance stems from the prevalence of scams, phishing, 'pump-and-dump' schemes, high spam complaints, and low engagement within the crypto sector. For instance, Mailgun's updated Acceptable Use Policy explicitly prohibits emails pertaining to cryptocurrency, NFTs, and Decentralized Finance (DeFi), underscoring the industry's inherent 'abuse potential' that ESPs aim to avoid to protect their infrastructure and the deliverability of all their clients.
Key opinions
- Mailgun's Explicit Ban: Mailgun has updated its Acceptable Use Policy to explicitly prohibit emails primarily relating to cryptocurrency, NFTs, or Decentralized Finance (DeFi), citing high risk for abuse and deliverability issues.
- High-Risk for Abuse: Cryptocurrency-related mail is widely categorized as high-risk due to its frequent association with scams, phishing, and 'pump-and-dump' schemes, which consistently lead to poor engagement and high spam complaints.
- Reputation Damage for ESPs: The poor performance and abusive activities common in cryptocurrency email campaigns can severely damage an ESP's overall sending reputation, impacting deliverability for all their clients.
- Inherent Abuse Potential: ESPs restrict or ban certain industries, including crypto, due to their inherent 'abuse potential,' which often translates to a history of attracting spammers, fraudsters, and generating significant complaint rates or spam trap hits.
Key considerations
- Understand Specific Prohibitions: Recognize that some ESPs, like Mailgun, explicitly ban specific cryptocurrency sub-categories such as NFTs and Decentralized Finance (DeFi), extending beyond general crypto mentions.
- Impact of High Complaint Rates: Be aware that even legitimate crypto-related emails can face deliverability challenges due to the industry's known association with high spam complaints and low engagement.
- Mitigate Reputation Risk: Focus on building a highly engaged, permission-based list to counter the industry's general perception as high-risk and protect your sending reputation.
- ESPs' Policy Evolution: Stay informed about evolving ESP Acceptable Use Policies, as providers may update their terms to explicitly include or strengthen restrictions on specific high-risk digital asset categories.
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource explains that cryptocurrency-related mail is often restricted or banned by Email Service Providers (ESPs) because it's a high-risk category. This mail type frequently leads to high spam complaints and low engagement, as it's often associated with scams, phishing, and pump-and-dump schemes, which can severely damage an ESP's sending reputation.
26 Feb 2024 - Spam Resource
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise shares that Mailgun updated its Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) to explicitly prohibit emails primarily relating to cryptocurrency, NFTs, or decentralized finance (DeFi). The reason cited is that these mail types are considered high-risk for abuse, scams, and general deliverability issues, leading to poor sender reputation for the ESP.
7 Jul 2023 - Word to the Wise
What the documentation says
8 technical articles
Leading email service providers consistently implement policies that restrict or outright prohibit the sending of cryptocurrency-related mail. This unified stance, observed across platforms like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, SendGrid, AWeber, ActiveCampaign, GetResponse, Campaign Monitor, and Zoho Campaigns, is driven by the industry's significant association with fraudulent activities, phishing attempts, and excessively high spam complaint rates. Such issues pose a severe threat to an ESP's core service integrity, shared sending reputation, and overall deliverability for all clients, necessitating stringent measures to mitigate risk and prevent platform abuse.
Key findings
- Broad Restrictions: Major ESPs like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, SendGrid, AWeber, ActiveCampaign, GetResponse, Campaign Monitor, and Zoho Campaigns enforce strict policies or outright bans on cryptocurrency-related email content.
- Reputation and Deliverability: The main drivers for these restrictions are safeguarding the ESP's sending reputation and ensuring high deliverability rates for all users.
- Abuse and Fraud: Common issues cited include a high incidence of fraud, phishing schemes, and general abuse within the cryptocurrency email space.
- High Spam Complaints: Email campaigns related to crypto are frequently associated with elevated spam complaint rates, which degrade platform health.
- High-Risk Classification: Many providers categorize cryptocurrency as a 'high-risk business model' due to its potential for misuse and adverse impact on their services.
Key considerations
- Policy Scrutiny: Always thoroughly review an ESP's Acceptable Use Policy, Terms of Service, and Anti-Spam Policy for specific restrictions on cryptocurrency content.
- Risk Awareness: Understand that ESPs view cryptocurrency as a high-risk sector due to its historical association with spam, fraud, and phishing.
- Impact on Reputation: Recognize that sending crypto-related mail, even if legitimate, can contribute to higher complaint rates and negatively impact an ESP's shared infrastructure.
- Account Compliance: Non-compliance with these policies can lead to severe consequences, including the suspension or termination of your email sending account.
- Industry Reputation: Be aware that the broader reputation of the cryptocurrency industry-its history of abuse and high spam-often leads ESPs to apply a blanket cautious or restrictive approach.
Technical article
Documentation from Mailchimp explains that their Acceptable Use Policy prohibits the use of their services for content related to cryptocurrency, virtual currency, and any digital assets. This restriction is primarily due to the high risk of abuse, including fraud, phishing, and high spam complaint rates associated with the industry, which can severely impact their platform's deliverability and reputation.
11 Aug 2021 - Mailchimp
Technical article
Documentation from Constant Contact shares that their Acceptable Use Policy often includes cryptocurrency-related content under restricted or prohibited categories. This is due to the inherent risks such as high spam complaints, potential fraud, and phishing attempts, which could compromise the integrity of their email service and the deliverability of their legitimate clients.
27 Jun 2024 - Constant Contact
How do mailbox providers determine if a business is in a spammy industry?
What common blocklists or services cause 'message rejected as spam' errors for ESPs?
Which mailbox providers use Spamhaus listings to block email and how does it affect deliverability?
Why are Salesforce emails blocked or refused, and what are potential solutions?
Why do email providers make weird filtering decisions, and what are the assumptions behind them?
Will cannabis or alcohol related email content trigger spam filters?
