Binance vs Coinbase
Side-by-side comparison from our sourced exchange data. A dash means we haven't verified that fact — we don't fill gaps with guesses.
| Binance | Coinbase | |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | — | — |
| Founded | 2017 | 2012 |
| Headquarters | — | No headquarters — remote-first company since May 2020 (per its 10-K, it does not maintain principal executive offices) |
| Spot maker (base) | 0.1% | 0.4% |
| Spot taker (base) | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Listed assets | ~600 | ~247 |
| KYC | Required | Required |
| Notably unavailable | United States (Binance.com), Iran, North Korea, Syria | China, Russia |
How they differ
Binance launched in 2017 and runs a broad global spot market, listing roughly 600 assets and offering both card purchases and a peer-to-peer marketplace. Coinbase dates from 2012 and describes itself as a remote-first company with no principal executive offices, listing about 247 assets on its exchange. Binance leans toward traders who want listing breadth; Coinbase splits its product into a simple buy flow and the separate Coinbase Advanced venue, which is the first thing to understand before comparing anything else.
On fees, Binance's base spot tier is 0.1% maker and 0.1% taker, falling to 0.075%/0.075% when fees are paid in BNB, with volume-based VIP tiers below that. Coinbase Advanced starts at 0.4% maker and 0.6% taker at the base tier, keyed to 30-day volume, with 0% maker on selected stable pairs. Those Advanced rates do not describe a one-click Coinbase buy, which is priced separately.
Both require identity verification. Binance states that all users must verify, with unverified accounts limited to withdraw-only. Binance.com is closed to US residents, with Binance.US operating as a separate affiliate, new UK sign-ups have been closed since October 2023, and its prohibited list covers Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba and the Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Coinbase reports availability in over 100 countries with China and Russia excluded, feature sets varying by country, and SSN or ITIN required from US customers.
Their records diverge elsewhere. Binance holds a VARA licence in Dubai and FSRA recognitions in ADGM; Coinbase holds a MiCA licence via Luxembourg, passported across the EU. Binance lost about $40.7M from a hot wallet in May 2019 and covered it from its SAFU fund; Coinbase disclosed a May 2025 breach in which bribed support contractors exfiltrated data on roughly 70,000 customers, with remediation estimated at $180M to $400M.