Binance US VS Coinbase: Which Exchange Suits You Best?

As crypto grows in popularity, so does the number of different cryptocurrency exchanges, too. These days, finding a reliable exchange platform isn’t necessarily the simplest thing to do - thus, many people turn to comparing and contrasting a few exchanges that stand out from the crowd. In this Binance US VS Coinbase comparison, I'll be taking a look at two of the popular names that you might come across, especially in the US.

Just note that Binance.US is a United States-exclusive exchange, not the original Binance exchange. Also, it doesn't share any ties with the main Binance platform, apart from the name.

Talking about Coinbase, it's one of the oldest crypto exchanges, and the first cryptocurrency exchange to join the S&P 500 index. This, in turn, makes it a strongly established exchange platform!

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Binance US VS Coinbase: At a Glance

If you're in a hurry or simply not a reader, below is a short overview of the Binance US VS Coinbase comparison.

However, I urge you to always take a more in-depth look when comparing platforms (you'll find that in the following chapter).

Table: Binance.US VS Coinbase comparison at a glance

Considering all these aspects, Coinbase offers a more comprehensive and globally licensed platform with broader features and asset support, while Binance.US focuses on core crypto services with lower barriers and simpler access for US users.

Binance US VS Coinbase: The Comparison

For the sake of keeping things concise and orderly, we’ll advance through this Binance US VS Coinbase comparison in the same order as I did in the table above. With that in mind, security is the very first point to cover.

Security

While I can't stress the importance of security enough, it’s also worth pointing out the fact that this concept comes up in a few different shapes and sizes.

What do I mean by that? Well, whenever someone hears the term “crypto exchange security”, most people associate it with various features that are in place to safeguard their crypto assets. However, exchanges need to guarantee the security of their users’ private information, as well. My point here is that there’s much more to the security aspect than meets the eye.

The very first thing that should be noted when comparing Binance US VS Coinbase, security-wise, is that both exchanges are considered to be among the most well-respected platforms in the industry. This, in turn, should tell you that, at least as far as the fundamentals are concerned, you can expect both of them to be reliable. Both platforms have things such as 2FA, login checks, and other forms of authentication.

In regard to Binance.US, the exchange has a dedicated section on its website, where it talks about all-things-security. One glance at the page reveals that the platform takes your crypto security seriously. For one, they keep every dollar you deposit fully backed (1:1), meaning your funds are always safe and never used without your permission.

As a licensed US exchange, Binance.US also follows strict rules and uses strong security tools, like cold storage, the aforementioned 2FA, anti-phishing codes, and real-time alerts to keep your account protected. On top of that, their tech is reliable (with 99.99% uptime), and their safety measures are regularly tested by outside experts.

With Coinbase, the situation is just as good. As a publicly traded US company, it’s held to high financial and regulatory standards, with regular audits and full transparency around how it operates. You can expect industry-standard features, such as cold asset storage, 1:1 asset backing, and leading data encryption methods, as well as some Coinbase-specific security measures, such as the Coinbase Vault.

The platform also includes auto-enrolled two-factor authentication with support for security keys, password protection tools, and withdrawal whitelist options. Plus, its team is also constantly updating defenses and working with security researchers to stay ahead of potential risks (it even has a bug bounty program that rewards those who responsibly disclose vulnerabilities).

	COINBASE	BINANCE US
Analytical Tools
Mobile App
Security	| | | | | Very Poor Average Excellent	| | | | | Very Poor Average Excellent
Social Trading
Copy Trading
Additional Features	Coinbase Wallet, a Crypto Debit Card, Coinbase Earn, Advanced Trade, etc.	Staking, Spot Trading
Anonymity
	Visit site Read review	Visit site Read review

Table: General information about the features available on Coinbase and Binance.US

Naturally, we can’t really talk about security without stressing the fact that both exchanges exercise strict KYC verification checks when it comes to their users. Meaning, anyone who wants to trade or exchange crypto on either of the platforms will need to identify themselves, submit proof of their identity (in the form of a copy of their ID), residential address, and a few other details.

KYC isn’t a topic that everyone in the crypto industry would agree on. The opposite is actually true - it’s one of the most divisive concepts in regards to cryptocurrencies and crypto-first services! No matter where you stand in that regard, though, one thing’s for sure - KYC is definitely a good thing, if you care about the security and legitimacy of an exchange platform.

All in all, both platforms in this Binance US VS Coinbase comparison are quite similar when it comes to security. Granted that they’re both very well-known and industry-leading exchanges, that shouldn’t really be surprising.

📚 Read More: Cryptocurrency Security Guide

Legal Compliance & Licensing

Security measures and legal compliance go hand in hand when it comes to crypto exchanges, because both are essential for building user trust and ensuring long-term stability. While strong security protects user funds from all kinds of threats, legal compliance ensures the exchange operates within regulatory frameworks designed to protect consumers and prevent financial crimes like money laundering or terrorist financing.

In this aspect, Binance.US plays by the rules, and there are a lot of them. As a fully regulated US exchange, it's registered with FinCEN at the federal level and holds money transmitter licenses across many states. That means they’re regularly audited and closely monitored to make sure their security, compliance, and risk controls are rock solid.

Some states like Kansas and Wisconsin offer crypto-only access, and onboarding in Michigan is paused for now. Bottom line? Binance.US is working hard to stay compliant, secure, and available.

Now, Coinbase is one of the most regulated crypto exchanges globally. In the US, it's registered with FinCEN and holds money transmitter licenses in nearly every state. As a public company, it also publishes audited financials and follows strict compliance standards.

In Europe, Coinbase holds an e-money license from the Central Bank of Ireland and is registered as a crypto-asset service provider in Luxembourg. It recently secured approval under the EU’s new MiCA regulation, allowing it to operate across all 27 EU countries under one license.

Considering it all, when it comes to legal compliance and licensing, Coinbase clearly leads the way in this Coinbase VS Binance US comparison. With its public company status, broader regulatory approvals (including the BitLicense and MiCA) and global reach, it offers a more transparent and heavily supervised platform compared to Binance.US, which remains US-only and more limited in scope.

📚 Related: US Crypto Regulations

Features

Another point that's obviously important to consider is the features offered by an exchange. If you're a complete newbie, you might only be looking for the most basic ones. However, for an advanced crypto trader, basic features might not suffice.

Binance.US offers a solid set of features designed. You can easily trade over 170 trading pairs on the spot market or buy and sell crypto using USD through ACH bank transfers. For quick, hassle-free exchanges, the Convert feature lets you instantly swap one crypto for another. If you're a high-volume user, Binance.US also offers an OTC desk.

For those who want to earn while they hold, Binance.US supports staking on a range of assets, offering up to 18.40% in rewards. Plus, on the institutional side, the exchange delivers advanced API access, regulatory compliance, and tailored solutions for professional clients. Altogether, it’s a platform that covers the essentials for everyday users while also scaling up for more complex needs.

While it seems quite a lot, Coinbase offers even more. It provides a mix of beginner-friendly tools and advanced features that make it easy to trade, earn, and manage crypto. If you're new to the space, the standard Coinbase app lets you quickly buy and sell crypto with just a few taps. For those who want more control, Coinbase Advanced Trade steps in with powerful tools like real-time charts, order books, and lower fees.

If you’re into earning while you hold, Coinbase also has built-in staking via Coinbase Earn for assets like Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano. It offers up to 14% APY on your crypto.

For full control over your crypto, there’s Base App, formerly Coinbase Wallet, which is a non-custodial wallet that puts your keys (and your crypto) fully in your hands. You can use it to store NFTs, explore DeFi apps, and manage thousands of tokens across multiple blockchains. It’s separate from your Coinbase account, giving you the flexibility of Web3 with the safety net of a trusted brand.

And for institutions or high-volume traders, Coinbase Prime brings the full suite: secure custody, low-latency trading, dedicated support, and built-in compliance tools.

Last but not least, there's the Coinbase Card, which is a Visa debit card available for US users (excluding Hawaii). It automatically converts crypto or fiat from your Coinbase account at checkout. You can spend at any Visa-accepting merchant, manage card settings in-app, and even earn crypto rewards every time you swipe.

📚 Read More: Best Crypto Debit Cards

Putting it all into perspective, Coinbase offers a broader and more polished feature set across trading, earning, and payments, while Binance.US focuses on core crypto functions.

Fees

Fees are both a varied topic, exchange-wise, as well as a pretty crucial one to look into, before you decide which cryptocurrency exchange platform is going to be best for you.

When talking about the Binance US fees VS Coinbase fees, let’s focus on the trading fees associated with both exchanges. If you’re looking for how much deposits and withdrawals cost, these metrics don’t usually have specific numbers attached to them. That’s because it depends on the asset that you’re depositing or withdrawing, the amount, the congestion of the network at that point in time, and so on.

So, when it comes to trading fees associated with these exchanges, I can tell you, straight off the bat - both exchanges have a similar situation. Let’s take a look at the numbers.

Table: Binance US VS Coinbase fee comparison

With Binance.US, your base trading fee will be 0.4% if you're a maker or 0.6% if you're a taker (though, in the past, the fees started at 0.1%). You can bring it down by increasing your “VIP Level”. This can be done by trading crypto on the exchange - the more you trade, the better your fees are going to be.

At VIP level 9 (with ≥$500M trading volume), the maker fee turns to 0% while takers have to pay 0.01%. Plus, you can get a 5% discount when covering the fees in BNB.

When it comes to Coinbase, the exchange has always had a reputation for employing some rather high fee models when compared to the industry average. Currently, new traders on the platform can expect 0.4% and 0.6% maker and taker fees, respectively. The same as is the case with Binance.US.

Also, these fees will go down the more crypto you trade, eventually stopping at a 0% fee for makers and 0.05% for takers (once you reach a trading volume of $400M+). Plus, the exchange has some special fees for Stable Pairs (low-volatility trading pairs between stablecoins or pegged assets), where makers don't have to pay anything, while taker fees start at 0.001%.

In addition to that, you can unlock zero fees by subscribing to Coinbase One, starting at $4.99/month.

📚 Read More: Coinbase Fees Explained

All things considered, it’s pretty clear that, if you care about the fees that you’re going to pay as you trade crypto on an exchange, Binance.US and Coinbase offer pretty much the same rates. Their base fee is the same and they both offer special (even feeless) trading for select pairs or users.

However, for anyone just starting out, both of the exchanges can seem quite expensive when you compare them with the industry average (which is around 0.1%).

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Ease of Use

The “ease of use” aspect is something that should be important to both crypto industry newcomers, as well as veteran traders. That’s because, with so many different features that exchanges are employing (i.e., P2P trading, NFTs, staking, and so on), even industry veterans can have a hard time figuring everything out, and some simplicity is always appreciated!

What’s the situation in this Binance US VS Coinbase comparison, though? Well, I’m happy to say that, if simplicity is what you’re looking for, you needn’t worry about either of the platforms in question.

Binance is a brand that has had difficulties keeping its interfaces simple in the past. The exchange has built up a reputation for not being very beginner-friendly. However, with time, this changed, and with Binance.US, things are very different, as well!

The exchange in question employs a very straightforward and minimalistic user interface design. All of the available features are easy to reach and utilize, and there are no confusing menus that you’d need to navigate through.

Admittedly, if simplicity is what you’re after in this Coinbase VS Binance US comparison, the latter platform will surely not disappoint. At the same time, this can also be said about Coinbase.

“Beginner-friendliness” and “Coinbase” have always been two concepts that are frankly inseparable. Even from a marketing perspective, Coinbase has always stressed the fact that it allows you to purchase and trade crypto in the simplest manner possible. That’s quite true!

Whether you’re looking for straightforward trading features, or some more-advanced functionality, Coinbase has got you covered - same as Binance.US, the exchange features a simplistic layout, and is designed with beginners in mind.

Customer Support

Customer support is a crucial part of an exchange experience. Truth be told, it’s not something that most people appreciate fully until a need for support arises, and there’s none to be found!

Looking at the history of customer support services and crypto, things are, well… Quite rocky. For a long period of time, crypto exchanges had little to no support services available, due to the anonymity and regulatory issues associated with these service providers.

With time, however, live customer support (via chat) has become the norm. At least in theory, what’s the situation regarding this Binance US VS Coinbase comparison?

Well, with Binance.US, the situation is a bit complicated. There is a live chat function available, on the website, in addition to an information hub. However, your “live chat” would happen with a virtual assistant - at the end, if you wouldn’t receive the answers that you’re looking for, you’d be redirected to a ticketing system, where you could submit a ticket and wait for an email response.

That is, admittedly, not ideal - actual live chat functionality would be quite a bit more helpful, as far as solving urgent issues is concerned. However, at the same time, it’s good that Binance.US still has support available, either way.

With Coinbase, on the other hand, things are a bit different. The exchange has live chat support, an FAQ section, phone support, as well as email support. That’s a big variety of different channels to get help from!

At the same time, however, it’s worth acknowledging that Coinbase has been “in the game” for a longer period of time than Binance.US. The established nature of the exchange, combined with its global presence (when compared to Binance.US, that is), results in just that.

Asset Support

The number and variety of supported crypto assets (both coins and tokens) can tell you quite a bit about a specific exchange platform. You see, while many people are still content with acquiring only the “main” cryptocurrencies (such as Ethereum and Bitcoin), there’s an ever-growing number of individuals who are looking to trade a wider selection of assets.

This, in turn, means that there’s pressure on cryptocurrency exchanges to list more assets. Some exchange platforms are able to keep up with the demand, while others - not so much.

Take Binance.US, as an example. No matter if you compare Coinbase Pro VS Binance.US (now Coinbase Advanced Trade), or put this particular exchange up against any other platform, the fact will remain the same - Binance.US supports around 160 different crypto assets.

This number is, well… Decent. It’s way lower than what many other exchanges currently offer, but is still good enough for the exchange’s clients to be able to diversify their portfolios.

One thing that you should note, however, is that this number is heavily influenced by the crypto regulatory environment in the United States.

	COINBASE	BINANCE US
Active Users	100M	670K
Acceptable Crypto Currencies	BTC ETH DOGE + 250 more	ETH ADA BTC + 160 more
Fiat Currency Trading	USD/EUR + more	USD
	Visit site Read review	Visit site Read review

Table: Some general stats of the Coinbase exchange and the Binance.US exchange

On the flip side, Coinbase supports a bit bigger number of cryptocurrencies - around 250. Granted that this is a global platform that we’re talking about here, this number could, for a fact, be quite a bit bigger, but it also is heavy regulated in the US and EU.

All in all, the conclusion here seems simple - both exchanges support a similar number of different crypto assets. However, while Coinbase is accessible from multiple countries around the world, Binance.US will offer its assets exclusively to individuals residing in the United States.

Pros

• Secure and reliable
• Accepts fiat currencies
• Lots of trading options

Main Features

• Reputable exchange
• Accepts fiat currencies
• Offers various trading options

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Pros

• Accepts fiat currencies
• Simple to use
• Supports only trusted cryptocurrencies

Main Features

• A leading cryptocurrency exchange platform
• Best for all type investors
• Accepts fiat currencies

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Pros

• Beginner-friendly
• Secure
• Decent trading and withdrawal fees

Main Features

• Crypto.com Visa Card
• Automated tools & bots
• Ecosystem synergy with CRO

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General Exchange Popularity

To finish off our Binance.US VS Coinbase comparison, let’s take a look at some numbers - specifically, what are the user counts on each of these two exchanges.

With Binance.US, things are rather difficult. This is because there isn’t any clear data (read: specific numbers) on just how many users does the exchange house. Somewhere you'll notice it's around 670K, but it's not a number disclosed by the platform itself. It’s a bit of a peculiar situation!

At the same time, reading through Binance.US VS Coinbase comparisons, you should keep in mind the fact that the former exchange is still considered by many to be one of the most popular exchanges in the US, trading volume-wise. This should give you a pretty good idea of where Binance.US stands in that regard.

Coinbase, on the other hand, has over 100 million registered users worldwide. This is a truly huge number, but it does make sense, all things considered - the exchange has been around for a very long time, and is often considered to be one of the most popular crypto brokerage platforms, in general.

While Coinbase undoubtedly houses more users than Binance.US, it’s not a fair comparison, as Coinbase is a global platform, whereas Binance.US is specifically for the United States. There’s a huge difference in just how many people can feasibly discover and register on both exchange platforms.

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Comparison Criteria

You've come to the end of my comparison. However, if you're interested to learn more about the criteria I've used to compare Binance US VS Coinbase, you'll find more info on that here.

Of course, everyone is going to have their own preferences when comparing platforms, some specific things that they care about. However, what I try to stress in all of my crypto exchange comparisons is that there are always going to be certain features that are simply mandatory to look into!

So, if you decide to do your own comparison of any other crypto exchange platforms, these are the aspects you should take note of:

• Security
• Legal compliance & licensing
• Features
• Fees
• Ease of use
• Customer support
• Asset support
• Overall popularity of the exchange

Let’s look into each of those points, shall we?

Security

Do you care about the security and well-being of your cryptocurrency assets? Granted that you’re reading this Binance US VS Coinbase comparison, I would assume that you do. If that’s the case, then exchange security should always be the very main thing that you look into^[2] when searching for the best cryptocurrency exchange platform for yourself.

Sure, fancy features are nice, and can be really useful for all of your trading ventures, but if an exchange lacks security, those ventures could be cut short, by some hacker or thief. Either way you look at it, the point remains the same - security should always be the top priority!

Legal Compliance & Licensing

Legal compliance might not be the flashiest topic, but it’s a major sign of trust. A crypto exchange that’s properly licensed (whether across US states or in the EU) has to meet strict standards for security, transparency, and user protection. These licenses come with audits, regulations, and oversight, which all help ensure your funds and data are handled responsibly. In short, a well-regulated exchange is built for the long run and is less likely to run into legal trouble.

Features

Features are where exchanges set themselves apart. Whether it’s simple crypto buying, advanced trading tools, staking, recurring buys, or access to DeFi and cards, the right mix of tools makes a big difference. A well-rounded platform supports both beginners and advanced users, letting you grow, experiment, and manage your crypto with ease. The more flexible and user-friendly the features, the more value you get out of the exchange.

Fees

Fees are a huge part of picking out a cryptocurrency exchange. It makes sense, too - comparing Binance US fees VS Coinbase fees can really tell you a lot about how much potential profit you’re going to miss out on, and will have to pay as fees of either of the two exchanges.

Note, however, that this doesn’t only concern transaction fees - there are also withdrawal, deposit, and network fees that you’ll need to pay, as well! Some of them can be mitigated or eliminated completely, while others - not so much. Thus, make sure to do the math and weigh all of your options - cryptocurrency trading-associated fees should always be considered!

Ease of Use

The simplicity of using a cryptocurrency exchange - or, rather, the question of just how beginner-friendly it is - is something that has a pretty long history within the crypto space. Ever since crypto had started showing signs of being a promising concept that could one day be massively-adopted, all crypto-related service providers had also started to develop their products and services to fit industry newcomers, and complete crypto newbies.

📚 Check Out: Best Crypto App for Beginners

Granted that all-things-crypto are quite complicated, especially if you’re new to the space, this is definitely an essential factor to consider, whether it be in this Binance US VS Coinbase comparison, or else!

Customer Support

Have you ever used a service, only to run into some sort of a problem, and not have anywhere to turn for help? That is, admittedly, a rare scenario to find yourself in - these days, it would seem that every self-respecting product and service providers have at least some form of customer support to help the client out.

As far as crypto is concerned, this hasn’t been the case for a long time! Evidently, though, even if you’re looking for Coinbase VS Binance US comparisons, chances are that customer support becomes even more important when there’s money or financial assets involved. An important factor to keep in mind!

Asset Support

Asset support refers to how many different crypto coins and tokens are supported on the exchange that you’re looking into, whether it be on this Binance US VS Coinbase comparison, or else. If the platform supports a wide list of different cryptocurrencies, and those cryptocurrencies can be traded in a variety of different pairs, you’ll be able to diversify your portfolio as much as you’d like.

This is usually very important for day traders, and people who are trying to trade some of the more-niche assets, or those that have just recently launched, too. Whatever the case might be, it’s definitely a point to look into!

General Exchange Popularity

At first glance, this might come off as a pretty odd feature to name as being “essential” when you compare it with others discussed above. This is because this particular point might seem subjective; however, it’s really not! The popularity of the exchange is usually measured by the number of users that it has attracted, in total, and just how many of those users are still active today. Metrics such as trading volume matter in this regard, too (you can check that on the BitDegree crypto exchange tracker).

While it’s clear that there are more points to consider, as far as picking out a crypto exchange goes, the point here remains the same as we’ve established earlier in the Binance US VS Coinbase comparison - the above-discussed features are definitely ones that you’ll want to look into!

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Conclusions

No matter if you’re looking through Binance US VS Coinbase Pro (now Coinbase Advanced Trade) comparisons, or those that talk about the former platform and Coinbase in general, there’s one sentiment that you’ll find echoed in a lot of user feedback - both exchanges are quite different from one another, even though it might not seem that way, at first glance.

Binance.US is a very specific exchange, designed with a very specific purpose - to bring crypto to US-based enthusiasts, and anyone who might be interested in acquiring and trading cryptocurrencies in the country. On the other hand, Coinbase is a global brand. The exchange has an established reputation, and is the only platform of its kind to go public on the Nasdaq (which is, once again, quite telling!).

Overall, I'd say Coinbase is probably going to be the better option, thanks to its strong regulatory status, beginner-friendly design, and wide range of features. Given that Coinbase was built with US and EU regulations in mind, it’s a solid choice for anyone looking for a secure and fully licensed platform!

The content published on this website is not aimed to give any kind of financial, investment, trading, or any other form of advice. BitDegree.org does not endorse or suggest you to buy, sell or hold any kind of cryptocurrency. Before making financial investment decisions, do consult your financial advisor.

Scientific References

1. Alkadri S.: 'Defining and regulating cryptocurrency: fake internet money or legitimate medium of exchange?';

2. Zeynali A., Moeini H., Fallah M. R.: 'Identifying the Effective Factors in Choosing Digital Currency Exchanges'.