Binance and Coinbase are leading global cryptocurrency exchanges, but which one should you trust your cryptocurrency portfolio with?
We have conducted an in-depth review of Binance and Coinbase to determine which presents the better overall choice and which types of traders will benefit the most from using the exchanges.
- Features and Platforms
- Available Markets
- Typical Spreads and Fees
- Security and Trust
- Binance vs Coinbase - Verdict
Headquarters | Malta | United States |
Regulators | AMF, ASIC, CNMV, CONSOB, FMA, KNF, SEC, SFSA | N/A |
Tier 1 Regulator(s)? | ||
Owned by Public Company? | ||
Year Established | 2017 | 2012 |
Execution Type(s) | Market Maker | Market Maker |
Minimum Deposit | $0 | None |
Negative Balance Protection | N/A | |
Trading Platform(s) | Other, Proprietary platform, Web-based+ | Proprietary platform, Web-based |
Retail Loss Rate | Undisclosed | N/A |
Islamic Account | ||
Signals | ||
US Persons Accepted? | ||
Managed Accounts | ||
Visit Website | Visit Website |
Here is a snapshot of the most notable advantages of Binance:
- The world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange with 150M+ traders globally
- An average daily trading volume of US $65+ billion
- The most competitive cryptocurrency ecosystem
- 300+ crypto assets with low transaction fees
- Algorithmic trading support & API trading
- Copy trading functionality.
- It remains true to the cryptocurrency vision of privacy and does not have the same level of regulatory pressure on its clients.
- The exchange is noted for its forthright communication with its clients and stakeholders.
Here is a snapshot of the most notable advantages of Coinbase:
- Trusted cryptocurrency exchange catering to 100 countries.
- 8,500+ with crypto assets and offers exceptional liquidity.
- $75B+ in quarterly trading volume
- API trading for more advanced algorithmic trading solutions
- Connects to the active social trading platform TradingView with 50M+ traders.
- Publicly listed companies in the US are often seen as a proxy investment for the crypto space overall.
Features & Platforms
MT4 | ||
MT5 | ||
MT4/MT5 Add-Ons | N/A | |
cTrader | ||
Proprietary Platform | ||
Automated Trading | ||
Social/Copy Trading | N/A | |
DOM? | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Scalping | ||
Hedging | ||
One-Click Trading | ||
OCO Orders | ||
Interest on Margin | ||
Visit Website | Visit Website |
Available Markets
Currency Pairs | N/A | |
Cryptocurrencies | N/A | |
Commodities | ||
Crude Oil | ||
Gold | ||
Metals | ||
Equity Indices | N/A | |
Stocks (non-CFDs) | ||
Bonds | N/A | |
ETFs | ||
Options | N/A | |
Futures | ||
Synthetics | ||
Visit Website | Visit Website |
Coinbase offers more cryptocurrency assets than Binance, but here is why Binance may be a better choice:
- Focused on the Top 100 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
- Highly liquid meme coins – Binance tends to be the go-to exchange for these.
- Digital tokens
- Defi solutions
- Liquid staking
- Gaming
Typical Spreads & Fees
Average Trading Cost Bitcoin | 0.018% to 0.10% | 0.05% to 0.60% |
Deposit Fee | N/A | |
Withdrawal Fee | N/A | |
Inactivity Fee | N/A | |
Visit Website | Visit Website |
Both exchanges offer a multi-tier maker-taker model, but which one is cheaper?
Binance has lower overall trading fees, the most significant aspect of a competitive trading environment. Non-VIP traders pay a maker-and-taker fee of 0.1000%, which drops to 0.0750% for BNB-denominated transactions. Coinbase levies a 0.60% fee for takers and 0.40% for makers. Both exchanges have volume-based tiers that reduce the fees for both a maker and a taker. The more you do, the less you pay.
Account Types
Account Types | Binance | Coinbase |
---|---|---|
Commission-free Accounts | No | No |
Commission-based Accounts | Yes | Yes |
Demo Accounts | Yes | No |
Islamic Accounts | No | No |
Social / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
Managed Accounts | No | No |
Binance and Coinbase offer trade ticket commission-based accounts; the former has significantly lower trading fees, resulting in more potential profits per trade using identical trading volumes and strategies.
Are there any other noteworthy differences in the account structure between Binance and Coinbase?
Here is what stands out the most:
- Binance offers demo accounts
- Binance has better algorithmic trading options and support
- Binance allows in-house copy trading
- Coinbase connects social traders to TradingView
Minimum Deposit
Deposit Snapshot | Binance | Coinbase |
---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
Deposit Fees | Third-party | Third-party |
E-wallets | No | Yes |
Cryptocurrencies | Yes | Yes |
Localized Methods | Yes | Yes |
Total Deposit Methods | 800+ | 8+ |
Supported Deposit Fiat Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, 27+ | USD, EUR, GBP |
How difficult is it to deposit at Binance and Coinbase?
Both exchanges offer fee-free deposits, and there are no minimum funding requirements. While Coinbase offers e-wallet deposits for fiat, Binance supports more fiat currencies and significantly more cryptocurrency deposit options, making it the most flexible choice for genuine cryptocurrency traders.
Binance and Coinbase allow credit/debit card deposits, but Binance has more country-specific localized payment methods and supports P2P transactions.
Minimum Withdrawal
Withdrawal Snapshot | Binance | Coinbase |
---|---|---|
Minimum Withdrawal | Asset-dependent | More than the applicable withdrawal fee |
Internal Withdrawal Fees | Yes | Yes |
Internal Processing Times | Between 30 and 60 minutes | Within one business day |
Which withdrawal process is better: Binance or Coinbase?
Binance has faster internal processing times, and the fees for most transactions are comparatively lower. Please note that Binance levies a maximum fee of 2% on credit/debit card transactions, while Coinbase charges a 1% fee on crypto-to-cash transactions plus blockchain network ‘gas’ fees.
Network gas fees are asset-dependent and can fluctuate with traffic increases using the network and apply at both exchanges. Still, Binance maintains an overall faster and more convenient withdrawal process.
Security & Trust
Country of the Regulator | United Arab Emirates, Australia, Bahrain, Spain, France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, Thailand, South Africa | N/A |
Name of the Regulator | AMF, ASIC, CNMV, CONSOB, FMA, KNF, SEC, SFSA | N/A |
Regulatory Tier | 1,1,1,1,1,1,5,5,5,2,1,2,1,1,2,2,4,2 | N/A |
Visit Website | Visit Website |
Which cryptocurrency exchange is more secure and trustworthy?
Binance allows clients to verify assets 24/7 via proof of reserves using Merkle Tree and zk-SNARK’s third-party audits on your coin holdings. Coinbase has a 1:1 asset ratio and is a publicly listed company in the US. Therefore, some may view Coinbase as superior in trust. Binance goes above and beyond to assist clients in asset recovery from cyber crimes and co-operates with law enforcement to locate criminals, making it a more integrated, secure, and trusted player in the cryptocurrency sphere.
However, it must be noted that Binance was fined $4.8 billion US, and the CEO stepped down in 2023, leading to increased questions regarding the reliability of Binance, which pleaded guilty to money laundering, unlicensed money transmitting, and sanctions violations.
Broker versus Broker Verdict
Which cryptocurrency exchange is better?
Binance and Coinbase are both well-established cryptocurrency exchanges, with the latter having more operational history and the former a more competitive, integrated cryptocurrency ecosystem.
Here is our verdict:
Coinbase is, on balance, best for US-based cryptocurrency investors and traders and arguably is the lowest risk, but Binance is the best choice for all other cryptocurrency enthusiasts. However, some investors may justifiably fear Biance due to their recent regulatory issues. It might be wise to conduct deeper research into what changes have been made at Binance since November 2023.
You might also be interested in reviewing the below broker comparisons:
FAQs
Is Binance still safe?
Binance ranks among the safest cryptocurrency exchanges, keeping more than 100% of client portfolio values as verifiable reserves. However, it was convicted of money laundering, unlicensed money transmitting, and sanctions violations.
Is Coinbase cheaper than Binance?
Coinbase is notably more expensive than Binance, creating an uncompetitive situation for very active traders.
Is Binance safer than Coinbase?
Both cryptocurrency exchanges are considered safe, but Binance allows users to check proof of reserves 24/7. When holding your crypto assets on exchange, there is always a risk that you are seeding custody of these assets to a third party. If not needed for trading, moving funds to your crypto custody wallet is best. There were serious concerns over Binance in 2023.
Is Coinbase better than Binance?
Coinbase is better than Binance for US-based residents, but Binance is the better overall choice for all other jurisdictions.
Who is better than Binance?
While it depends largely on individual preferences, Binance is arguably the industry-leading cryptocurrency exchange, despite its issues in 2023, with an unbeatable ecosystem that fully supports a genuine cryptocurrency lifestyle.