Coinbase
Pros
- Regulated in the US (FinCEN, CFTC), UK (FCA), and EU (CSSF MiCA licence)
- Publicly listed on Nasdaq with audited financial disclosures
- Approximately 98% of digital assets held in cold storage
- Advanced Trade provides a maker-taker fee structure with rates as low as 0.00% maker
- Access to 350+ cryptocurrencies and 550+ trading pairs
- Staking available for ETH, SOL and other assets with in-app rewards
- Coinbase Wallet offers self-custody and access to DeFi and dApps
- Coinbase One subscription removes eligible trading fees up to monthly limits
Cons
- Simple interface fees are high - spread plus variable fee can exceed 1% for small purchases
- No stocks, ETFs, forex, or CFD products
- No demo account
- Staking carries a significant commission on rewards (approximately 25% for Ethereum)
- May 2025 data breach affected approximately 70,000 customers via bribed support contractors
- Advanced products and leverage remain limited compared to some global crypto exchanges
- Crypto assets are not protected by FDIC or SIPC schemes