spot exchange
Coinbase
US-AVAILABLE
Reviewed by CoinCompass · Last verified
Is Coinbase available in the US?
Yes — Coinbase is licensed for US customers (FinCEN MSB + state money-transmitter licenses + SEC-tested listing standards). It is one of the exchanges we can legally reference and monetize for a US audience. Availability can vary by state, so confirm your state before signing up.
How we make money: we earn a commission when you sign up with an
exchange through our links. That never changes what we recommend or how we rank —
rankings follow our published review criteria and are re-checked on a fixed schedule.
Read the full disclosure.
Crypto risk: crypto assets are volatile and can lose value, are not FDIC-insured, and are not a bank deposit. This is not financial advice — do your own research before trading.
Affiliate / referral program
Coinbase Affiliates (via Impact.com)
Referral reward for new joiners; earn a commission on the trading fees your referred customers generate
Coinbase at a glance
| Status | us licensed |
|---|---|
| Regulator / license | FinCEN MSB + state money-transmitter licenses + SEC-tested listing standards |
| Markets | US, International |
| Supported countries | US + ~100 countries |
| Affiliate program | Coinbase Affiliates (via Impact.com) |
| Affiliate commission | 50% of trading fees from referred users for the first 3 months (recurring); 30-day cookie |
Fees
| Trading | Maker 0.0-0.4% / Taker 0.4-0.6% (Advance trade tiers) |
|---|---|
| Withdrawal | USDC withdrawals free across all networks; network fee covered by Coinbase for most crypto |
| Deposit | Free for bank transfer / ACH |
| Notes | Simple buy spread is higher than Advanced Trade; USDC withdrawals free. |
What a $1,000 trade actually costs
At 0.4-0.6% taker rate, a $1,000 trade costs roughly $4-6. Advanced Trade taker fee on a $1,000 spot trade. Simple-buy spread is higher. Estimate your own monthly cost with our fee estimator.
Ratings breakdown
| Overall | 4.6 |
|---|---|
| Usability | 4.9 |
| Fees | 3.8 |
| Security | 4.7 |
| Support | 3.9 |
Strengths
- Most beginner-friendly crypto on-ramp in the US
- Very wide selection of coins and a regulated US exchange
- Strong institutional backing and insurance on hot wallets
- Coinbase Earn + staking for passive rewards
Weaknesses
- Simple-buy fees/spread are higher than pro-tier trading
- Support is slow during high-volume events
- Listing standards mean some newer coins are absent