The Oprah Effect – Crypto ads are a Super Bowl talker, with floating QR codes and Larry David

Cryptocurrencies made a splash at the Super Bowl.

Four ads touting cryptocurrencies aired during the three-and-a-half hour broadcast. While that’s not a large number, it’s still a sign that cryptocurrencies have gone mainstream.

The ads ranged from one showing an older LeBron James going back in time to visit his younger self, to one where comedian Larry David misses out on every major innovation throughout history and now, of course, resists crypto, too.

The one that got the most attention featured a QR code floating across the screen with background music for 60 seconds. It confused many people, but many others scanned the codes on their screens with their phones.

They were led to a promotion for $15 worth of free Bitcoin to sign up on Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange, where people can buy and sell the virtual currency. But the site crashed from the massive surge in traffic, which led to the inevitable flurry on social media. – Read full article >>