Coinbase vs. Binance: Which Cryptocurrency Exchange Is Better?

Trades involving cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin, take place on a cryptocurrency exchange — an online platform that makes it possible to buy and trade. Here’s a look at two well-established exchanges, Coinbase and Binance, and what you should consider to help you decide which may be better for you.

Read: Looking To Diversify In A Bear Market? Consider These 6 Alternative Investments

Understanding Cryptocurrency Exchanges

Investors who want to trade cryptocurrencies or digital currencies for cash or other assets do so on a cryptocurrency exchange in the same way that traditional stocks are traded on a stock exchange.

On a stock exchange, your transactions are sent to your online portfolio. On a cryptocurrency exchange, your trades can be sent to a digital cryptocurrency wallet, which is an online storage space. A cryptocurrency exchange can accept credit cards, wire transfers and other forms of payment as a means of purchasing cryptocurrency.

Some cryptocurrency exchanges allow you to withdraw your cryptocurrency, while others will not. Some allow you to move your investments into a digital wallet, while others don’t offer one. Lastly, certain exchanges allow you to earn, as well as buy and trade, cryptocurrency. 

Coinbase and Binance Recently Made Headlines

Last year, a widespread sell-off of cryptocurrency slashed market value by an estimated $1 trillion and sent bitcoin plummeting to a low not seen since 2013. Both Coinbase and Binance experienced stability issues in the sell-off, which impacted customer service.

Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world, caused frustration among investors when it suspended Ethereum withdrawals temporarily due to congestion on its network. During the same period, Coinbase’s platform experienced intermittent outages.

Although the IRS is beginning to monitor bitcoin trading more closely, cryptocurrency traders should be aware that for now, stability issues persist. This can impede the withdrawal of digital assets, leaving investors vulnerable during periods of volatility and liquidation.

How Cryptocurrency Exchanges Are Rated

Fees and rules vary by cryptocurrency exchanges, in part because the cryptocurrency industry is still new enough that regulation practices are continuing to evolve. For now, investors should know that their experience may vary from one cryptocurrency trading platform to another.

In general, you should conduct research before investing in cryptocurrency. The types of transactions you’ll be able to make, as well as the fees associated and the online storage options available, will depend on which cryptocurrency exchange you’re engaging with.

We’ll start our comparison of Coinbase vs. Binance by taking a quick look of each platform’s main features and fees before we dive deeper:

What Is Coinbase?

Coinbase is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S. and the second-largest in the world. It has more than 98 million verified users in over 100 countries, and it maintains approximately $256 billion in assets.

Since its start in 2012, U.S.-based Coinbase has prided itself on offering cryptocurrency newcomers an accessible starting point. 

Coinbase Features

• Trade more than 150 types of cryptocurrency

• Ability to use dollar-cost averaging

• Participate in the task economy and earn cryptocurrency

• Store your own cryptocurrency in a digital vault with time-delayed withdrawals

• Spend cryptocurrency via cards, and accumulate rewards

• Access and watch your account on the exchange’s mobile app

• Receive support by phone, live messenger or email.

Coinbase Account Terms

There’s no charge to open or maintain an account, but there’s a $2 minimum to trade. You’re allowed to do up to $25,000 of ACH transactions per day. It’s possible to earn $5 in free Bitcoin for signing up.

Coinbase and FDIC Insurance

Coinbase collects funds from its investor accounts and puts them somewhere safe as insurance protection. In the U.S., investor assets can be held in custodial bank accounts, money market funds or U.S. Treasuries. For the money parked at banks, the institutions that Coinbase selects are backed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., and as such, they are insured up to $250,000 per customer. Outside of the U.S., money from Coinbase accounts is held in dedicated custodial accounts.

Coinbase Pro

More experienced users can try Coinbase Pro. Fees will vary depending on your monthly trading volume.

Here are the standard fees and policies for Coinbase:

What Is Binance?

Binance is a cryptocurrency ecosystem targeted at more experienced cryptocurrency investors. Going by trading volume, it is the biggest cryptocurrency exchange globally. Although it is not available to U.S. consumers, a version of it is — called Binance.US. 

Binance Features

• Not available for U.S. customers

• Trade over 100 cryptocurrencies

Binance.US Features

Although Binance.US doesn’t offer the same number of cryptocurrencies and trading pairs as its partner, Binance, it’s still one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges to be found stateside. It launched out of San Francisco in 2019 and comes equipped with the same technology used on the global platform.

Here’s a look at its key features:

• Built for a U.S. audience

• Trade cryptocurrencies in most U.S. states — four states do not participate

• No built-in digital wallet

• Customer support ticket system

Here are the fees and policies for Binance.US:

Binance Account Terms

You can register for free at Binance.US, but you’ll need $10 to trade. The platform allows for dollar-cost averaging, meaning you can program your account to buy a set amount of cryptocurrency on a consistent basis. Minimum and maximum trading amounts depend on the cryptocurrency you’re investing in.

Binance and Security

Both Binance.US and Coinbase offer two-step authentication. Coinbase offers U.S. cryptocurrency investors a digital vault as well.

Coinbase vs. Binance: Key Differences

What do these two large cryptocurrency exchanges have in common, and how do they differ? Let’s explore that and figure out which one might make the most sense for you.

Availability

If you’re in the U.S., Coinbase will provide you with a more complete set of cryptocurrency tools and trading options than Binance, which is solely available in a constrained version called Binance.US. Here are the details on where these exchanges are available:

• Coinbase is available in the U.S. with the exception of Hawaii

• Binance.US is available in the U.S. with the exception of these four states:

  • Hawaii

  • New York

  • Texas

  • Vermont

Platforms

• Coinbase operates two: the original Coinbase and Coinbase Pro.

• Binance has a global platform, but only Binance.US works in the United States.

Trading Options

• Coinbase has a low minimum entry point — $2 minimum — and allows for individual trading.

• Coinbase Pro offers expanded functionality and the ability to make both individual trades and crypto-to-crypto transactions.

• Binance.US requires a minimum investment of $10 and allows individual trading, crypto-to-crypto trading and peer-to-peer trading.

Trading Fees

• With Coinbase, fees range depending on the type of transaction and the way it is financed.

• Binance.US charges a low, 0.1% spot trading fee and a 0.5% Buy/Sell Crypto fee. The platform uses your 30-day trading volume and your daily BNB balance to determine trading fees.

Safety

Cryptocurrency exchanges do not receive protection from the FDIC or the Securities Investor Protection Corp. as traditional cash and securities assets do. Coinbase and Binance have their own approaches to security.

Coinbase’s Approach to Security

• Coinbase keeps 2% of customer funds online and stores the rest offline in what is termed “cold storage,” a safe or otherwise secure offline location.

• Coinbase asserts that all of the digital currency held on its platform is insured for particular criminal circumstances, such as individual account breaches or theft by Coinbase employees.

Binance’s Approach to Security

• Binance.US holds U.S. dollar deposits at custodial bank accounts, which are typically insured by the FDIC for up to $250,000 per customer.

• To date, Binance.US has not reported any security issues. However, its partner, Binance, has acknowledged that in 2019, hackers compromised the Binance network and stole 7,000 bitcoins. Affected users were reimbursed by the company.

Coinbase vs. Binance: Which One Wins?

If you live in the U.S., you’re likely to have a better experience with Coinbase — the platform will allow you to do more with cryptocurrency than its competitor, Binance.US. Coinbase offers investors a notable level of control, from dollar-cost averaging to timed withdrawals, a digital vault for secure storage and the opportunity to earn cryptocurrency assets.

If you’re relatively comfortable with cryptocurrency investing and aren’t in need of secure storage and timed investments, you might benefit from Binance’s lower fees.

Daria Uhlig and Cynthia Measom contributed to the reporting for this article.

Information is accurate as of Sept. 22, 2022.

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Coinbase vs. Binance: Which Cryptocurrency Exchange Is Better?