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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.
Coinbase vs Bitfinex in comparison
Overview
Bitfinex, founded in 2012, is a crypto exchange for experienced traders. Its contracting company for non-US customers is BFXWW Inc., registered in the British Virgin Islands. It lists 68 crypto assets, charges 0% maker and taker fees and offers margin, perpetual swaps, lending and an OTC desk.
- 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
- 0% maker and taker fees on spot, margin and derivatives trades
- Margin up to 10x and perpetual swaps up to 100x
- Peer-to-peer margin funding, Bitfinex Borrow and an OTC desk
- Fixed bitcoin withdrawal fee of 0.00006 BTC, plus Lightning withdrawals
- In operation since 2012
- Might be complex for beginners
- No MiCA authorization; the BVI contracting entity is not in a regulator register
- Bank wire deposits cost 0.1%, with a minimum fee of 60 USD or EUR
- No proof of liabilities found
- The 2016 hack and settlements with the CFTC and the New York Attorney General
Features Comparison
- Cryptocurrencies
- Cryptocurrencies
0.9
%
0.90%
0.50%
Varies
0
%
0.00%
0.00%
₿
0.00006
407
+
$
2
68
+
$
- Discount on P2P lending
- Advantages of the partner program
Exchange Rating
Functions
- Spot, futures trading options
- Coinbase Card
- Coinbase Wallet
- OTC desk
- Advanced services for cryptocurrency traders and liquidity providers
- Bitfinex Borrow
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.
Bitfinex, in operation since 2012, charges 0% maker and taker fees on spot, margin and derivatives trades and offers margin up to 10x and perpetual swaps up to 100x. In our view, it suits experienced traders. Its record includes the 2016 hack and settlements with the CFTC and the New York Attorney General.
Beginner Gateway vs Professional Platform
Coinbase and Bitfinex target completely different users. Coinbase is where millions of Americans bought their first Bitcoin. Bitfinex is where professional traders execute large positions with advanced tools. Different worlds, same industry.
Target Audience
Coinbase scores 10/10 for beginner friendliness—explicitly very easy to use and beginner friendly.
Bitfinex targets advanced users with extensive charts, tools, and OTC desk services. Not built for newcomers.
Fee Comparison
Coinbase includes a spread in the price of simple trades and adds a Coinbase fee. Bitfinex charges no maker or taker fees on spot trades.
Beginners pay Coinbase's premium for simplicity. Professionals pay Bitfinex's lower rates for capability.
Trust and Regulation
Coinbase is a publicly listed, U.S.-regulated company with a 9/10 security score.
Bitfinex rebuilt its reputation over time and scores 8/10. Trusted by professionals but with less regulatory clarity.
Features
Coinbase offers spot trading, basic futures, card, and wallet. Simple and accessible.
Bitfinex offers OTC desk, margin trading, Bitfinex Borrow, and advanced services for liquidity providers. Complete for professionals.
The Right Platform
Coinbase at 8.3 is where beginners should start—trusted, simple, no learning curve.
Bitfinex at 8.1 is where professionals trade—capable, lower fees, institutional tools.
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.
