Coinbase Review
- Fiat currencies
- 23
- Supported assets
- 271
Our verdict
A deep dive into Coinbase's features, fees and offerings to help you decide if it’s the right platform for your crypto journey.
Coinbase is one of the most accessible and user-friendly crypto exchanges in operation. The platform is intuitive and easy to navigate, and opening an account is a simple affair. No minimum deposit is required to open an account with Coinbase — and the minimum trade requirement is just $1.
However, Coinbase’s fees lack transparency and depend on a myriad of factors such as trade size, location and type of cryptocurrency. Although it uses the latest security features and is a legitimate business, Coinbase has suffered from breaches in the past and is currently embroiled in a lawsuit with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Pros
-
No minimum associated with opening an account
-
A wide array of tradable assets
-
Attractive APY for staking
Cons
-
High transaction fees compared to competitors
-
Underwhelming customer service
-
Embroiled in a lawsuit with the SEC
Details
Product details
| Product Name | Coinbase Digital Currency Exchange |
| Fiat Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, MXN, HRK, CZK, DKK, CLP, BGN & 13 more |
| Cryptocurrencies | BTC, ETH, ADA, SOL, DOT, LTC, DAI, UNI, ETC, XLM & 261 more |
| Deposit Methods |
Bank transfer (ACH) Debit card PayPal Wire transfer Apple Pay Google Pay |
| Trading Fee |
Trading: Operates on a maker-taker model. Taker fees start at 0.60%, maker fees start at 1.20%. Fees are reduced for larger accounts Spread: Average of 0.5% |
| Deposit Fees |
ACH: $0 Wire (USD): $10 |
| Withdrawal Fees |
ACH: $0 Wire: $25 |
Coinbase is best for beginners and long-term investors
With low account minimums, a simple signup process and a wide variety of educational resources at hand, Coinbase is best suited to beginners.
However, the platform’s fees can get quite steep — and they’re not exactly transparent. Active traders generally prefer a more fixed, predictable fee schedule. But the ease of use makes Coinbase perfectly suited for long-term investors who aren’t interested in short-term fluctuations.
Coinbase plans
| Plan | Monthly price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Coinbase | $0 |
|
| Coinbase One | $29.99 |
|
| Coinbase Advanced Trade | $0, although the fee schedule differs. |
|
What we like about Coinbase
A lot of Coinbase’s features are geared toward beginners. There are no account minimums, the minimum amount needed to place a trade is just $1 and the platform is quite user-friendly.
A very wide variety of educational resources is also available. In fact, users can earn small amounts of cryptocurrencies just by learning about them via the exchange’s educational articles, videos, courses and quizzes.
One of Coinbase’s strongest features is staking. Users can receive up to 12% APY on a wide variety of cryptocurrencies, although availability differs by region. Still, this provides clients with a secure, safe way to earn passive income on their digital holdings. Users who opt for the Coinbase One plan receive a better APY on their staked assets.
Additionally, for traders in need of advanced tools, the Coinbase Advanced Trade platform offers a bevy of technical indicators, custom watchlists and more favorable fees — as well as access to derivatives.
Where Coinbase falls short
The fees associated with trading are Coinbase’s most prominent drawback. As the exchange operates on a maker-taker model, it aims to incentivize high-volume trading with fee reductions — which, while beneficial for one small group of traders, isn’t exactly ideal for long-term investors.
In addition, Coinbase’s fee structure isn’t as transparent as some of its competitors. While all fees are outlined, the fee structure itself is relatively complicated and depends on various changing factors.
Another area where Coinbase struggles is customer support. In stark contrast with the platform’s ease of use, anything beyond a simple query quickly turns into a headache. On average, email support takes anywhere from one to three days to respond to requests.
Is Coinbase legit?
While Coinbase claims to utilize best practices in security, the exchange has a rather spotty track record regarding safety. In early 2021, a flaw in the two-factor authentication led to roughly 6,000 accounts losing assets — although the flaw was quickly fixed, and users were reimbursed.(1)
More recently, in 2024, a third-party bank used by the exchange experienced a breach and 150 customers had their personal information leaked. In July of 2024, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) fined one of the company’s subsidiaries 3.5 million pounds on account of lackluster oversight in preventing high-risk customers from trading.(2)
Lastly, but most importantly, Coinbase is being sued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which alleges that Coinbase operated as an unregistered securities exchange, broker and clearing agency. In March, a federal judge denied a motion by Coinbase to have the case dismissed. The case is yet to be resolved as of December 2024.
Readers should note that, unlike traditional assets, cryptocurrencies are neither regulated nor protected by the SEC, FDIC or SIPC. Users do not have the same protections they do when trading traditional financial products.
Listed Coinbase crypto exchange assets
Coinbase supports more than 240 cryptocurrencies, along with roughly 300 trading pairs, as of December 2024. In addition, the platform offers custodial services for more than 425 digital assets.
Popular assets on Coinbase
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Tether (USDT)
- XRP (XRP)
- Solana (SOL)
- USDC (USDC)
- Cardano (ADA)
- Chainlink (LINK)
- Shiba Inu (SHIB)
- Sui (SUI)
- Hedera (HBAR)
- Polkadot (DOT)
- Stellar (XLM)
- BNB (BNB)
- Dogecoin (DOGE)
- TRON (TRX)
- Toncoin (TON)
- Hyperliquid (HYPE)
- Bitget Token (BGB)
All Coinbase crypto assets
How to sign up for Coinbase
Signing up for Coinbase is quite straightforward and rather standard fare when it comes to cryptocurrency exchanges and platforms. While filling out the necessary information will only take a matter of minutes, users generally wait five to six days for identity confirmation.
Here are the steps necessary to open a Coinbase account:
- Download the Coinbase mobile app or visit its website.
- Select an individual or business account, depending on your preference. Verify your account via email.
- Enter your personal information, including your name, phone number, age, citizenship and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
- Verify your identity through the KYC process.
- Link a payment method and fund your account.
Once the process is completed, users will receive an email within 48 hours confirming that everything is in order.
Customer experience
| BBB accredited | No |
|---|---|
| BBB rating | A- |
| BBB customer reviews | 1.08 out of 5 stars, based on 382 customer reviews |
| Trustpilot score | 3.8 out of 5 stars, based on 14,239 customer reviews |
| App Store Score | 4.7 out of 5 stars, based on 1,800,000 customer reviews |
| Google Play Score | 3.5 out of 5 stars, based on 879,000 customer reviews |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 22 January 2025 |
What do people on Reddit say?
However, some users complain of being banned from trading, sometimes for months at a time, under suspected but unsubstantiated claims of fraud. One customer said their account was locked after moving out of the US, and they lost access to their funds.
Compare Coinbase to other platforms
Compare similar platforms by available asset types, trade fees and minimum deposit requirements. Select Go to site to sign up for an account.
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrencies are speculative, complex and involve significant risks – they are highly volatile and sensitive to secondary activity. Performance is unpredictable and past performance is no guarantee of future performance. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before relying on this information. You should also verify the nature of any product or service (including its legal status and relevant regulatory requirements) and consult the relevant Regulators' websites before making any decision. Finder, or the author, may have holdings in the cryptocurrencies discussed.
- “Coinbase Fails to Protect Users’ Crypto Accounts from Theft,” ClassAction.org, August 25, 2022,
- https://www.classaction.org/news/coinbase-fails-to-protect-users-crypto-accounts-from-theft-class-action-says
- “Understanding Paper Trading: Simulated Profits Explained,” The Trading Analyst
- https://thetradinganalyst.com/what-is-paper-trading
Your reviews
Shane Finder
Contributor
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Joshua Finder
December 23, 2018
Hi Glenda,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well with you. :)
Yes, you can hold your money in Coinbase and withdraw it when you are ready. Usually, withdrawal of money is done through wire transfer.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
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Afolabi
September 27, 2018
Hi,
Please i would like to know whether coinbase has minimum/limit of amount to be received into ones wallet, especially ETH. I received some amount of GWEI from a gaming app, which reflected on Recent Activity of my wallet but never reflected on my wallet balance. Can you enlighten me please.
Thanks
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Joshua Finder
October 01, 2018
Hi Afolabi,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well with you. :)
Coinbase does not specifically mention the transfer limits on their website. However, the company says it determines your limits based on your account details, which also include verification and successful purchases made on the account.
if your coin isn’t in your wallet yet, you may want to wait for a few days. If after waiting, the coin is still not in your wallet, then you might want to directly get in touch with Coinbase.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
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Brian
January 31, 2018
I am trying to open an account but my debit card keeps getting rejected. Can you give me a reason? Thanks
Joanne Finder
February 19, 2018
Hi Brian,
Thank you for visiting finder, we are a financial comparison website and general information service.
A CVN error can appear when the numbers you entered cannot be successfully verified with your card’s issuing bank or if it is card type that Coinbase does not support.
In order to fix this error, you need to make sure that you have entered your 16 digit card number, as well as the 3-4 digit security code on the back of your card correctly.
At this time, Coinbase can only accept Visa or MasterCard credit and debit cards with the residential billing addresses. Discover, American Express, or prepaid cards of any type are not supported as of today.
For further questions you may need to reach out to Coinbase.
Cheers,
Joanne
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FLOYD
January 26, 2018
HOW CAN I PURCHASE LUMENS(XLM)?
joelmarcelo
February 06, 2018
Hi Floyd,
Thanks for leaving a question on Finder. You can check out our guide on where and how to purchase Lumens. If you need anything else, send us a message anytime.
Cheers,
Joel
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joelmarcelo
January 26, 2018
Hi Floyd,
Thanks for leaving a question on finder. Our guide on how to buy, sell or trade Stellar Lumens (XLM) will provide information on how the Stellar network works and how you can use Lumens.
If you have further questions, we are always glad to help.
Cheers,
Joel
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Eleanor P
January 22, 2018
Every time I click on “create an account” I get the same page over again and still don’t know how to create an account.
Ash
January 30, 2018
Hi Eleanor,
Thank you for reaching out to us.
To make your account on Coinbase through our page above, kindly click on the green ‘Go to site’ button to be redirected to their webpage. Once you are on their homepage, at the right top corner you will see ‘Sign up’. Upon clicking it, you will need to fill-in the needed details to ‘Create your account’.
If error still persists, you can try these troubleshooting guide below:
*Clear your cache/ browsing history
*Use different browser/ update the version of your current browser
*Use a different device (e.g. if you are using a mobile handset, switch to laptop or desktop)
I hope this helps.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us again if you have additional questions.
Cheers,
Ash
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Glenda
December 22, 2018
Can I open an account and sell my bitcoin and hold it in US dollars until I open a US bank account?