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Personal Finance · head to head

Coinbase vs FTX

Coinbase logo

Coinbase

Personal Finance

Buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrency with ease

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
F

FTX

Cryptocurrency & Blockchain

Cryptocurrency derivatives exchange

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Coinbase the App Store listing states standard Coinbase trades carry fees and that a paid Coinbase One subscription is needed for zero trading fees and boosted staking rewards, and that fractional stock shares start at $1.; FTX the exchange collapsed and FTX Trading Ltd filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on 11 November 2022
  • They diverge on capability: Coinbase covers Cryptocurrency Trading, FTX covers Futures Trading.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Coinbase and FTX actually diverge.

Attributes where Coinbase and FTX differ
AttributeCoinbaseFTX
CategoryPersonal FinanceCryptocurrency & Blockchain
Founded20122019

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Coinbase

  • Cryptocurrency Trading
  • Staking
  • Coinbase Wallet
  • Coinbase Card
  • Bank transfers
  • PayPal
  • Apple Pay

Only in FTX

  • Futures Trading
  • Options
  • Leveraged Tokens
  • Spot Trading
  • FTT Token
  • Serum DEX

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Coinbase

  • Exchanges
  • Trading
  • Walletsnot FTX

FTX

  • Exchanges
  • Derivativesnot Coinbase
  • Trading

Both are used for exchanges, trading, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Coinbase

  • The App Store listing states standard Coinbase trades carry fees and that a paid Coinbase One subscription is needed for zero trading fees and boosted staking rewards, and that fractional stock shares start at $1.

FTX

  • The exchange collapsed and FTX Trading Ltd filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on 11 November 2022
  • Around 130 affiliated companies including Alameda Research entered the same proceedings, with more than 100,000 creditors and assets and liabilities each between $10 billion and $50 billion
  • Founder Sam Bankman-Fried resigned as CEO on the filing and was replaced by John J. Ray III
  • It is not a service anyone can sign up for; the estate exists to repay creditors

Pricing, plan by plan

Coinbase

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Buy and sell crypto
    • Coinbase Wallet
    • Staking rewards
  • Coinbase One$29.99/month
    • Zero trading fees
    • Priority support
    • Advanced trading tools

FTX

Free
  • StandardFree
    • Spot trading
    • Futures
    • Options

Which should you pick?

Choose Coinbase if

  • You need cryptocurrency trading.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want staking.
Coinbase review

Choose FTX if

  • You need futures trading.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want options.
FTX review

Questions people ask

Is Coinbase or FTX better?
Neither clearly leads. Coinbase starts at Free and FTX at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Coinbase or FTX?
Coinbase starts at Free and FTX at Free.
Does Coinbase or FTX run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Coinbase for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Coinbase best used for?
Coinbase is most often used for exchanges, trading, wallets. Of those, wallets is not what FTX is typically brought in for.
What can Coinbase do that FTX cannot?
Coinbase covers Cryptocurrency Trading, Staking, Coinbase Wallet, Coinbase Card. FTX covers Futures Trading, Options, Leveraged Tokens, Spot Trading. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

FTX: What happened to FTX?

FTX filed for bankruptcy on November 11, 2022, after revelations about Alameda Research's massive holdings of FTX's token (FTT) triggered a liquidity crisis. The platform collapsed within days as a competing rescue deal fell through.

Source
FTX: Can I recover funds from FTX bankruptcy?

FTX has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings since November 11, 2022. Customer funds have been subject to claims through the bankruptcy process, with asset recovery efforts ongoing.

Source
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Related pages

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