Coinbase

Overview

Coinbase is the largest crypto exchange in the United States and one of the best-known crypto brands in the world. It was founded in 2012 by Brian Armstrong (still CEO) and Fred Ehrsam, and in April 2021 it became the first major crypto exchange listed on a US stock exchange (Nasdaq: COIN). In 2025 it joined the S&P 500 index.

Being a public company means Coinbase publishes audited financial statements every quarter and is supervised by US securities regulators. For many beginners, that transparency is the main reason to choose it. In its report for the second quarter of 2026, Coinbase counted 7.6 million monthly transacting users, down from 8.7 million a year earlier as trading activity cooled across the market.

Coinbase is built around simplicity: clean screens, quick verification, and buying your first Bitcoin takes a few minutes. The trade-off is that the simplest way to buy is also one of the most expensive.

Coinbase in the EU (MiCA)

Coinbase received its MiCA licence from Luxembourg’s regulator (CSSF) in 2025 and has made Luxembourg its European hub, with new offices opened in June 2026. The licence lets it serve users in all EU countries under one set of rules, replacing earlier national registrations. EU users can deposit and withdraw euros by SEPA, buy and sell crypto, stake and use Coinbase Advanced.

What you can do on Coinbase

• Simple buy, sell and convert: the main app, designed for beginners. Recurring buys make dollar-cost averaging easy.
• Coinbase Advanced: an order-book trading screen with charts and limit orders, at much lower fees.
• Staking: earn rewards on ETH, SOL, ADA and others (availability varies by country).
• Coinbase Learn and Earn: short lessons that sometimes pay small amounts of crypto (campaigns come and go).
• Coinbase One: a monthly subscription with zero trading fees on simple trades (spread still applies), boosted rewards and account protection.
• Coinbase Wallet / Base app: a separate self-custody wallet. Coinbase also runs Base, one of the most used Ethereum layer-2 networks.
• Derivatives: Coinbase bought Deribit, the largest crypto options exchange, in 2025, and offers futures in eligible regions.

Fees

Coinbase’s pricing is the most important thing to understand before you use it.

Simple trades (the main app) cost a spread (a markup built into the price, typically around 0.5% to 2%) plus a transaction fee that depends on the amount and payment method. Card purchases cost the most. For small amounts the total can easily be 2% or more.

Coinbase Advanced uses a maker-taker model and is far cheaper. In September 2026, Coinbase lowered its Advanced fees and the volume needed to reach better tiers, and now counts USDC balances toward tier qualification.

Coinbase shows your exact fee in the order preview before you confirm. Rates at the time of writing (October 2026) change often, so check before trading. Tip: deposit euros by SEPA, then buy on Advanced with a limit order.

Security

• No hack of Coinbase’s own systems that took customer funds held in its custody.
• Cold storage: most customer crypto is kept offline. Coinbase also provides custody for many Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, which says something about the trust large institutions place in it.
• Public company audits: financial statements reviewed by independent auditors and filed with the SEC.
• Account protection: 2FA with security keys or passkeys, withdrawal delays for new devices, address allowlists.

There is one important incident to know. In May 2025, Coinbase disclosed that criminals had bribed overseas customer-support staff to steal personal data of a small share of users, then used it to trick people with fake “Coinbase support” calls. Coinbase refused to pay a ransom and reimbursed affected customers. Lesson: Coinbase will never call you and ask you to move funds. Hang up on anyone who does.

On the legal side, the US SEC dropped its lawsuit against Coinbase in February 2025.

Pros and cons

Pros

• The easiest way to buy your first crypto
• Public company with audited accounts and strong regulation
• MiCA licence (Luxembourg) for the whole EU
• Very good security record for customer funds
• Coinbase Advanced brings fees down to competitive levels

Cons

• Simple purchases are expensive (spread + fees)
• Fewer coins than Binance, KuCoin or MEXC
• 2025 data leak led to phishing scams targeting users
• Customer support is often criticized as slow
• Fee tables differ by region and are not fully public

Coinbase vs. alternatives

Our verdict

Coinbase is one of the best exchanges for beginners. It is simple, regulated, transparent as a public company, and holds a MiCA licence for the EU. If you want to buy Bitcoin or Ethereum safely and keep things simple, it is a very good starting point.

Just do not pay more than you need: the simple “Buy” button is convenient but costly. After your first purchase, switch to Coinbase Advanced, and move long-term holdings to a wallet you control. Active traders looking for the lowest fees or rare altcoins will find better options elsewhere.

This review is for information only and is not financial advice. Crypto is volatile and you can lose money.

Sources

• Coinbase — official site
• Coinbase — Pricing and fees disclosures
• Coinbase — Advanced markets fees
• Coinbase — Form 10-Q, Q2 2026 (SEC)
• The Block — Coinbase secures MiCA licence via Luxembourg