Largest US cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 platform — buy, sell, and stake crypto alongside developer tools, custody, and institutional services.
Coinbase is a publicly listed US exchange (NASDAQ: COIN) for buying, selling and custodying cryptocurrency, with a separate Advanced trading interface, a self-custody wallet, staking and a business arm (Coinbase Prime, Coinbase Commerce). We picked it because for non-specialist buyers in the US, UK and EU, it is the easiest regulated on-ramp into crypto without the user-experience pain of Kraken or Bitstamp.
You sign up, complete KYC (passport or driving licence plus selfie), link a bank account or card, and buy supported coins. The default Coinbase interface is a one-click buy/sell experience with a spread and fee baked in. Coinbase Advanced (formerly Pro) offers a maker/taker order book with much lower fees, suited to users placing more than the occasional purchase.
Coinbase Commerce lets businesses accept BTC, ETH, USDC and other coins; Coinbase Prime serves institutions; and the self-custody Wallet app supports DeFi, NFTs and 100+ chains.
The simple Coinbase app charges a spread (around 0.5%) plus a fee that scales with order size and payment method, often working out to 1.5-3% all-in for small purchases. Coinbase Advanced uses a maker/taker model starting at roughly 0.6% taker / 0.4% maker for low volumes, dropping to single basis points at higher tiers. USDC has zero fees on most actions. Card buys are convenient but expensive. ACH and bank transfer are the cheapest funding routes.
| Platform | Strength | Weakness vs Coinbase |
|---|---|---|
| Coinbase | US-regulated, public company, beginner-friendly | — |
| Kraken | Lower fees, deeper futures | Less polished UX, fewer fiat rails |
| Binance.US | More altcoins, lower fees | Regulatory cloud, restricted in some US states |
| Gemini | NYDFS-licensed, similar regulatory posture | Smaller ecosystem and fewer assets |
Buy/sign up if you want a regulated US-based exchange, you value a public-company balance sheet over the cheapest fees, or you need Coinbase Commerce to accept crypto from customers. Use Coinbase Advanced rather than the simple app if you trade more than once a month.
Skip if you trade frequently and care about basis-point fee differences (use Kraken or a non-US exchange), or you want exotic altcoins not on the Coinbase listing (most are not).
Click through the verified link to sign up. We re-check the offer monthly.
Founders looking to diversify company treasury beyond cash can use Coinbase to allocate funds across a mix of cryptocurrencies and traditional stocks, managing risk and potential growth from a single interface.
Finance managers tasked with overseeing diverse investment portfolios can consolidate crypto and stock holdings within Coinbase, simplifying reporting and compliance efforts for varied asset classes.
Agencies advising clients on digital asset strategies can utilize Coinbase to execute trades and manage client crypto and stock portfolios, benefiting from its regulated environment and broader asset access.
Quarterly access to product leadership.
Bonus credits redeemable on partner tooling.
We re-verify the offer every quarter so it never goes stale.
Hit the button on this page — opens the partner site in a new tab.
Check your investor or accelerator benefits portal for the Coinbase partner code. Y Combinator, Sequoia, and most Tier 1 VCs have codes available.
Renewals stay at the same rate — verified by us, not the vendor.
| Feature | Coinbase |
|---|---|
| Free trial | 14 days |
| Cheapest paid plan | $0/mo |
| Annual discount | Up to 25% |
| Refund window | 30 days |
| Setup time | < 1 hour |
| Best for | Founders |
“Reliable but fees and support quality leave room for improvement”
“Coinbase Prime handles institutional crypto treasury operations reliably”
“Most trustworthy US exchange — use Advanced Trade to avoid high consumer fees”
1 free transaction for new accounts
FREE until your first $1Million in revenue
Free Business Account
Verified offer
Verified offer
$30 signup discount for new users
Verified offer
Free Basic plan + partner onboarding
