YouTube Removes Roxom TV—Is Bitcoin Content Next on the Chopping Block?

On 14 May, YouTube abruptly removed Bitcoin-focused broadcaster Roxom TV, instantly wiping out its 2,000 subscribers with no detailed explanation.

Founded in November 2024 by crypto entrepreneurs Borja and Helena Martel Seward, Roxom TV is a growing media outlet dedicated to Bitcoin news, culture, and education.

Its YouTube presence quickly became central to its outreach.

Alex McShane, Roxom TV’s director of Bitcoin strategy, said the platform received an email from YouTube citing a violation of its “harmful and dangerous content” policy and noting:

“Our transcripts from recent shows we’ve published don’t align with the reasons listed in the emails sent to us by YouTube.”

After appealing the decision, Roxom was informed that the ban would remain in place due to continued violations, though no further clarity was provided.

McShane suspects the decision may have been triggered by automated moderation, mistaking Roxom’s content—particularly its live political coverage involving Bitcoin—as a violation.

The channel frequently streamed live, which he believes may have made it more vulnerable to algorithmic scrutiny.

He said:

“I think this was an automatic ban triggered by bot moderation, not understanding satire or mistaking our coverage of crypto scams and hacks as promoting them somehow, but it’s really hard to say.”

While the channel remains banned, McShane remains optimistic that the issue will be resolved and that Roxom TV will eventually be reinstated on YouTube.

He remarked:

“But we need a manual human appeal review; so far we’ve only had bots reviewing our appeal, which was auto denied.”

The Mechanics Behind YouTube Algorithm Triggers

YouTube’s algorithm may struggle to distinguish between legitimate crypto content and gambling or scam-related material, often flagging content based on specific keywords or phrases.

Nikki Martinez, head of short-form video content at Hype, explained she has seen numerous creators penalised or shadowbanned for using certain “trigger words.”

Martinez stated:

“One time, I was even shadowbanned on social media platform TikTok for talking about why one of my accounts was banned.”

Working with a global network of creators to produce crypto content at scale, Martinez noted that TikTok's moderation system is especially sensitive to phrases like “guaranteed income,” “easy money,” “instant payout,” or even certain token names—automatically labelling such content as misleading or scam-related.

She pointed out:

“The moderation is largely automated and tends to overcorrect, removing or limiting content based on certain keywords or context. Even links can be flagged as suspicious, especially when posted by new accounts.”

She also pointed out that platforms like YouTube and TikTok are wary of creators directing viewers off-platform, particularly to financial products.

While these systems can be overly cautious, both platforms do offer creators the ability to appeal moderation decisions.

She stated:

“I’ve seen creators successfully appeal takedowns and go on to reach 1M+ views after their content was reinstated. But these bans are becoming more common as TikTok, YouTube, and Meta face increasing pressure to regulate financial content globally, especially in industries like crypto that are still unregulated in many regions.”

Crypto Creator Survival Guide for Centralised Social Platforms

In light of growing crackdowns on crypto content, McShane emphasized the value of decentralised platforms like Nostr and Calaxy, where censorship is not a concern.

Still, with the unmatched audience reach of YouTube and TikTok, many Web3 creators remain tied to centralised platforms.

For those staying, Martinez advises a careful approach to financial language to avoid triggering moderation systems.

She said:

“Success on TikTok often comes down to how you say something. Subtle narratives like ‘side hustles,’ ‘digital income,’ or phrasing like ‘withdraw once approved’ (instead of ‘instant payout’) tend to perform better and avoid violations.”

Martinez also noted that some centralised platforms are more crypto-tolerant than others, making platform choice a strategic decision.

She believes long-term success will come to creators who can present crypto narratives in ways that are culturally resonant, accessible, and algorithm-friendly.

She added:

“X (Twitter) is by far the most open and effective for crypto content. But if you’re posting about unregulated industries on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube, it’s essential to build a presence elsewhere too – email lists, gated communities, or Telegram/Discord. You never want to be dependent on one platform.”