Who should use Coinbase
Coinbase is the default choice for first-time crypto buyers in the US. The onboarding is fast, the interface is clean, and the company is publicly traded and regulated in every state where it operates. If you want to buy Bitcoin or Ethereum without thinking about smart contracts or cold wallets, start here.
Advanced traders should still consider Coinbase — but use the Advanced Trade interface (formerly Coinbase Pro) which offers lower fees, order book depth, and advanced order types.
Fees
Coinbase's standard fee structure is higher than competitors — between 0.6% and 2% per trade depending on the payment method and size. This is the price of convenience; Coinbase Advanced drops fees to 0.0% to 0.6% based on 30-day volume, in line with Kraken and Gemini.
Transferring crypto out of Coinbase is free. Bank deposits and withdrawals are also free via ACH. Debit card purchases carry higher fees (around 3.99%) and should be avoided for anything other than small emergency top-ups.
Security and custody
Coinbase custodies assets in a mix of hot and cold storage, with cold storage holding the majority. The company carries a crime insurance policy against employee theft and security breaches (though this does not cover individual account losses from phishing). As of 2026, Coinbase has never suffered a major exchange-level hack.
For larger balances, move crypto to a hardware wallet. "Not your keys, not your coins" is a cliché for a reason.
Coin selection and staking
Coinbase supports around 250 assets, including the major layer-1s and most of the top DeFi tokens. Staking is available for Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, and several others, with Coinbase taking a cut of the rewards.
Bottom line
For your first crypto purchase, Coinbase is the safest bet. For ongoing trading, switch to Coinbase Advanced or Kraken. For serious holding, withdraw to a hardware wallet.
