Key facts
Coinbase Advanced rates for under $10,000 in 30-day volume; they fall to 0% maker and 0.05% taker at the top tiers. Simple buys in the app cost more.
About
Coinbase is the largest US crypto exchange and has been publicly traded on Nasdaq since 2021. Beginners get a simple app; active traders get Coinbase Advanced, with an order book and maker/taker pricing.
Its main strength is regulation: a New York BitLicense and a single MiCA licence covering the EU. The trade-offs are steep fees at low volumes and strict onboarding. The 2025 customer-data leak did not touch funds, but it showed that even the most regulated venues carry risk.
Pros
- Listed company with audited financials
- Licensed in the US and under MiCA in the EU
- Beginner-friendly app
Cons
- High fees below $10,000 monthly volume
- Not available in Russia
- Customer-data leak in 2025
Verification (KYC)
Mandatory identity verification before trading.
For users in Russia
Not available: Russia is not a supported country and Coinbase does not onboard users from jurisdictions under US sanctions (as of 2026).
Security
No hack of exchange funds, but in May 2025 bribed support contractors leaked data on some customers; Coinbase put the cost of remediation and reimbursements at $180–400 million. As a listed company it publishes audited financials rather than a separate proof of reserves.
Licenses and registrations
- Public company (Nasdaq: COIN)
- NYDFS BitLicense (New York)
- MiCA licence from CSSF (Luxembourg, June 2025)
Products
Sources
Other top-3 exchanges
Binance
Bybit
MEXCLinks to exchanges with a bonus are affiliate links: if you sign up through them, CoinLab may earn a commission and you get the exchange bonus. This does not affect the data in the table. Check whether an exchange is available in your country before signing up. Not investment advice.