MAM
Google to ban cryptocurrency ads
MUMBAI: In a move that will have far-reaching ramifications for speculative trade of digital currencies, technology giant Google has announced that it will prohibit advertisements promoting any kind of cryptocurrency. The move is in sync with Google’s upcoming financial services policy. Such ads will be banned across the tech behehoth’s products
In a blog post on the company’s website yesterday, Google’s director of sustainable ads Scott Spencer cited the “unregulated” and “speculative” nature of many of the financial products being advertised.
Google’s decision mirrors a similar announcement from Facebook earlier this year that reflects a broader push by the advertising giants to rebuild user trust in their platforms.
Last year, Google struggled to address advertisers’ concerns that ads were being run alongside objectionable content.
The ban on crypto-related terms will begin from June this year and will cover search, display and YouTube ads for binary options and synonymous products, cryptocurrencies and related content (including but not limited to initial coin offerings, cryptocurrency exchanges, cryptocurrency wallets and cryptocurrency trading advice).
Spencer also stated that the new policy would contain measures to restrict the advertisement of contracts for difference, rolling spot forex and financial spread betting.
The company further stated that advertisers offering the aforementioned features will be required to be certified by Google before they can advertise through AdWords.
To be certified by Google, advertisers will need to be licensed by the relevant financial services authority in the country or countries they are targeting; ensure their ads and landing pages comply with all AdWords policies and comply with relevant legal requirements, including those related to complex speculative financial products.
The company also stated that advertisers can request certification with Google starting March 2018, soon after the application form is published. However, certification will be subject only to select countries.
Bitcoins and other forms of cryptocurrencies have gained widespread popularity in the recent past. They have, however, been shunned as illegal forms of tender. India’s finance minister Arun Jaitley, in his budget speech for 2018, affirmed that the government would do everything to discontinue the use of bitcoin and other virtual currencies in India. He also pointed out that India did not recognise them as legal tender and would instead encourage blockchain technology in payment systems.
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Brands
Sapphire Foods FY26 revenue rises to Rs 3,125 crore, posts loss
Q4 revenue at Rs 792 crore, FY26 loss at Rs 32 crore amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: If growth is on the menu, profitability seems to have taken a brief detour. Sapphire Foods India reported a steady rise in topline for FY26, even as rising costs weighed on profitability. Revenue from operations grew to Rs 3,125 crore for the year ended March 31, 2026, up from Rs 2,882 crore in FY25. However, the company swung to a loss, reporting a net loss of Rs 32 crore for FY26, compared to a profit of Rs 17 crore in the previous year. Total income for the year stood at Rs 3,153 crore, while total expenses climbed to Rs 3,167 crore, reflecting pressure across key cost heads.
In the March quarter, revenue came in at Rs 792 crore, compared to Rs 711 crore in the same period last year. The company reported a quarterly net loss of Rs 13 crore, against a profit of Rs 2 crore a year earlier.
Cost pressures remained visible across operations. Material costs rose to Rs 995 crore for FY26, while employee expenses increased to Rs 428 crore. Other expenses, the largest component, stood at Rs 1,229 crore, underscoring the impact of store operations and expansion-related spends.
Depreciation and amortisation expenses also climbed to Rs 392 crore for the year, reflecting continued investments in store infrastructure and growth.
At the operating level, the company reported a loss before tax of Rs 37 crore for FY26, compared to a profit of Rs 23 crore in FY25. Exceptional items added Rs 24 crore to the cost burden during the year.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 3,256 crore as of March 31, 2026, up from Rs 3,041 crore a year earlier, indicating ongoing expansion. Net worth stood at Rs 1,389 crore.
Despite profitability pressures, operating cash flow remained resilient at Rs 507 crore, highlighting underlying business strength and demand stability.
The numbers paint a familiar picture in the quick-service restaurant space, growth continues to be served hot, but margins are still finding their footing.
