At first glance, they might seem very similar, but an in-depth comparison of Binance vs Coinbase reveals a stark contrast. While Coinbase is geared towards the new beginner who just wants to buy and sell cryptocurrency, Binance offers investors the opportunity to do so much more. They also have their peculiar limitations. Before we go into describing each, let’s see the different platforms for what they are.
What is Coinbase?
Coinbase is one of the most popular digital asset exchange companies and it has been adopted in over 190 countries worldwide. This platform is not just for digital assets as it also supports the fiat currency in 32 other countries. As far as reputation goes, Coinbase is undisputed. It has established itself as one of the most respected and most reliable exchanges in the world.
It was able to achieve this reputation based on the high level of security, the affordable cost of carrying out transactions, the very high volume of transactions, and the ability to support various cryptocurrency-to-cryptocurrency transactions. One more thing in favor of Coinbase is that it serves as the official exchange for currencies like Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin and Ethereum.
What is Binance?
If you’re familiar with Chinese exchanges for cryptocurrency, the probability that you’ve come across Binance is very high as it is another popular exchange. One of the major reason for its popularity is the fact that this exchange has about 260 crypto-to-crypto trading pairs. It also charges a meager 0.1 percent transaction fee.
In addition to the reduced cost of transactions, users get the chance to enjoy a 50 percent discount on the transaction fee for a year (the first year). This discount is valid, irrespective of the volume of the transaction carried out. The security support is also unparalleled.
Now that we have an idea of the different exchanges, let’s attempt to carry out an honest comparison of Coinbase vs Binance.
1. Binance vs Coinbase- The user interface
Coinbase was designed primarily for people who are new to the process of trading cryptocurrency. A novice investor will definitely have no troubles carrying out transactions on Coinbase as it has an extremely easy and friendly interface. In fact, options trading and margin trading are not supported, rather, you can just buy and sell digital assets.
Binance, however, is for the well-experienced experts in cryptocurrency trading. Some users claim that the amount of information available on the dashboard is enough to scare a novice away. But there’s an “Advanced view” and a “Basic view.” Some people sign up on both platforms, buy a coin on Coinbase, transfer it to Binance, and then carry out more advanced tasks there.
2. Binance vs Coinbase-The cryptocurrencies supported
There’s a clear winner here, Binance supports more cryptocurrencies compared to Coinbase. On Coinbase, you only have access to Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash. Plans are also ongoing to add ERC20 tokens. Binance, on the other hand, supports all the coins on Coinbase and hundreds of other currencies. Some of the coins include Ark, Cardano, VeChain, Ripple, NEO, etc.
3. Coinbase vs Binance- The transfer limit
Both platforms require you to fill in personal details and a photo identification before you are verified on the platform. On Coinbase, three major factors determine your transfer limit:
- Your track record of transactions
- How long you’ve had your account
- Your verification level
With a verified US account, you will be able to make transactions of $5,000 in a week. You also get a cap of $50 on your card. It is also good to note that the maximum amount you can deposit is much lower. If you choose to deposit using your bank account, you might have to wait for about four or five business days. If you use your card, it is effected immediately.
Binance, on the other hand, offers more flexible limits. You can deposit infinitely and your withdrawal limit depends on whether or not you’re verified. If you’re verified, you have a daily limit of 50 BTC. If you are yet to be verified, you can only make transactions below two BTC.
4. Coinbase vs Binance- How the accounts are funded
Coinbase generally offers more options to finance your account and Binance is a little constrained in the area. With Coinbase, you can either buy cryptocurrencies or make deposits into your account from your bank account. The various methods available are ACH transfer, using your debit card or via wire transfer.
With Binance, the limitation is that it is solely a cryptocurrency exchange. This means that you can only finance your account with crypto. For this reason, many people will first purchase crypto coins with fiat currency on platforms like Coinbase before going to Binance.
Conclusion
In this clash of giants, there’s no winner or loser. Binance and Coinbase carry out their different jobs excellently well. Although they have their limitations, for example, you can only trade cryptos on Binance and Coinbase doesn’t support so many currencies, both exchanges are still considered top-notch.
Arman Shirinyan
Alex Dovbnya
Dan Burgin
Vladislav Sopov