Coinbase Returns to Super Bowl With Backstreet Boys–Themed Ad

TheNewsCryptoPublished on 2026-02-09Last updated on 2026-02-09

Abstract

Coinbase has returned to the Super Bowl with a new ad inspired by the Backstreet Boys' 1997 hit "Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)." The one-minute spot features animated lyrics to create a shared, karaoke-like experience, aiming to highlight the growth of the crypto community. This marks the exchange's first Super Bowl ad since 2022, when a QR code commercial went viral and crashed its website. The new ad received mixed reactions online, with some users criticizing it amid market conditions, while others praised its simplicity. Coinbase responded to criticism by stating that the discussion itself meant the ad was effective.

Coinbase, a prominent crypto exchange, has returned to the Super Bowl following its viral QR code advertisement that happened four years ago. This time, betting is on a Backstreet Boys karaoke-inspired ad.

The one-minute TV spot of Coinbase at the time of the most-watched sporting event in the US primarily featured text animation showing the lyrics to the Backstreet Boys’ 1997 hit “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back).

The marketing chief of Coinbase, Catherine Ferdon, mentioned in a statement that the ad was focused on bringing the people together for a shared experience that shows how the crypto community has surged.

This is the first Super Bowl ad spot of Coinbase since 2022, when it rolled out a 60-second commercial showing a colour-changing QR code that bounced around the screen, like a DVD screensaver.

The QR code ad referred to a link providing $15 in BTC for those who signed up to Coinbase, which was so famous that it crashed the website and allegedly saw 20 million hits in one minute.

The Mixed Opinion

The recent Super Bowl ad of Coinbase captivated varied opinion, having some X users mentioning the commercial provoked mockery amid a market crash and crypto’s associations with the Trump administration.

On the other hand, others commended it for its simplicity and memorability. The exchange replied to a user on X who said that the ad was terrible, mentioning that if you are talking about it, it worked.

Many others also put their opinion online about the ad. One user on X posted that I was ERUPTED in boos when we came across the Coinbase ad. Meanwhile, Axios reporter Andrew Solender stated a room he was in exploded into groans and shouts of “fuck you” after the ad went live.

The engineer of the Ethereum Foundation, Chase Wright, unveiled that 50% of the people at the party I was at were singing along and laughed when it was the exchange, Coinbase.

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Related Questions

QWhat was the theme of Coinbase's 2024 Super Bowl advertisement?

AThe theme was Backstreet Boys karaoke-inspired, featuring the lyrics to their 1997 hit 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back)'.

QHow did Coinbase's previous QR code Super Bowl ad perform in 2022?

AThe QR code ad was very successful, offering $15 in BTC for sign-ups. It was so popular that it crashed the Coinbase website, allegedly receiving 20 million hits in one minute.

QWhat was the stated goal of the new ad according to Coinbase's marketing chief?

ACoinbase's marketing chief, Catherine Ferdon, stated the ad was focused on bringing people together for a shared experience that shows how the crypto community has surged.

QWhat were some of the mixed reactions to the new Coinbase commercial on social media?

AReactions were mixed. Some users on X mocked it, linking it to a market crash and crypto's associations with the Trump administration. Others commended its simplicity and memorability. Some reported their viewing parties booing or groaning, while others sang along and laughed.

QWhich crypto exchange ran a Backstreet Boys-themed ad during the Super Bowl?

ACoinbase, a prominent crypto exchange, ran the Backstreet Boys-themed ad.

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