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Transferable to your own wallet
Self-custody of cryptocurrencies plays an important role for many users who want to manage their cryptocurrencies and thus their "private keys" themselves and not leave them in the hands of the exchange. Most exchanges offer the option of sending the purchased cryptocurrencies to their own wallet.
Deposit protection is a safeguard for the assets of users of a stock exchange or broker, which is intended to protect investors in the event of insolvency or a high loss due to a hacker attack. Service providers based in Germany are legally obliged to provide deposit protection of €100,000. In some cases, international exchanges have a special insurance policy that covers a certain portion of the assets instead of a deposit guarantee.
The overall rating is the average of our individual ratings. Our ratings do not constitute investment advice, but merely our personal opinion. You are welcome to use them as rough indicators and additional perspective. In the dynamic and fast-growing crypto sector, parameters can often change from one day to the next, so we cannot guarantee that the rating data is up to date. Therefore, please never use our ratings as an isolated basis for decision-making and not as a substitute for your own research.
This rating describes our personal assessment of the user-friendliness of the product. How easy is the onboarding process? How modern is the user interface and is it easy to use? Are all the important functions quick and easy to find? We ask ourselves all these questions in order to give a personal rating from 1 to 10 points.
This rating describes our assessment of the fee structure of a stock exchange or broker. It is not only the amount of fees that can differ, but also the type of fees. The most common type of fees for crypto exchanges are the "maker/taker" fees or spreads. In some cases, there are also hidden fees that are not recognizable to users at first glance.
For products or services in the crypto space, trust and security should be the biggest factors in the selection process. Since we could not seriously evaluate the technical security of a platform or product, we analyze publicly available factors such as security features, location, regulation, certifications, audits, team/company, general reputation and, of course, track record.
Crypto doesn't have to be cryptic. Especially for beginners, the first contact with the crypto world can be overwhelming. With this rating, we give our assessment of how easy it is for beginners to find their way around: from the onboarding process to using the most important functions.
Customer support is an important factor for many users. A long wait or no response at all in the event of problems can be frustrating, especially when it comes to sensitive topics such as finances. With this rating, we give our assessment of the quality of customer support. In order to provide as balanced an assessment as possible, we also include user opinions from other platforms in our evaluation.
Some exchanges and brokers are regulated by financial supervisory authorities in certain countries/states. This often entails strict financial regulatory requirements and compliance requirements to which the company must adhere. Regulatory clarity can contribute to greater transparency and thus also greater trustworthiness.
Bitvavo vs Coinbase in comparison
Overview
- Low entry fees on euro markets: 0.15% maker, 0.25% taker
- Authorized under MiCA by the Dutch AFM
- Free SEPA deposits and euro withdrawals
- 427 crypto assets on the order book, plus staking and recurring buys
- Proof-of-reserves attestation and reimbursement of up to €100,000 after an account takeover
- Only for residents of 25 countries in the EEA
- No futures or options
- 1% fee on credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal deposits
- Crypto withdrawal fees set by Bitvavo, which says they can be higher than from a private wallet
- Staking, lending, margin trading and locked-price orders are not regulated under MiCA
- Open in every US state, including New York under an NYDFS license
- Money transmitter licenses in 47 US jurisdictions, plus authorizations in Luxembourg, the UK and Canada
- Simple app for buying, plus Coinbase Advanced with TradingView charts and advanced order types
- More than 400 crypto assets with live markets, plus commission-free US stock trading 24/5
- Two-factor authentication switched on by default, with security key support
- Parent company listed on Nasdaq, with quarterly financial reports
- Higher entry-level fees than Kraken Pro: 0.50% maker and 0.90% taker on Coinbase Advanced in the US, against 0.40% and 0.80%
- Simple buys include a spread, and simple limit orders add a 1% execution fee
- Bitcoin and Ether futures for US customers go up to 10x leverage, so traders who want more look elsewhere
- No proof-of-reserves report for exchange balances that we could find
Features Comparison
- Cryptocurrencies
- Cryptocurrencies
0.25
%
0.25%
0.15%
Varies
0.9
%
0.90%
0.50%
Varies
426
+
$
407
+
$
2
Exchange Rating
Functions
- Spot trading on EUR and USDC markets
- Margin trading
- Flexible and fixed-term staking
- Spot, futures trading options
- Coinbase Card
- Coinbase Wallet
Company Details
Our Review
Coinbase is a US-listed exchange accessible to residents in every US state, with regulatory licenses in the US, Luxembourg, and the UK. In our view it is a good place for a first crypto purchase, with a simple app and a regulated operator. Active traders can pay less: we would compare Kraken Pro first, whose entry-level taker fee is 0.80%, against 0.90% on Coinbase Advanced in the US.
European Value vs American Trust
Bitvavo serves European users with competitive fees and solid security. Coinbase serves American users with institutional credibility and higher costs. Same beginner target, very different fee structures.
Fee Difference
Bitvavo charges 0.25% taker. Coinbase Advanced starts at 0.50% taker in the EU. That's twice the Bitvavo taker fee. For active traders, Bitvavo is cheaper.
Trust and Regulation
Coinbase is a publicly listed company—the most visible, regulated crypto exchange in America. Institutional credibility is the selling point.
Bitvavo offers European compliance with good security features. Trustworthy, but without Coinbase's public company transparency.
Beginner Experience
Coinbase scores 10/10 for beginner friendliness—designed for first-time crypto buyers.
Bitvavo scores 8/10—still accessible but assumes slightly more comfort with the interface.
Coin Selection
Coinbase lists more than 400 cryptocurrencies. Bitvavo lists 426. Similar selection range.
Geographic Fit
Bitvavo is optimized for European users—euro-friendly operations and Dutch banking integration.
Coinbase is optimized for American users—dollar operations and U.S. regulatory compliance.
The Trade-off
Bitvavo at 8.8 suits Europeans who want competitive fees and don't need American institutional backing. Value-oriented choice.
Coinbase at 8.3 suits Americans who want the most trusted on-ramp and accept premium pricing. Trust-oriented choice.
About the author
At Exchange Flow, Ethan is recognized as the resident crypto expert. With 10+years of experience navigating the waters of global crypto exchanges, Ethan is a trusted voice in the ever-evolving world of digital currencies. He tests and scrutinizes exchanges so you don’t have to, offering reviews and articles that newbies and seasoned traders alike find invaluable. When he’s not coding, Ethan likes to travel and play retro games. He uses his crypto earnings to fund his trip around the globe.
