Coinbase sent users a notification declaring that Norway had defeated Brazil 3-2 in a World Cup knockout match. The problem: the game hadn’t actually started yet.
The false alert, generated by AI, went out on July 5 while the match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey was listed as weather-delayed on Coinbase’s own platform. It claimed Erling Haaland had scored two goals in a thriller that, at that point, existed only in the imagination of an algorithm.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong responded on X, saying he was “taking a look with the team.”
When the machine hallucinates with your money nearby
Coinbase operates US-based prediction markets through a partnership with Kalshi, and World Cup contracts have been positioned as key revenue drivers during the tournament. Users can place real money on match outcomes, tournament winners, and individual player performances.
