Coinbase review

Coinbase is a digital currency exchange where you can buy and trade Bitcoin and several other cryptocurrencies. It differs from traditional cryptocurrency exchanges because it allows you to buy cryptocurrencies using fiat currencies.

Coinbase is considered one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world!

The platform has more than $100 billion in assets, and more than $150 billion in cryptocurrencies have been sold through their platform since it was founded in San Francisco, California in 2012.

Coinbase actually has two main products: a brokerage exchange and a professional trading platform called GDAX. However, both tools can be used independently of each other.

Coinbase is an exchange, but it also has a built-in wallet.

So you can hold your crypto on the Coinbase platform if you want. However, this is not recommended. We would strongly advise you to transfer your crypto from Coinbase after buying it, as exchange wallets are the least secure types of wallets.

Instead, choose a hardware wallet - it's the safest type of cryptocurrency wallets!

Is Coinbase legal?

There are many exchanges on the market that are not as trustworthy and secure as they describe themselves, which is one of the reasons we are writing this Coinbase review - to show, among other things, how proven Coinbase is.

So is Coinbase legal? Well, the truth is that Coinbase is probably as legal as it gets.

Just to operate in 30 US states, they have more than 40 different licenses and permits. This gives you a guarantee that their practices are legitimate and that they handle your money fairly.

If you are reading this Coinbase review, the first thing you need to know is whether you can use this exchange in your country.

Coinbase can be used in many countries to conduct transactions such as sending, receiving or storing funds. However, in the past, the platform's buying and selling functions were only available in 32 developed countries around the world. This is a thing of the past, however, as today Coinbase is available in more than 100 countries.

Features of Coinbase

Let's analyze some of the main features of the cryptocurrency exchange in question.

Offers only safe and verified cryptocurrencies

Coinbase is often used as an entry point into the crypto market. Through it you can buy Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ether and Bitcoin Cash. Of course, these are not all the currencies you can buy on the platform. While for years it was just the above four that were available to customers, today Coinbase offers more than 70 different digital coins.

This is another reason why Coinbase is considered a trusted and secure platform.

Easy to use interface

Coinbase has a really easy-to-use interface that makes it a great tool for those just starting out with cryptocurrencies. Its clear design makes it easy to navigate, and the tools you need are at your fingertips.

Accepts Fiats

Unlike traditional cryptocurrency exchanges, Coinbase accepts various fiat currencies in exchange for the digital currencies it offers. Accepted currencies include EUR, GBP and USD, as well as local currencies where the exchange is available.

What's more, Coinbase also offers a wide selection of payment methods to help its customers deposit fiat money on the platform to purchase cryptocurrencies. These include bank transfer, debit/credit cards, PayPal and even SEPA transfers for European citizens.

Immediate replacement

For those who would like to send funds in bitcoin but would prefer to transact using fiat, Coinbase has a feature called "Instant Exchange." Instead of using fiat to buy bitcoin and then sending it to the recipient, you can use this feature to make the process a one-time, instant action.

You simply pay with fiat money, and the payment will be converted into Bitcoins.

There are no additional fees for this service and that's another advantage of the Coinbase exchange!

Coinbase card

If you want to pay with bitcoin from your Coinbase wallet, you can easily do so with a card. The Coinbase payment card is actually a Visa debit card that allows users to spend bitcoin from their exchange wallet.

It works the same as any other Visa card. When you make a transaction with the card, the amount converted to BTC will be debited from your online wallet. Unfortunately, the card is not yet available in all countries where Coinbase operates.

GDAX upgrade for free

If you frequently sell cryptocurrencies and are interested in trading, you can easily migrate to Coinbase's sister platform called GDAX (more commonly known today as Coinbase Pro).

With Coinbase Pro, you can trade between cryptocurrencies. In fact, on GDAX you will get a larger selection of crypto to trade.

However, Coinbase's policy on securities and stocks still applies. GDAX only deals with coins considered virtual currencies.

Your money is safe

While no online exchange is 100% secure, Coinbase has one of the most secure online wallets you can use.

Coinbase stores almost 99% of its offline assets (cold wallet), which cannot be accessed - no hacking there!

Only 1% of the platform's assets are available online (hot wallet) and they are insured against any loss. This way, if ever your money is stolen from Coinbase, you will get it back.

Pretty cool, right?

Is Coinbase safe?

Coinbase is one of only 4 exchanges licensed in New York under the BitLicense pilot program. As such, the platform adheres to strict KYC (Know Your Customer) rules and is subject to related laws and regulations.

As we mentioned earlier, Coinbase has more than 40 licenses to operate in the United States alone and is licensed to operate legally in the other more than 100 countries where the exchange is available.

What's more, Coinbase keeps its assets insured, so technically you can't lose any money through hacking, or theft!

Another thing that makes Coinbase so safe to use is that it cannot be used anonymously. Due to KYC rules, users must submit a government-issued ID and, in some cases, address verification to use the platform's BUY and SELL features. As you can probably see, security is another positive aspect of Coinbase.

This makes the platform very good for honest users, and anyone who wants to do something suspicious will not be able to do it on this exchange.

Disadvantages of using Coinbase

So far in the Coinbase review we have discussed many positive things about Coinbase. However, it is important to remember that the exchange also has a few drawbacks.

Account limits

Although Coinbase allows you to exchange fiat for cryptocurrencies, it limits how much you can spend and how often you can do it.

According to their description on the site, the restriction was created "for security, compliance and fraud prevention." The limits are based on several factors, which include the payment method used, length of account activity, purchase history and others. These limits are calculated automatically.

Fortunately, there are several ways to increase account limits, but some of these steps are already mandatory to use the buy and sell function.

You can add a phone number, provide more personal information, upload a photo ID and create an established buying history by buying and selling (trading) using the Coinbase platform.

Remember that the limits are different for each account you connect to the Coinbase wallet. For example, the purchase limit for a credit card will be different and separate from the purchase limit for a connected bank account.

High fees

Coinbase transacts in many different currencies and offers a range of payment methods. For this reason, the service charges relatively high fees compared to other exchanges. High fees are one of the biggest negative aspects of Coinbase.

These fees are charged per transaction and are calculated in two ways. For transactions under $200, there is a minimum fee. However, for transactions over $200, a percentage fee is charged (usually about 0.5%).

Lack of anonymity

While this is one of the features that makes Coinbase safe to use, for some the lack of anonymity may be a problem. First, Coinbase is required to report information about its users to the governing bodies that regulate it. That is, what you hold in cryptocurrencies will be officially registered and you will have to pay any cryptocurrency taxes required by your country's laws.

For some, this contradicts the primary purpose of cryptocurrencies, as it was designed as a decentralized and anonymous way to trade goods.

Another problem is that Coinbase also tracks and monitors how users spend their coins.

The operator may also freeze your Coinbase wallet if it discovers that you are conducting questionable transactions, such as paying or receiving payments for adult services, gambling, selling illegal goods or anything else that appears to be suspicious activity.

If Coinbase were more decentralized, this would not be the case. The exchange would not be able to freeze your account because it would not have control over it.

Here is a brief summary of the advantages and disadvantages of Coinbase:

PLUSES

✓ Easy-to-use interface;

✓ Accepts fiat transactions;

✓ Multiple payment methods and easy linking to bank accounts;

✓ Highly regulated to make the platform safe and legal;

✓ Follows rules that make it a transparent and trustworthy exchange;

✓ Connects to Coinbase Pro (GDAX);

✓ Offers Coinbase Card for payment.

MINUSES

✗ Not available in all countries;

✗ Limitations on how much you can spend or withdraw;

✗ Fees higher than average;

✗ Strict KYC rules enable monitoring of transactions and prevent anonymity;

✗ Tax compliance and sharing your data with law enforcement agencies

Who should use Coinbase?

Beginner

Coinbase is a great platform for beginner investors!

Its easy-to-use interface will help you learn how to use online exchanges. With it, you can easily migrate to Coinbase Pro to trade and transact with even more currencies than what Coinbase offers.

Anyone who wants to buy with Fiat

Coinbase, is a brokerage exchange that allows you to buy cryptocurrencies for fiat currency, as we mentioned in this review. This makes it an excellent entry point into the cryptocurrency sector. In fact, much of the capital that flows into the crypto industry comes from Coinbase users.

Smaller companies and investors

For small businesses and investors who want to invest their money in crypto, Coinbase is an excellent option. However, for larger companies and investors who are interested in investing larger sums of money, Coinbase's fees may be a bit too high.

This type of investor may choose an exchange that provides lower fees and better customer privacy.

Applications

If you've made it this far in our Coinbase cryptocurrency exchange review, congratulations - now you know if Coinbase is right for you! You know the advantages, disadvantages and what it's best to use this platform for.

The truth is that Coinbase is one of the best exchanges available online today. It is highly trusted, well insured and really easy to use at the beginning.

Despite a few drawbacks, this is by far the easiest way to buy cryptocurrencies. Just remember not to leave your crypto on Coinbase. Instead, move your funds to a hardware wallet if you want to farm it for a longer period of time.

So what do you think about it? Is Coinbase right for you? Will you use it to buy, sell, trade or store your crypto? Let us know!