Cryptocurrency brokerage platforms
Broker Review
Coinbase
Coinbase traces its current offering to 2012 and Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam. Unlike a generic brokerage description, its defining characteristic is that it is a publicly listed U.S. crypto exchange known for its retail app, institutional custody and advanced venue. The business combines execution or portfolio access with the account servicing described in this profile. Publicly traded; market value changes daily as of August 2026.
Strengths
- Is a publicly listed U.S. crypto exchange known for its retail app, institutional custody and advanced venue
Drawbacks
- At Coinbase, asset availability, custody structure, spreads and legal protections differ by state and do not match ordinary securities-account rules
Profile
What you can trade
Hundreds of supported digital assets, stablecoins, staking where permitted, derivatives for eligible users and institutional custody.
Account types
Individual crypto account; institutional, business, custody or retirement access is available only through selected entities and is not equivalent to a SIPC brokerage account. The registration structure reflects the fact that the service is a publicly listed U.S. crypto exchange known for its retail app, institutional custody and advanced venue.
Platform
Coinbase retail app, Coinbase Advanced, institutional Prime and developer APIs. The resulting workflow is tailored to a business that is a publicly listed U.S. crypto exchange known for its retail app, institutional custody and advanced venue.
Who it suits
Best suited to Coinbase customers whose principal requirement is the capability described in this profile, rather than investors choosing a broker only because of a zero-commission headline.
Where it is offered
Coinbase accepts eligible U.S. customers subject to state-by-state product licensing and also operates internationally through separate affiliates. A foreign version of the platform should not be assumed to offer the same products or safeguards.
Regulation and sources
Official website: https://coinbase.com/ Regulatory status should be verified through FINRA BrokerCheck, SEC/IAPD, NFA BASIC, state regulators or applicable alternative-asset disclosures. Last verified: 2026-08-11.