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Coinbase

Crypto creates economic freedom by ensuring that people can participate fairly in the economy, and Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN) is on a mission to increase economic freedom for more than 1 billion people.

Founded 2012•HQ: San Francisco, USA•Employees: ~3,500•Official Site →
EXCHANGE

Key Facts

Founded
2012
Headquarters
San Francisco, CA, USA
CEO
Brian Armstrong
Stock Ticker
NASDAQ: COIN
Users
100M+ verified
Coins Listed
240+
Trading Fees
0.6% spread (Advanced: 0.0%-0.6%)
KYC Required
Yes

Exchange Statistics

Trust Score
8.1/10
Est. 24h Volume
$4.55B
Trading Pairs
500+
KYC
Required
Fee structure: 0.1% Standard Fee

About Coinbase

Coinbase is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States by trading volume and one of the first crypto companies to go public, listing on Nasdaq in April 2021 via a direct listing at a peak valuation of over $85 billion.

Founded in 2012 by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam in San Francisco, Coinbase built its brand around regulatory compliance and ease of use, targeting mainstream retail investors rather than crypto-native traders. The platform is known for its clean interface, educational onboarding, and strong USD on-ramps.

Coinbase operates Coinbase Pro (now advanced trading), Coinbase Prime for institutions, Coinbase Wallet (self-custody), Coinbase Ventures, and launched its own Layer 2 blockchain — Base — in 2023 built on the OP Stack.

As a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: COIN), Coinbase publishes quarterly earnings and is subject to full SEC oversight, making it one of the most regulated and transparent crypto exchanges globally.

Products & Services

Coinbase Exchange
Retail platform for buying, selling, and holding 240+ cryptocurrencies with bank transfer and card support.
Advanced Trade
Professional trading interface with limit/market/stop orders and lower fees (formerly Coinbase Pro).
Coinbase Prime
Institutional-grade custody, trading, and financing platform for hedge funds, family offices, and corporations.
Coinbase Wallet
Self-custody Web3 wallet supporting DeFi, NFTs, and dApps across multiple blockchains.
Base
Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain built on OP Stack, launched in 2023; focuses on cheap, fast on-chain transactions.
Coinbase Ventures
Investment arm that has backed 200+ crypto and Web3 startups since 2018.

Regulatory Status

Coinbase is one of the most regulated crypto exchanges globally, holding licenses in the US (MSB, state MTLs), EU (MiCA preparations), and operating under full SEC disclosure as a public company. The SEC sued Coinbase in 2023 alleging unregistered securities offering; litigation is ongoing.

LICENSED / REGISTERED IN
  • United States (FinCEN MSB, 50-state MTLs)
  • European Union (MiCA compliant)
  • United Kingdom (FCA registered)
  • Canada
  • Singapore
  • Australia

Company Timeline

2012Founded by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam; first major Bitcoin exchange with USD banking
2014Raised $75M Series C; launched Coinbase Exchange for professional traders
2018Acquired Earn.com and Paradex; launched Coinbase Commerce for merchant payments
2021Direct listing on Nasdaq (COIN) at $328/share; peak market cap ~$85B
2022Announced Coinbase Prime; faced SEC Wells Notice regarding asset listings
2023Launched Base L2; SEC sued Coinbase for operating as unregistered exchange
2024Court dismissed several SEC claims; Base surpassed 100M total transactions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Coinbase?
Coinbase is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States by trading volume and one of the first crypto companies to go public, listing on Nasdaq in April 2021 via a direct listing at a peak valuation of over $85 billion. Founded in 2012 by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam in San Francisc Coinbase provides spot trading, derivatives, and digital asset services to users worldwide.
Is Coinbase safe to use?
Coinbase employs industry-standard security including two-factor authentication (2FA), cold storage for the majority of funds, and regular security audits. Users should enable all available security features and use hardware wallets for large holdings.
What are Coinbase's trading fees?
Coinbase charges 0.1% Standard Fee. Fee tiers may be reduced based on 30-day trading volume or native token holdings.
Does Coinbase require identity verification?
KYC verification is required to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) regulations in supported jurisdictions.
Which countries does Coinbase support?
Coinbase serves users in most countries worldwide, though availability varies by jurisdiction due to local regulatory requirements. Users should check Coinbase's official website for the latest list of supported regions.