Emerging Technologies

Why Martin Agency's CEO Is Calling Out Coinbase Over Its QR Code Super Bowl Ad

Kristen Cavallo says the crypto exchange's CEO is erasing the contribution of agencies, including hers

In a Twitter thread, Coinbase's CEO said 'no ad agency could have made this ad,' seeming to snub multiple shops.Via Coinbase and @cavallokristen on Twitter
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By David Griner & Jameson Fleming

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No Super Bowl ad generated more conversation and consternation this year than Coinbase’s minimalist spot showing a QR code drifting about the screen for almost a full minute.

Shortly after the ad aired, a spokesperson for Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange, credited the spot to Accenture Interactive. However, in a Twitter thread posted late in the evening of Sunday, Feb. 20, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong described the Super Bowl ad development as an in-house process. “No agency would have done this ad,” he tweeted as part of the thread.

The

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Headshot of David Griner

David Griner

David Griner is Adweek's international editor and host of the Adweek podcast, "Yeah, That's Probably an Ad."

Headshot of Jameson Fleming

Jameson Fleming

Jameson Fleming is Adweek's managing editor of marketing and agencies.

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