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Crypto.com vs. Coinbase

Coinbase Is Good for Beginners and Crypto.com Is for Experienced Traders

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Coinbase is a popular U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange and one of the largest exchanges in the world. Coinbase is a good option for beginners with little to no cryptocurrency experience. The platform hosts a learning center for those looking to make their first purchase or to set up recurring buys. 

Crypto.com is a smaller, newer exchange with various features like crypto lending and trading competitions and can only be used as a mobile app. With more than just the ability to buy and sell crypto, experienced traders or those looking for advanced services might prefer Crypto.com. 

We reviewed Crypto.com and Coinbase based on supported currencies, security, fees, and features, to help you decide which is best for you.

Unlike traditional brokerage firms, cryptocurrency exchanges are not members of the Securities Investor Protection Corp. (SIPC). Therefore, unless user terms specify otherwise, investors with cryptocurrency assets commingled on a custodial cryptocurrency exchange could potentially lose their funds as unsecured creditors.

Investing in cryptocurrencies, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), and other Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) is highly risky and speculative, and the markets can be extremely volatile. Consult with a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. This article is not a recommendation by The Balance or the writer to invest in cryptocurrencies, nor can the accuracy or timeliness of the information be guaranteed.

Crypto.com


Crypto.com

 Crypto.com

Pros
  • Pays high interest on some crypto deposits

  • One-stop shop for exchange, lending, and more

  • Native token (CRO) reduces transaction fees for users

Cons
  • A newer exchange with less proven track record

  • High staking rewards may question business model

  • Only accessed by mobile app

Coinbase


Coinbase

Coinbase

Pros
  • Easy to use for beginners

  • Strong track record and reputation for security

  • Educational and learning tools

Cons
  • Complicated fee structure

  • Fees based on multiple factors

  • Smaller selection of currencies

At a Glance

  Crypto.com Coinbase 
Fees 0% to 0.075% maker fees, 0.05% to 0.075% taker fees Fees are calculated when the order is placed and vary by location, the selected payment method, the size of the order, and market conditions.
Currencies  250+ 245
Security  Two-step verification, FDIC-insured USD balances up to $250,000, platform insurance against theft, nearly 100% of funds held in cold storage, and maintains an ongoing bug bounty program  Two-step verification, FDIC-insured USD balances up to $250,000, platform insurance against theft, 98% of funds held in cold storage, and maintains an ongoing bug bounty program 
Wallet  Multi-factor authentication and AES-256 encryption  AES-256 encryption
Transactions Supported  Buy, sell, send, receive, withdraw, and exchange  Buy, sell, send, receive, withdraw, and exchange 

Crypto.com vs. Coinbase: Ease of Use

Coinbase is designed for novice crypto users, and buying and selling are the main activities on the exchange. Trading can be achieved via a web-based application, and Coinbase touts an earning while you are learning philosophy.

Beginners use Crypto.com for buying and selling, but the platform offers several advanced features, such as auto trading via its mobile app, which may appeal to experienced traders.

Crypto.com vs. Coinbase: Security

Both platforms have high standards and follow industry best practices, holding the vast majority of customer funds in cold storage for increased security.

The standard wallet provided by Coinbase is a hot wallet that can easily send or receive crypto. Users who plan to hold their coins can use vaults, the company's term for cold storage. Coinbase claims to have 98% of its funds in cold storage. 

Crypto.com claims to hold 100% of funds in cold storage through a partnership with Ledger and offers an institutional-grade custody solution for customers. While 100% of customer funds are held in cold storage, Crypto.com has hot wallets that hold corporate funds for processing customer withdrawal requests. These hot wallets are also controlled by hardware modules and require multiple signatures for transactions.  

Crypto.com vs. Coinbase: Features

Both Crypto.com and Coinbase offer the following features:

  • Automatic staking services for some proof-of-stake coins
  • Interest-earning wallets for the USDC and DAI stablecoins
  • Crypto lending services
  • Price alerts
  • Educational materials
  • Partnership with Visa debit card
  • NFT trading
  • Reward programs
  • Business commerce feature

Additionally, Crypto.com offers an automated trading platform and trading bots which allow customers to set up specific trading strategies provided by Crypto.com.

Crypto.com also has additional debit cards to offer customers, with cashback rewards varying from 1% to 5%. Crypto.com offers exclusive Private Members' perks where Private Members enjoy an extra 2% p.a. rewards distributed in CRO, the company's native coin. Rewards rates vary from 2% to 12.5%.

Coinbase offers two popular ways of earning rewards through Staking and DeFi yield, with account holders earning up to 6.00% APY on crypto.

Crypto.com vs. Coinbase: Currencies

Coinbase has expanded its selection of cryptocurrencies to 245, but Crypto.com offers a greater selection of currencies overall.

Crypto.com offers Bitcoin and 250+ other cryptocurrencies as well as over 20 different fiat currencies. Crypto.com also supports over 1,000 additional tokens through its DeFi wallet. 

Crypto.com vs. Coinbase: Fees

Coinbase fees are calculated when you place your order and may be determined by location, the selected payment method, the size of the order, and market conditions. Coinbase also includes a spread in the price when you use a simple trade to buy or sell cryptocurrencies and in the exchange rate when you convert cryptocurrencies. No spread is included when using Coinbase's advanced trade option because it is interacting directly with the order book.

Crypto.com charges from 0% to 0.075% for its maker fees and 0.05% to 0.075% in taker fees. Users pay less when they trade more with a volume-based trading fee structure or stake CRO.

Both Crypto.com and Coinbase have teamed up with Visa to offer a credit card and debit option. Fees vary for both companies depending on the number of ATM withdrawals and purchases.

Crypto.com vs. Coinbase: Access

Both Coinbase and Crypto.com can be used in 100+ different countries. In the U.S., residents of Hawaii aren’t able to use Coinbase but can access Crypto.com. New York residents can’t use Crypto.com.

Final Verdict

Final Verdict

After evaluating Crypto.com and Coinbase, we found that those who are new to crypto would likely find Coinbase more appealing with its web-based interface. Crypto.com offers a larger selection of currencies, auto trading, and an array of features that can benefit crypto veterans.  

What Are Crypto.com and Coinbase?

Crypto.com and Coinbase are cryptocurrency exchange platforms for buying, selling, and trading cryptocurrency, whether fiat-to-crypto or crypto-to-crypto transactions. Crypto.com serves as a kind of one-stop shop for crypto-related services. Coinbase benefits beginner traders with its learning features.

How Do Crypto.com and Coinbase Work?

Crypto exchange platforms enable users to buy/sell and send/receive cryptocurrency. These are the services that define a crypto exchange. Many offer a variety of services in addition to the basics.

Who Should Use Crypto.com Versus Coinbase?

Beginners could consider trying Coinbase first. The exchange can be accessed via a web browser and has limited features, creating fewer chances for confusion. Experienced users may consider Crypto.com as a better option, accessed only as a smartphone app.

Methodology

When reviewing Crypto.com and Coinbase, we compared each platform based on ease of use, fees, security, features, geographical access, and supported currencies. We also considered the type of user that would benefit from each exchange.

While Crypto.com and Coinbase are secure exchanges that any beginner could use, Crypto.com has more of a learning curve, and its wide selection of features may be overwhelming. Coinbase has a simple interface and educational materials, making it ideal for beginners.

Crypto Com vs. Coinbase

Crypto Com vs. Coinbase

Article Sources
  1. CoinMarketCap. "Top Cryptocurrency Spot Exchanges."

  2. Coinbase. "Vault."

  3. Crypto.com. "Ledger Support for Wallet Extension."

  4. Crypto.com. "Trading Bots."

  5. Crypto.com. "Earn."

  6. Coinbase. "Earn."

  7. Coinbase. "Listed."

  8. Crypto.com. "App."

  9. Coinbase. "Pricing and Fees Disclosures."

  10. Crypto.com. "Fees & Limits."

  11. Coinbase. "Cardholder Agreement."

  12. Crypto.com. "Cards."

  13. Coinbase. "Places."

  14. Crypto.com. "In Which U.S. States the Crypto.com App Is Available?"

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