# Coinbase Bouncing QR Code

> A bouncing QR code ad crashed Coinbase’s app and helped it reach No. 2 on the US App Store

- Owner: Coinbase
- Kind: Campaign
- Sector: Finance
- Seed date: 2022-02-13
- Peak date: 2022-02-14
- Spread Score: 51 (Notable, provisional), v1.2
- Mechanics: Brand pile-on, Remixable template, Platform jump, Press loop, Controversy

## Summary

Coinbase bought a Super Bowl spot showing a bouncing QR code. Its landing page drew a surge that interrupted service, while brands parodied the ad on Twitter. The app reached No. 2 on the US App Store; the campaign later won a Cannes Lions Grand Prix.

## Timeline

- 2022-02-13 — Coinbase (TV) — Coinbase aired a 60-second bouncing QR code during Super Bowl LVI.
- 2022-02-13 — Variety (Press) — Variety reported that viewers encountered an outage after scanning the QR code.
- 2022-02-13 — Mr. Peanut (X) — Mr. Peanut posted a bouncing peanut parody of the QR code.

The full timeline, metrics and sources are on the case page, or via the Pro API (https://howitspread.com/developers).

Canonical URL: https://howitspread.com/cases/coinbase-bouncing-qr-code

Cite as: How It Spread (2026). “Coinbase Bouncing QR Code.” Case HIS-00508. Spread Score v1.2: 51/100. Updated 2026-10-14. https://howitspread.com/id/HIS-00508