Do you have ideas or suggestions for changes? Then we look forward to your feedback! We make every effort to keep all metrics and information as up-to-date as possible. However, if you discover an error or outdated information, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Feel free to write to us:
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 Libertex in comparison
Overview
Libertex is a CFD broker of the Libertex Group, which was founded in 1997. Libertex says it has received more than 45 awards. For the EEA and Switzerland, Indication Investments Ltd runs it from Limassol, Cyprus, under a CySEC license. It offers crypto as CFDs next to forex, stocks and commodities.
- 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
- Regulated by CySEC since 2012 (license 164/12)
- Long or short on 102 coins as CFDs, among 1,000+ instruments in all markets
- Free deposits and a demo account with €50,000 in virtual funds
- Negative balance protection, segregated client money and Investor Compensation Fund cover of up to €20,000
- MetaTrader 4 and 5 next to its own web platform and apps
- 83% of retail CFD accounts lose money with this provider
- 0.1% commission on every crypto CFD position, plus overnight charges
- Most crypto CFDs expire and renew automatically, with the commission charged again
- Inactivity fee of €10 a month after 180 days without activity
- A CySEC settlement in 2020 and a short partial license suspension in 2021
Features Comparison
- Cryptocurrencies
- Crypto CFDs
- Stocks
- ETFs
- Currency
- Options
- Indices
- Raw materials
0.9
%
0.90%
0.50%
Varies
0.1
%
0.1%
0.1%
Not possible
407
+
$
2
102
+
$
100
Exchange Rating
Functions
- Spot, futures trading options
- Coinbase Card
- Coinbase Wallet
- Demo account with €50,000 in virtual funds
- Libertex Invest for real stocks without commission (spreads apply)
- MetaTrader 4 and 5 next to the Libertex platform
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.
In our view, Libertex is a CySEC-regulated CFD broker for traders in the EEA and Switzerland who want to go long or short on 102 coins with up to 1:2 leverage, next to forex and other markets. Its crypto CFDs carry a 0.1% commission when you open a position and an overnight charge for each night you hold one.
Real Crypto vs CFD Trading
Coinbase is a cryptocurrency exchange—you buy and own actual Bitcoin. Libertex is a CFD broker—you trade contracts that track Bitcoin's price without owning it. This fundamental difference determines which platform suits your needs.
Ownership Difference
On Coinbase, you buy real cryptocurrency. You can transfer it to your own wallet, stake it, use it in DeFi, or hold it long-term.
On Libertex, you're trading CFDs—no real coins, no wallet transfers, no actual ownership. You're betting on price movements.
Fee Comparison
Coinbase includes a spread in the price of simple trades and adds a Coinbase fee. Libertex charges a 0.1% commission on crypto CFDs. Libertex is cheaper per trade, but you're getting a different product.
Trust and Regulation
Coinbase is a publicly listed, U.S.-regulated company scoring 9/10 on security.
Libertex operates as a CFD broker with different regulatory requirements. It scores 6/10 on security.
Features
Libertex offers a demo account for practice and a large selection of financial products beyond crypto—stocks, forex, indices.
Coinbase offers actual cryptocurrency with spot trading, futures, card, and wallet.
The Decision
Coinbase at 8.3 is for users who want to own cryptocurrency with a trusted platform. Real assets, real ownership.
Libertex at 6.1 is for traders who want CFD exposure without owning assets. The rating gap reflects the ownership difference.
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.
