Coinbase's Bouncing QR Code Super Bowl Ad Was So ... - The Verge

Skip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.

The VergeThe Verge logo.
• Tech
• Reviews
• Science
• Entertainment
• AI
• Policy
• Hamburger Navigation Button

The homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.

• Login / Sign Up

closeCloseSearch

• TechExpand
  • Amazon
  • Apple
  • Facebook
  • Google
  • Microsoft
  • Samsung
  • Business
  • See all tech
• ReviewsExpand
  • Smart Home Reviews
  • Phone Reviews
  • Tablet Reviews
  • Headphone Reviews
  • See all reviews
• ScienceExpand
  • Space
  • Energy
  • Environment
  • Health
  • See all science
• EntertainmentExpand
  • TV Shows
  • Movies
  • Audio
  • See all entertainment
• AIExpand
  • OpenAI
  • Anthropic
  • See all AI
• PolicyExpand
  • Antitrust
  • Politics
  • Law
  • Security
  • See all policy
• GadgetsExpand
  • Laptops
  • Phones
  • TVs
  • Headphones
  • Speakers
  • Wearables
  • See all gadgets
• Verge ShoppingExpand
  • Buying Guides
  • Deals
  • Gift Guides
  • See all shopping
• GamingExpand
  • Xbox
  • PlayStation
  • Nintendo
  • See all gaming
• StreamingExpand
  • Disney
  • HBO
  • Netflix
  • YouTube
  • Creators
  • See all streaming
• TransportationExpand
  • Electric Cars
  • Autonomous Cars
  • Ride-sharing
  • Scooters
  • See all transportation
• Features
• Verge VideoExpand
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
• PodcastsExpand
  • Decoder
  • The Vergecast
  • Version History
• Newsletters
• Archives
• Store
• Verge Product Updates

Subscribe

• Facebook
• Threads
• Instagram
• Youtube
• RSS

The VergeThe Verge logo.Coinbase’s bouncing QR code Super Bowl ad was so popular it crashed the appComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...

• EntertainmentCloseEntertainment

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All Entertainment

• NewsCloseNews

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All News

• TechCloseTech

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All Tech

Coinbase’s bouncing QR code Super Bowl ad was so popular it crashed the app

‘Less talk, more Bitcoin’

‘Less talk, more Bitcoin’

by Chaim GartenbergCloseChaim GartenbergFormer Senior ReporterLast published Aug 30, 2024

Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

FollowFollow

See All by Chaim Gartenberg

Feb 14, 2022, 12:28 AM UTC

• Link
• Share
• Gift

Image: Coinbase

Coinbase just made its Super Bowl debut with a remarkable clever QR code ad that might have been too popular: the company’s “Less talk, more Bitcoin,” campaign appears to have temporarily knocked out its app following the ad airing during the broadcast

The full 60-second ad almost entirely consisted of a colorful bouncing QR code, reminiscent of the iconic bouncing DVD logo meme. When scanned, the code brought viewers to Coinbase’s promotional website, offering a limited time promotion of $15 worth of free Bitcoin to new sign ups, along with a $3 million giveaway that customers can enter.

The offer is a limited time one, with new customers having until February 15th to get the $15 promotion — something that may be an issue, as Coinbase’s app is currently down, presumably due to the massive influx of traffic from the clever ad.

Cryptocurrency companies are a major presence at this year’s Super Bowl, with multiple companies — including Crypto.com and FTX — using the big game to promote either cryptocurrency exchanges, NFTs, or other related projects.

Other companies, like Meta, were quick to jump onto Coinbase’s bit. Shortly after Coinbase’s ad debut, Meta’s Quest account tweeted its own bouncing QR code that linked out to the company’s Foo Fighters-led VR afterparty it has planned for after the game.

Update February 13th, 7:56pm ET: Added additional detail on Meta’s spin off Coinbase’s ad.

Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.

• Chaim GartenbergCloseChaim GartenbergFormer Senior ReporterLast published Aug 30, 2024

  Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All by Chaim Gartenberg

• BitcoinCloseBitcoin

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All Bitcoin

• CryptoCloseCrypto

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All Crypto

• EntertainmentCloseEntertainment

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All Entertainment

• NewsCloseNews

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All News

• Super BowlCloseSuper Bowl

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All Super Bowl

• TechCloseTech

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All Tech

Most Popular

Most Popular

1. Phones are going to get weird next week
2. A legendary weather app makes a comeback
3. Netflix walks away from its deal to buy Warner Bros. after Paramount came back with a better offer
4. Why no magnets in Galaxy S26? Samsung R&D chief explains
5. Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Plus gets a better interface and a 40 percent discount

The Verge Daily

A free daily digest of the news that matters most.

Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content From

This is the title for the native ad

More in Entertainment

The Witcher is a perfect fit for Reigns’ Tinder-like roleplayingWarner Bros. Discovery agrees to $110 billion Paramount mergerHere’s your first look at Kratos in Amazon’s God of War showPokémon Winds and Waves launch on the Switch 2 in 2027Netflix isn’t buying Warner Bros: all of the latest updatesPokémon Presents 2026: All the news and trailersThe Witcher is a perfect fit for Reigns’ Tinder-like roleplayingAndrew WebsterFeb 28Warner Bros. Discovery agrees to $110 billion Paramount mergerEmma RothFeb 27Here’s your first look at Kratos in Amazon’s God of War showAndrew WebsterFeb 27Pokémon Winds and Waves launch on the Switch 2 in 2027Charles Pulliam-MooreFeb 27Netflix isn’t buying Warner Bros: all of the latest updatesVerge StaffFeb 27Pokémon Presents 2026: All the news and trailersAndrew WebsterFeb 27Advertiser Content From

This is the title for the native ad

Top Stories

Feb 27Smuggling podcasts into a Burmese prisonFeb 28Tenways nearly perfects the shareable city e-bikeFeb 28The Witcher is a perfect fit for Reigns’ Tinder-like roleplayingFeb 28Xiaomi’s Leica Leitzphone mostly earns the nameFeb 28A legendary weather app makes a comebackFeb 27We don’t have to have unsupervised killer robots