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Broker Comparison

Coinbase vs EC Markets

Compare Coinbase and EC Markets side by side: fees, regulation, platforms.

Coinbase

Coinbase

Crypto investors seeking regulated access

Coinbase is a US-based crypto exchange offering spot trading, futures, staking, and a self-custody wallet acr…

VS
EC Markets

EC Markets

Active forex and CFD traders

EC Markets is a multi-regulated forex and CFD broker offering over 100 instruments across STD, ECN and PRO ac…

Head-to-head comparison

Coinbase vs EC Markets
Feature Coinbase EC Markets
Minimum deposit - -
Stock trading fee - -
Regulators FinCEN, CFTC, FCA, CSSF FCA, ASIC, FSA, FSC, FMA, FSCA, CMA
Best for Crypto investors seeking regulated access Active forex and CFD traders
Markets & account
Forex
-
CFDs
-
Crypto
Futures
-
Margin
Savings Vaults
-
Multi Currency
Demo Account
-

Pros & cons

Coinbase

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
EC Markets

EC Markets

Pros

  • Regulated by FCA (UK) and ASIC (Australia)
  • ECN spreads from 0.0 pips
  • Low ECN commission of $1.50 per lot per side
  • No inactivity fee
  • No deposit or withdrawal fees for most payment methods
  • Low minimum deposit of $10 on STD and ECN accounts
  • Supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5
  • Free demo account available

Cons

  • No individual stock or ETF trading
  • No proprietary web trading platform
  • PRO account requires $5,000 minimum deposit
  • STD account spreads from 1.0 pip are wider than ECN
  • POLi deposits carry a 4% processing fee
  • Limited educational resources
  • USA, Canada and Japan residents not accepted
  • Crypto available as CFDs only - no direct ownership
Coinbase

Coinbase

Coinbase is a US-based crypto exchange offering spot trading, futures, staking, and a self-custody wallet across 350+ cryptocurrencies, with regulated access in the US, UK, and EU.

Visit Coinbase Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

EC Markets

EC Markets

EC Markets is a multi-regulated forex and CFD broker offering over 100 instruments across STD, ECN and PRO account types on MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.

Visit EC Markets Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

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