Coinbase is going through rising criticism from customers after many contributors in its Tremendous Bowl “Massive Sport Problem” prediction market contest reported that their funds have been delayed or not paid though they received a share of the marketed Bitcoin prize pool.
Neighborhood complaints and technical points spotlight the rising pains of a prediction market that has soared in reputation whereas going through regulatory, operational and infrastructure challenges.
Coinbase fee points spotlight progress pains in prediction markets
On Reddit and different boards, customers mentioned they skilled confusion and frustration with the fee course of. Some customers reportedly precisely predicted the end result of the large recreation, however “haven’t but been paid.”
That is proper, I did not get the Tremendous Bowl Bitcoin pot cash both as a result of I received 5 predictions $coin @coinbase @CoinbaseAssets
— Mitch🇺🇸🎙️ (@MitchOnX) February 12, 2026
Others have reported winnings briefly showing of their account balances then disappearing with out clarification, or funds mirrored in USD with out being transferable or accessible.
Amid these complaints, some are calling the state of affairs a “lag pull,” claiming that the Coinbase app initially confirmed a win with 5 appropriate picks, the qualifying normal, solely to declare in a subsequent e-mail that they’d not received.
“In line with the Coinbase app, I received the large recreation prediction with 5 appropriate predictions and wager $5 on every prediction. I used to be instructed to attend for fee. Nonetheless, I obtained an e-mail from Coinbase saying I didn’t win. Does anybody really feel this was a hook or a rip-off in a roundabout way? They mentioned.”
Nonetheless, help responses seen in some threads point out that rewards will probably be withheld till all prediction markets and mail-in entries are settled, per the competition’s official guidelines.
Coinbase beforehand said that winners will obtain their Bitcoin rewards straight into their accounts by February 23, 2026.
Nonetheless, the shortage of transparency and account migration is irritating customers making an attempt to examine their fee standing.
“We utterly perceive how necessary that is to you. Verified winners will obtain their prize cash straight into their Coinbase account. The prize quantity will probably be a share of $1,000,000 in Bitcoin, divided equally amongst all winners. Prizes will probably be paid out no later than February 23, 2026,” Coinbase defined.
Infrastructure strains, regulatory hurdles, and rising dangers in crypto prediction markets
The timing of those complaints coincides with broader tensions in cryptocurrency-related prediction markets. Kalshi, a associate platform that gives the backend for Coinbase’s occasion contracts, skilled delays in deposits and transactions in the course of the Tremendous Bowl because of overwhelming visitors.
One consumer lamented, “It appears about proper that Kalsi is investing in adverts only for the app and will not allow you to deposit cash on Tremendous Bowl day.”
Carsi co-founder Luana López Lara acknowledged the financial slowdown, however assured customers that their funds have been “protected and on the best way.”
“Because of the excessive quantity of visitors and deposits, some deposits are delayed,” Carsi co-founder Luana López Lara wrote to X on Sunday night time. “Your cash is protected and on its means, it simply takes longer to land.” https://t.co/8sZcCzXkdq
— Enterprise Insider (@BusinessInsider) February 9, 2026
These operational stretches spotlight how infrastructure designed for day-to-day transactions can battle with spikes that accompany massive occasions.
Comparable technological pressures have been noticed throughout the business in prediction markets in the course of the championship. This implies a systemic scalability problem for platforms that present high-demand occasion contracts.
Coinbase’s backlash comes amid a broader regulatory and authorized battleground. State gaming regulators, together with the Nevada Gaming Management Board, sued Coinbase to dam prediction markets. They declare this constitutes unlicensed sports activities betting.
These authorized actions enhance uncertainty concerning the regulatory standing of occasion contracts, complicating deployment and consumer expertise.
In the meantime, critics inside the crypto group level out that prediction markets have to mature past short-term speculative bets.
Voices like Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin have warned that over-reliance on speculative contracts might lead to merchandise missing deeper utility, urging a concentrate on hedging and danger administration functions.
Currently, I’ve began to change into involved concerning the present state of prediction markets. They’ve achieved a sure stage of success. The market quantity is massive sufficient to make significant bets and may even earn you a full-time job as a dealer, typically proving helpful as a dealer.
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) February 14, 2026
The present Coinbase backlash highlights the operational and communication gaps that accompany the product’s speedy growth.
Coinbase faces backlash over delayed funds for Tremendous Bowl predictions This text initially appeared on BeInCrypto.
