Robinhood’s HOOD Holidays: Your Guide to the Daily 8:30 PM ET Prize Reveal

USA NEWS TODAY : As 2025 draws to a close, Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ: HOOD) is leaning into its reputation as the “fun” face of finance. Following a blockbuster year where its stock surged over 200%, the Menlo Park-based brokerage has launched its most ambitious customer engagement campaign to date: HOOD Holidays.

The campaign, which kicked off on December 26, features six consecutive nights of “surprise gifts” that unlock at exactly 8:30 PM ET. With a total prize pool estimated at over $500,000, the event has already drawn millions of users into the app, creating a nightly “digital rush” that rivals the frenzy of the 2021 meme-stock era.

The Prizes: What’s Inside the Box?

While Robinhood has kept the daily gifts under wraps to maintain the element of surprise, the first two nights of the campaign have already set a high bar. Sources and user reports indicate that the “surprises” are a mix of digital assets and high-end physical goods.

• Cryptocurrency Drops: A significant portion of the prize pool is reportedly allocated to Dogecoin (DOGE) and Bitcoin (BTC), with some users receiving “fractions” of coins and a lucky few claiming whole assets.
• Luxury Items: Rumours have swirled—and some lucky winners have confirmed—the inclusion of “Grail” prizes, including Rolex watches, Apple AirPods Max, and exclusive Robinhood-branded merchandise.
• Cash Vouchers: Smaller, “common” prizes include brokerage credits ranging from $5 to $100, aimed at encouraging further trading in the new year.

How to Claim: The 5-Minute Window

The most critical aspect of the HOOD Holidays campaign is the timing. Unlike traditional sweepstakes, you cannot simply log in whenever you like. The “gift” is only available during a narrow window when the daily countdown expires.

To ensure you don’t miss out tonight, follow these exact steps:

1. Update the App: Ensure you are running the latest version of Robinhood (check the App Store or Google Play).
2. Open the Investing Tab: Navigate to your main dashboard around 8:20 PM ET.
3. Tap the Countdown: Look for the Countdown Icon in the top-right corner of the Investing page. This will lead you to a dedicated “Live Screen.”
4. Stay on the Screen: You must be actively viewing the countdown when it hits 00:00:00.
5. Claim Immediately: Once the countdown expires at 8:30 PM ET, a “Claim Your Gift” button will appear. You typically have only five minutes to tap it before the daily window closes.

Warning: On the first night (Dec 26), some users reported “blank screens” due to high traffic volume. Experts suggest staying on the screen at least five minutes prior to the deadline and ensuring you are on a stable Wi-Fi connection.

A Tactical Move for 2026

Industry analysts see HOOD Holidays as more than just a generous giveaway. By requiring users to be in the app at a specific time, Robinhood is boosting its Daily Active User (DAU) metrics—a key figure for Wall Street investors.

“Robinhood is turning financial management into an appointment-based entertainment experience,” says financial analyst Jordan Chussler. “By syncing these giveaways with the holiday lull, they are ensuring that ‘HOOD’ stays top-of-mind as people plan their 2026 investment strategies.”

The campaign also serves as a testing ground for Robinhood’s server capacity as they prepare to launch NFL Parlay and Custom Prop Bet features in early 2026. The high-concurrency “drop” format mimics the pressure of high-volume trading days, allowing their engineering team to fine-tune the app’s performance.

HOOD Holidays Event Schedule

The campaign concludes on New Year’s Eve, with rumours suggesting the final prize will be the largest of all. As with all Robinhood promotions, terms and conditions apply, and prizes may vary by jurisdiction.

For more information on past winners and full promotion rules, visit the official Robinhood Help Centre.