Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. You and I both earn a bonus when you sign up using my link.
When most people buy their first Bitcoin or Ethereum, they do it on Coinbase. It is the largest regulated crypto exchange in the US, listed on Nasdaq, and has over 100 million verified users worldwide. For beginners, it is simply the safest and most straightforward way to get started.
What Is Coinbase?
Coinbase is a publicly traded cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Francisco. As one of the first major regulated crypto exchanges, it holds licences in over 40 countries including the UK (FCA registered) and the US (FinCEN registered). Customer funds are held in segregated accounts and insured against company insolvency.
Key Features
- 200+ cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP and hundreds of altcoins
- Coinbase One: £29.99/month subscription for zero trading fees — worth it if you trade regularly
- Coinbase Advanced: Professional trading interface with lower fees (0.05%–0.6% tiered)
- Staking: Earn rewards on ETH, SOL, ADA and more directly within the app
- Coinbase Card: Spend crypto and earn 1%–4% back in crypto rewards
- Learn & Earn: Complete short crypto lessons and earn free crypto
- USDC: Earn 4.7% APY on USDC stablecoins held on Coinbase
Coinbase Fees
The standard Coinbase app charges a spread of 0.5%–2% plus a flat fee depending on transaction size. This is higher than dedicated trading platforms. For anyone buying more than £100 at a time, use Coinbase Advanced Trade — the built-in professional interface charges 0.6% taker / 0.4% maker instead, dramatically reducing your costs.
Coinbase One subscribers pay zero fees on the standard app, making it worthwhile if you trade more than £600/month.
Is Coinbase Safe?
Coinbase is one of the safest regulated crypto exchanges available. Key safety features:
- Publicly listed on Nasdaq — audited accounts, regulatory oversight
- 98% of customer assets held in cold storage offline
- FDIC insurance on USD cash balances (US customers)
- FCA registered in the UK
- 2-factor authentication and biometric security
Coinbase vs Competitors
Coinbase charges higher fees than Kraken or Binance on standard trades, but offers greater regulatory protection and simpler UX. For beginners buying £50–£500 at a time, the fee premium is worth the peace of mind. For active traders, switch to Coinbase Advanced Trade to get competitive fees while keeping your funds on the same regulated platform.
Sign Up to Coinbase
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