Coinbase review
Coinbase is the simplest way for a beginner in the US to buy bitcoin, and its biggest legal overhang is gone: the SEC voluntarily dismissed its June 2023 lawsuit against the company on February 27, 2025 and withdrew its appeal. As a Nasdaq-listed public company, Coinbase files audited financials, which gives you more visibility into its health than almost any other exchange.
The main criticism is price. Simple buys through the main app layer a flat fee plus a spread and are the expensive way in. The fix is built in: Advanced Trade, included in the same account, uses maker-taker pricing that falls with 30-day volume and costs a fraction of the simple-buy rate. ACH deposits are free in the US, and recurring buys make dollar cost averaging easy.
Coinbase holds your coins by default and supports withdrawal to self-custody at any time. The interface will steer you toward staking, altcoins, and its subscription products; none of that is necessary for buying bitcoin on a schedule and moving it to your own wallet.
- Founded
- 2012
- Headquarters
- United States (remote-first)
- Fees
- Simple buys layer a flat fee and a spread and are the expensive way in. Advanced Trade, in the same account, uses maker-taker pricing that falls with 30-day volume and costs a fraction of simple-buy rates.
- KYC
- Required
- Payment methods
- ACH transfer (US), Debit cards, Wire transfer, SEPA transfer (Europe)
- Status
- Operating
Pros and cons
What works
- Cleanest beginner experience of the major US exchanges, with free ACH funding and recurring buys
- Publicly traded on Nasdaq since 2021, so audited financials and disclosures are on the record
- SEC lawsuit dismissed in February 2025, removing its largest legal overhang
- Advanced Trade cuts costs dramatically without opening a separate account
What to watch
- Simple buys are expensive: a flat fee plus a spread, several times the Advanced Trade cost
- The app pushes staking, altcoins, and subscriptions that a bitcoin buyer does not need
- Custodial by default, so you must remember to withdraw to self-custody
Fees in detail
- maker
- Advanced Trade maker fees fall with 30-day volume and sit well below simple-buy pricing
- taker
- Advanced Trade taker fees fall with 30-day volume and sit well below simple-buy pricing
- spread note
- Simple-buy quotes include a spread on top of the disclosed flat fee.
- deposit note
- ACH deposits are free in the US; wires and card purchases carry fees.
- withdrawal note
- On-chain bitcoin withdrawals pay a network fee; transfers between Coinbase accounts are free.
Where we recommend Coinbase
Countries where Coinbase ranks in our local guide. Availability beyond these is possible but unverified by us.
- American Samoa
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Guadeloupe
- Guam
- Guernsey
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Israel
- Italy
- Jersey
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Martinique
- Mayotte
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Norway
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico
- Reunion
- Romania
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Vatican City
Frequently asked questions
Did the SEC drop its case against Coinbase?
Yes. The SEC voluntarily dismissed its June 2023 lawsuit on February 27, 2025 and withdrew its appeal, removing the company's biggest legal overhang.
What is the cheapest way to buy bitcoin on Coinbase?
Use Advanced Trade inside the same account. It charges maker-taker fees that fall with 30-day volume, a fraction of the simple-buy price, which layers a flat fee plus a spread.
Does Coinbase hold my bitcoin?
By default yes: coins bought on Coinbase sit in its custody. You can withdraw to a wallet you control at any time, which is the better long-term setup.
Is Coinbase good for beginners?
It is one of the easiest on-ramps: a clean interface, free ACH bank funding, recurring buys, and a public company's disclosures behind it. Just switch to Advanced Trade before you buy so you do not overpay.