Binance vs Coinbase: Which is best for you?
Binance and Coinbase are the two titans of cryptocurrency – let's see how the two stack up and find out which suits your needs.
Binance and Coinbase are two of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges, and they allow users to trade a range of cryptocurrencies as well as offer additional features such as staking to earn interest on crypto holdings. Binance is unregulated, while Coinbase is based and regulated in the US.
The key difference between the two is the range of cryptocurrencies and additional services on offer, with Binance users having access to a greater number of products due to Coinbase’s strict vetting process and tougher regulatory requirements.
Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of cryptocurrency or any specific
provider, service or offering. It is not a recommendation to trade.
At a glance: Binance vs Coinbase
Compare Binance and Coinbase on features like staking, coins, fees and security.
Features
Binance
- Instant buy: Buy crypto instantly with card
- Derivatives: Futures, options and leverage
- DeFi and CeFi: Earn interest, borrow and loan crypto and participate in DeFi
- Staking: Earn interest on your funds
- LaunchPad: Participate in initial coin offerings
Coinbase
- Instant buy: Buy crypto instantly with card
- Recurring buy: Automate regular crypto purchases
- Staking: Earn interest on your funds
- Coinbase Earn: Get paid for learning about crypto
- Coinbase Wallet: Transfer funds to your own crypto wallet for spending
Supported cryptocurrencies and fiat
Binance
- Supported fiat currencies: USD, AUD, GBP, EUR, RUB, TRY, NGN, UAH, PHP, CZK & 60+ more
- Supported cryptocurrencies: Approximately 370 cryptocurrencies
Coinbase
- Supported fiat currencies: CAD
- Supported cryptocurrencies: Approximately 242 cryptocurrencies
*Availability varies by location
Trading Fees
Binance
Fees vary and depend on the order type, but your typical spot order uses a Maker/Taker system with fees starting at 0.1% and drops if your trade volume hits certain levels.
- Standard trading fee: 0.15%-0.1%
- Discounts available with BNB coin
- Fees for products like futures, options and lending vary
Coinbase
Fees vary and depend on the order type.
The average fee for buy/sell transactions is 0.5%, but this can increase depending on your payment method and where you are located.
Purchases of between $1 and $200 are also charged a flat fee between US$0.99 and US$2.99
Be prepared to pay up to 4% for purchases with a debit or credit card.
Crypto-to-crypto transactions are charged at 2%.
Payment methods
Binance
- Credit card
- Cryptocurrency
- Debit card
- P2P
Coinbase
- Bank transfer
- Credit card
- Cryptocurrency
- Debit card
- PayID
Volume
According to volume collected by CoinGecko, Binance is the largest exchange in the world by trade volume, with Coinbase coming in second.
At the time of writing, the 24-hour volume for Binance was $40 billion while it was $3 billion for Coinbase.
This indicates that both exchanges have lots of liquidity, which should result in low slippage.
Security
Both Binance and Coinbase offer you a variety of ways to secure your account, including two-factor (2FA) authentication and customer support for compromised accounts.
They both also let you whitelist cryptocurrency withdrawal addresses to help prevent theft in the event your account is compromised, which helps stop your funds being taken out of your account if someone accesses it.
As for how funds are stored, both exchanges utilise cold storage. Cold storage means that cryptocurrency is stored in an offline wallet. This means that if a hacker gets into the exchange, they cannot access the funds in cold storage, which mitigates any damage done in the event of an exchange-wide hack.
Coinbase reports 98% of customer cryptocurrency is stored in cold storage, with the remaining online “hot” funds insured. According to Coinbase, this means that if the exchange were hacked and the online funds were accessed, users would be reimbursed for the full amount.
Binance does not publicly disclose what amount of user funds are in cold storage but does promote its “SAFU” fund, which is like an in-house insurance fund. The Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU) is an emergency fund made up of 10% of the trading fees collected by the exchange.
Regulation
Coinbase is based in the US and is registered as a money services business with US authority FinCEN, which requires it to comply with a range of financial services and consumer protection laws. Coinbase is also authorised to issue electronic money in the UK under the FCA.
Binance operates in a decentralised fashion and the location of its business registration and operations is not immediately clear and the subject of conjecture.
Various media outlets have previously reported that the business is registered in Malta, although a 21 February statement by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) states that “Binance is not authorised by the MFSA to operate in the cryptocurrency sphere and is therefore not subject to regulatory oversight by the MFSA”. Media outlet Decrypt reports that Binance’s headquarters are registered in the Cayman Islands with another entity registered in the Seychelles.
Verdict: Should you use Binance or Coinbase?
Coinbase
Coinbase operates heavily in the US market and offers its services globally in a number of currencies and languages. Coinbase offers a conservative range of coins and products, with a focus on making the experience of buying cryptocurrency as simple as possible for new users who may have never used an exchange before.
Unfortunately, its fees are considerably higher than Binance for most products.
All in all, Coinbase is a tried and tested pick for anyone looking to purchase cryptocurrency for the first time.
Binance
Binance is the largest cryptocurrency exchange by trade volume with a huge range of cryptocurrencies and features available. In addition to its markets, it is famous for the wide range of services it offers that provide users with a rich and comprehensive experience as well as the ability to put funds to work through staking and lending to earn interest. Its fees are low and highly competitive compared to similar exchanges.
It also offers access to DeFi through the Binance Smart Chain blockchain and BNB coin.
Binance is an excellent platform for users wanting to get the most out of their cryptocurrency experience.
What to consider before using Binance or Coinbase
Binance
What are the pros of using Binance?
- Allows you to buy and sell a wide range of digital currencies
- Competitive fees offered and further discounts available to Binance Coin holders
- Quick sign-up process with no ID required
- Feature-rich
What are the cons of using Binance?
- Not registered with any federal body
- Cryptocurrency newcomers may find the user interface a little intimidating
Coinbase
What are the pros of using Coinbase?
- User-friendly and suitable for beginners
- Cryptocurrencies added to the platform go through a thorough vetting
- Instant and recurring buy features available
- Can switch to Coinbase Pro for access to more coins and features
What are the cons of using Coinbase?
- Expensive fees compared to many exchanges
- Limited range of cryptocurrencies available
Keen to consider alternatives? Check out our comparison of over 50+ cryptocurrency exchanges.
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrencies are speculative, complex and involve significant risks – they are highly
volatile and sensitive to secondary activity. Performance is unpredictable and past performance is no guarantee of
future performance. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before relying on this information.
You should also verify the nature of any product or service (including its legal status and relevant regulatory
requirements) and consult the relevant Regulators' websites before making any decision. Finder, or the author, may
have holdings in the cryptocurrencies discussed.
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