NewsNation

Here’s what the Super Bowl ad with the floating QR code was for

Coinbase's bouncing QR code ad might have been confusing during Sunday's Super Bowl. (Nexstar)

(NEXSTAR) – Sure, the Super Bowl is the stage for the two best teams in the NFL to go head to head. But it’s also a huge stage for advertisers. One of the most intriguing Super Bowl of 2022 commercials came before halftime.

Did the bouncing QR code in changing colors confuse you, too? Meet the Coinbase Super Bowl commercial.


If you aren’t familiar, QR codes are scannable squares like barcodes. When you hold your cellphone’s camera or a QR code-reader up to the square, you’ll be able to open a webpage in your browser.

If you weren’t fast enough to scan the code – or missed the full blue screen that temporarily appeared after the QR code went away – the bouncing, colorful QR code was an ad for Coinbase.

Coinbase is a digital platform that lets you buy and sell cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin.

Scanning the QR code that played on screen leads to an offer on Coinbase’s website for $15 in free Bitcoin when you sign up for the platform.

Coinbase’s ad is likely just the first cryptocurrency-related commercial you’ll see during the Big Game. Cryptocurrency exchanges have reportedly been shelling out top dollar to run ads during the Super Bowl, according to the Wall Street Journal.