OKX vs Coinbase 2024: Full Features and Pricing Review

You may be thinking, “Which crypto exchange is better: OKX vs Coinbase?” Selecting the ideal crypto platform for trading can feel overwhelming. There are numerous aspects to weigh, like fees, security, trading choices, features, customer service, and more. 

Well, both crypto trading platforms are highly popular with billions of daily trading volume, according to Coingecko. In this guide, we’ll simplify things for you by comparing them. We’ll analyze their pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.

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Key Takeaways:

  • OKX stands out with vast crypto trading features like spot, futures, margin, options, copy trading, and DeFi, while Coinbase sticks to the basic spot trading with easy fiat on-ramps options.
  • Advanced traders will find OKX more appealing due to its significantly higher leverage (up to 100x) and a broader selection of derivatives products compared to Coinbase.
  • OKX generally offers lower trading fees compared to Coinbase, especially for spot trading (0.08% maker and 0.1% taker vs. 0.4% maker and 0.6% taker).

OKX vs Coinbase: Overview

FeaturesOKXCoinbase
Launched Date20172012
Best forBest for crypto futures and copy tradingBest for U.S. traders
Supported Cryptocurrencies330+ tokens and 551+ trading pairs246+ tokens and 400+ trading
Crypto Trading featuresSpot, futures, margin, options, copy trading, and trading botsSpot and futures only
Maximum Leverage100x for BTC and ETH and 50x for other altcoins10x
Trading Fees0.08% maker and 0.1% takerCoinbase Basic: Up to 1.49% per tradeCoinbase Advanced: 0.4% maker and 0.6% taker
Payment MethodsVisa, Mastercard, in-person cash payments, and 100+ more. ACH, SWIFT, SEPA, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Wire transfer
Mobile AppBoth iOS and AndroidBoth iOS and Android
Insurance FundYesYes
PoR (Solvent)YesYes

What is OKX?

1 what is okx

OKX is a cryptocurrency exchange founded by Star Xu, that started in 2017 and serves over 50 million users globally. Its global offices are located in many places, like the UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, Silicon Valley, and the Bahamas. OKX offers its services in over 100 countries, though it’s important to note that Canada and the US are not included.

If you’re looking to buy, sell, or trade cryptocurrencies, OKX provides 330+ crypto assets. These tokens can be traded in over 551 trading pairs, like BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, BTC/ETH, and more. When you trade on OKX, you can do different types of trading, like spot trading, margin trading, futures, options, copy trading, and P2P trading. You can also access decentralized finance (DeFi) products directly on OKX, including staking, earning, and lending services.

OKX supports fiat currencies like USD, EUR, and GBP. You can deposit funds using different methods like bank transfers, credit/debit cards, or third-party payment providers like MoonPay and Mercuryo. This makes it easy for you to get started trading. Trading fees are also competitive. Spot trading fees are 0.08% for makers and 0.1% for takers.

The OKX exchange emphasizes secure transactions and asset custody, with features like cold storage and Proof of Reserves (PoR) to enhance transparency. As a beginner, you can start buying crypto with as little as $5. You can also use our OKX referral code “CWOK3XREFCODE” while signing up to get up to the 10,000 USDT mystery box.

OKX vs Coinbase

You may be thinking, “Which crypto exchange is better: OKX vs Coinbase?” Selecting the ideal crypto platform for trading can feel overwhelming. There are numerous aspects to weigh, like fees, security, trading choices, features, customer service, and more. 

Well, both crypto trading platforms are highly popular with billions of daily trading volume, according to Coingecko. In this guide, we'll simplify things for you by comparing them. We'll analyze their pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.

Key Takeaways:

  • OKX stands out with vast crypto trading features like spot, futures, margin, options, copy trading, and DeFi, while Coinbase sticks to the basic spot trading with easy fiat on-ramps options.
  • Advanced traders will find OKX more appealing due to its significantly higher leverage (up to 100x) and a broader selection of derivatives products compared to Coinbase.
  • OKX generally offers lower trading fees compared to Coinbase, especially for spot trading (0.08% maker and 0.1% taker vs. 0.4% maker and 0.6% taker).

OKX vs Coinbase: Overview

Features OKX Coinbase
Launched Date 2017 2012
Best for Best for crypto futures and copy trading Best for U.S. traders
Supported Cryptocurrencies 330+ tokens and 551+ trading pairs 246+ tokens and 400+ trading
Crypto Trading features Spot, futures, margin, options, copy trading, and trading bots Spot and futures only
Maximum Leverage 100x for BTC and ETH and 50x for other altcoins 10x
Trading Fees 0.08% maker and 0.1% taker Coinbase Basic: Up to 1.49% per tradeCoinbase Advanced: 0.4% maker and 0.6% taker
Payment Methods Visa, Mastercard, in-person cash payments, and 100+ more.  ACH, SWIFT, SEPA, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Wire transfer
Mobile App Both iOS and Android Both iOS and Android
Insurance Fund Yes Yes
PoR (Solvent) Yes Yes

What is OKX?

1 what is okx

OKX is a cryptocurrency exchange founded by Star Xu, that started in 2017 and serves over 50 million users globally. Its global offices are located in many places, like the UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, Silicon Valley, and the Bahamas. OKX offers its services in over 100 countries, though it's important to note that Canada and the US are not included.

If you're looking to buy, sell, or trade cryptocurrencies, OKX provides 330+ crypto assets. These tokens can be traded in over 551 trading pairs, like BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, BTC/ETH, and more. When you trade on OKX, you can do different types of trading, like spot trading, margin trading, futures, options, copy trading, and P2P trading. You can also access decentralized finance (DeFi) products directly on OKX, including staking, earning, and lending services.

OKX supports fiat currencies like USD, EUR, and GBP. You can deposit funds using different methods like bank transfers, credit/debit cards, or third-party payment providers like MoonPay and Mercuryo. This makes it easy for you to get started trading. Trading fees are also competitive. Spot trading fees are 0.08% for makers and 0.1% for takers.

The OKX exchange emphasizes secure transactions and asset custody, with features like cold storage and Proof of Reserves (PoR) to enhance transparency. As a beginner, you can start buying crypto with as little as $5. You can also use our OKX referral code “CWOK3XREFCODE” while signing up to get up to the 10,000 USDT mystery box.

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OKX Pros

  • One of the highest trading volumes among crypto exchanges, with an average exceeding $1.5 billion per day
  • Advanced trading tools such as copy trading, margin trading, options, and perpetual futures
  • Robust security measures, including cold storage for the majority of funds, 2FA, and regular security audits
  • Advanced order types like trailing stop-loss and iceberg orders, catering to experienced traders
  • Web3 DeFi wallet for non-custodial asset storage and NFT market exploration

OKX Cons

  • It restricts access to certain features or the entire platform in some jurisdictions (like the USA and Canada) due to regulatory requirements
  • Fiat-off-ramp is not available in certain countries

What is Coinbase?

2 what is coinbase

Coinbase is another large and established U.S.-based crypto exchange founded in 2012. It is a regulated platform under Money Transmission License and registered with FinCEN. Currently, it doesn't have a physical headquarters as of 2024. Before, it was in San Francisco, USA. The exchange is also among the first publicly traded companies to launch its own blockchain network “Base” for decentralized finance (DeFi).

The exchange offers a user-friendly experience for beginners. They make it simple to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies like BTC and ETH. With Coinbase, you can easily invest in over 246 different cryptocurrencies, with more than 400 trading pairs available. 

It supports fiat currencies like USD, GBP, and EUR. You can deposit or withdraw money using different methods depending on your location. In the United States, you can use your bank account, debit card, or even PayPal to buy crypto. They also offer options for Faster Payments and purchases using services like Apple Pay and Google Pay.

While the “Coinbase Basic” platform is a great starting point for beginners, it also offers a more advanced platform called “Coinbase Advanced Trade”. This platform is geared towards experienced traders and offers features like sophisticated charting tools and deeper market analysis with order books. There is a bit of a learning curve to using Coinbase Advanced, but it can be a good option for those who want more control over their trades.

Coinbase Pros

  • Coinbase operates in over 100 countries, allowing you to buy crypto with local currencies.
  • Through its “Instant Cashouts” feature, users can withdraw fiat currency directly to their linked bank accounts
  • “Learn & Earn” program with educational quizzes that reward users with small amounts of crypto (up to $10 in some cases)
  • It offers a more advanced platform with features like order books, charting tools, and lower trading fees
  • The Coinbase Visa Debit Card allows you to spend your crypto holdings worldwide and earn rewards in crypto.

Coinbase Cons

  • High fees for smaller crypto transactions compared to cryptocurrency exchanges like OKX and Binance
  • To unlock benefits like reduced trading fees and boosted staking rewards, you'll need a Coinbase One subscription, starting at $29.99/month, adding extra costs.

OKX and Coinbase Key Features Compared

Derivatives Trading

Firstly, let’s talk about the OKX exchange. It offers a wide range of derivative products for traders like crypto futures trading. OKX has three main types of futures contracts: USDT-Margined, USDC-Margined, and Coin-Margined. 

  • USDT and USDC are stablecoins, cryptocurrencies pegged to the US dollar. 
  • Coin-margined contracts use the actual cryptocurrency (like Bitcoin) as the collateral. This allows traders to choose the margin currency that best suits their needs.

When trading futures, you need to put up a deposit, called a margin, which acts as a security for the borrowed funds used to leverage your position. OKX offers cross and isolated margin modes. 

  • Cross margin allows you to use your entire account balance as collateral for all your open positions. 
  • Isolated margin lets you allocate a specific amount of margin for each position individually.

OKX offers leverage of up to 100x on certain popular futures contracts like BTC/USDT perpetual and ETH/USDT perpetual. Other altcoins like SOL, XRP, and MATIC have a maximum leverage of up to 50x.

OKX also has a dedicated margin trading platform with up to 10x leverage. Margin trading allows you to borrow funds from the exchange to increase your buying power. 

In its derivatives market, it also offers an options trading platform. Options contracts give you the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a cryptocurrency at a specific price by a certain expiry date.

3 options trading platform

In contrast to OKX, Coinbase only offers traditional futures trading on 5 cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and Bitcoin Cash. However, it offers perpetual futures trading in many other coins like APT, PEPE, SOL, XLM, and more.

Coinbase Advanced Trade offers a standard 5x leverage by default for BTC and ETH unless you choose to use a higher leverage option. The maximum leverage is set at 10x (10% base initial margin). 

Here are some requirements for using the Coinbase Advanced Futures portal:

  • U.S. Residency: Only legal residents of the United States with a valid U.S. address can access Coinbase Futures trading.
  • Verification: To ensure your identity and protect your account, Coinbase will require verification of your Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
  • Suitability Assessment: Coinbase goes beyond basic verification. They conduct a comprehensive review to assess your suitability for futures trading. This review considers your age, trading experience, current employment details, income level, and net worth.

4 btc perpetual

Winner: OKX has a better futures trading platform with over 100x leverage and supports many futures contracts. On the other hand, Coinbase only allows futures trading for selected US traders and with a maximum leverage of 10x.

Earn Services

OKX Earn emerges as the clear winner in terms of earning variety. It goes beyond the basic staking offered by Coinbase, providing a multi-pronged approach to generate returns on your crypto holdings. 

Here's a breakdown of OKX's offerings:

  • Simple Earn: This low-barrier-to-entry option allows you to deposit your crypto and automatically start earning interest. It's perfect for beginners. OKX offers both flexible and fixed-term staking. Flexible staking allows you to deposit and withdraw your crypto at any time, providing liquidity. Fixed-term staking locks your crypto for a predetermined period in exchange for potentially higher returns like up to 100% APR.
  • On-chain Earn: This means DeFi staking with flexible rewards. You can provide liquidity to the DeFi protocols and earn trading fees as a commission.
  • Structured Products: These are pre-defined investment packages with specific terms and potential returns. This includes snowball, seagull, dual investment, and shark fin.
  • OKX Loan: You can borrow crypto against your holdings, essentially leveraging your assets to generate additional income. You can then use the borrowed funds to invest further or simply hold them to earn more interest.

5 earn services

Coinbase Earn adopts a more straightforward approach, focusing solely on staking. The platform currently offers variable APYs (Annual Percentage Yields) of up to 15% depending on the specific cryptocurrency.

A key advantage of Coinbase Earn is its accessibility. You can get started with as little as $1. Currently, Coinbase is offering 4.2% APR on Ethereum, 7.53% on Avalanche, and 13.63% on Comos (ATOM).

Winner: OKX leads with higher staking rewards and offering many earn products like snowball, dual investment, shark fin, and crypto loans. On the other hand, Coinbase offers only simple staking.

Copy Trading

OKX copy trading lets you copy the moves of experienced traders, kind of like following their lead. OKX has a pool of experienced traders called “lead traders”. You can browse through their profiles and see their past performance like PnL, win rate, AUM, no. of copy traders, and copy trader PnL.

Once you've chosen a lead trader, you can simply copy their trades. This means that whenever the lead trader buys or sells a cryptocurrency, your account will automatically do the same. You can also set the maximum amount you're willing to invest per trade. Lead traders get a cut of the profits made by the copiers. This can be up to 15% of your profit.

6 copy trading

Winner: OKX offers a copy trading platform, whereas Coinbase does not have this feature.

OKX Standout Features Review

1. Advanced Order Types

OKX offers advanced order types beyond basic market and limit orders. These advanced options can be particularly useful for managing risk and automating trades.

  • TP/SL (Take Profit/Stop Loss): This combination sets two automated orders. The Take Profit order gets triggered when the price reaches a specific profitable level, locking in your gains. Conversely, the Stop Loss order automatically sells your holding if the price falls to a predefined level, limiting potential losses.
  • Trailing Stop: The order type automatically adjusts your “Stop Loss” order as the price moves in your favor. Imagine you buy an asset at $10. A trailing stop with a $2 buffer would set your initial stop loss at $8. If the price increases to $12, the stop loss would automatically trail up to $10, protecting your profits while offering some flexibility for price fluctuations.
  • Trigger Order: This two-part order waits for a specific price condition to be met before activating a market or limit order. For instance, you could set a trigger order to buy only if the price breaks above a certain resistance level.
  • Iceberg Order: It displays only a portion of your actual order quantity to the market. This can be useful for placing large orders without significantly impacting the current price. The remaining quantity is hidden, allowing you to buy or sell a larger amount without causing sudden price slippage.
  • TWAP (Time-Weighted Average Price): This order type aims to acquire a desired amount of an asset over a specific timeframe at an average price. TWAP automatically distributes your order throughout the chosen period, potentially achieving a better average price than a single market order.

7 advanced order types

2. OKX DeFi Ecosystem

OKX offers a self-custody DeFi wallet. It supports over 70 different decentralized networks, with even more on the horizon. The wallet provides a user-friendly dashboard to track your entire crypto portfolio, including its performance and transaction history. This all-in-one platform makes it easy to stay on top of your investments.

For NFT enthusiasts, OKX offers a one-stop shop for exploring, creating, and trading NFTs across 11+ networks. You can find popular NFT collections like Bored Ape Yacht Club and CryptoPunks, with up-to-date data on floor prices and trading volumes.

It also allows you to swap cryptocurrency between different networks at the best possible rates. With access to over 20 networks, 400+ decentralized exchanges (DEXs), and 20+ cross-chain bridges, OKX offers a powerful and transparent swap experience. The DeFi platform also offers various options to maximize your returns. You can explore features like saving, staking, and liquidity pools to generate passive income.

8 okx defi ecosystem

3. JumpStart (Launchpad)

OKX Jumpstart is a launching pad for brand new cryptocurrency projects. It acts as a bridge between potential investors and exciting ventures in the crypto market. Launched projects have garnered significant interest, with over 2.4 million people checking out Jumpstart so far.

Since its inception, a staggering amount of over $3.7 billion has been raised through Jumpstart for these new projects. This substantial figure highlights the platform's ability to connect promising crypto ventures with interested investors. Currently, Jumpstart boasts a successful track record, having already launched 14 different crypto projects.

9 jumpstart 1

4. Trading Bots

OKX offers a variety of trading bots to automate your cryptocurrency trading strategies:

  • Grid Bots: It automatically places buy orders when the price dips and sell orders when the price rises within your designated range. This way, you aim to profit from small price swings, regardless of the overall market direction.
  • Signal Trading: This approach leverages the expertise of other successful crypto traders. You can connect your OKX account to “TradingView” signals created by analysts. If a signal aligns with your trading goals, the bot can automatically execute buy and sell orders based on the analyst's recommendations.
  • DCA Bots (Dollar-Cost Averaging): The strategy is popular for long-term investors. DCA Bots help you gradually build your crypto holdings by placing smaller buy orders regularly. For example, you can set a DCA bot to buy a specific amount of Bitcoin weekly (every Monday), regardless of the current price.
  • Arbitrage Bots: These bots exploit price discrepancies between different markets like spot-futures. The bot identifies a situation where crypto can be bought on one market at a lower price and quickly sold on another for a higher price, capturing the profit difference.
  • Slicing Bots: They slice large buy or sell orders into smaller chunks, aiming to get a better average price by placing these smaller orders throughout the order book.

10 trading bots 3

Coinbase Standout Products Review

1. Coinbase Card

The Coinbase Card is like a regular debit card, but it lets you spend your crypto at millions of “Visa” accepted stores worldwide. This card connects to your Coinbase account. When you use the Coinbase Card to shop, it automatically changes your chosen crypto to US dollars to pay for things. No need to mess with exchange rates. You can even get cash from ATMs worldwide using your crypto balance.

A cool perk of the Coinbase Card is that you earn crypto rewards on your everyday purchases. The amount you earn can change, but it can be anywhere from 1% to 4% per purchase. There's no annual fee to use the Coinbase Card, and you won't get charged for using it to shop either. Just be aware that some ATMs might have their own fees, so check before you withdraw cash.

11 coinbase card 1

2. Coinbase Wallet

Coinbase Wallet is a decentralized self-custody wallet that gives you control over your crypto holdings, rather than keeping them on a centralized exchange. This means you are responsible for keeping your own security measures in place.

You can store over “hundreds of thousands” of different digital tokens like BTC, SOL, ETH, AVAX, LTC, and all your ERC-20 tokens. There are even features to buy and sell crypto directly within the wallet using fiat currencies like USD and EUR. 

One of the interesting features of Coinbase Wallet is its ability to connect to the decentralized web, also known as “Web3”. This opens up a whole new world of possibilities, including buying and selling non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Coinbase Wallet also allows you to participate in decentralized finance (DeFi), where you can earn interest on your crypto holdings.

Coinbase Wallet utilizes advanced security measures to keep your private keys safe. These steps involve features like requiring a PIN, fingerprint scan, or facial recognition to access your wallet. It is available as a mobile app for iPhone and Android devices, and there's also a browser extension for Google Chrome.

12 coinbase wallet

3. Coinbase One

Coinbase One is like a VIP membership for people who use the Coinbase exchange a lot. It's a $29.99 monthly subscription that gives you extra perks on top of a regular Coinbase account.

The main benefit of Coinbase One is that it offers zero trading fees for buying and selling cryptocurrencies up to a certain amount each month. It also gives you priority customer support. Another benefit is that you get boosted rewards when you stake certain cryptocurrencies.

It also provides free limited-time deals with the CoinTracker app and Messari platform. Coinbase One also simplifies crypto tax by providing a pre-filled Form 8949. This form can be filed directly with your tax return.

OKX vs Coinbase: Crypto Supported

OKX boasts a massive selection, with over 330 cryptocurrencies and a whopping 551+ trading pairs. This means you can trade a cryptocurrency against more than 551 other options like BTC/ETH, BTC/USDT, and BTC/USDC. In comparison, Coinbase offers 246 cryptos and 400 trading pairs. While both provide a good range, OKX comes out on top for sheer variety.

Here are some popular coins supported on both trading platforms:

  • Bitcoin (BTC)
  • Ethereum (ETH)
  • Theta Fuel (THETA)
  • Decentraland (MANA)
  • The Sandbox (SAND)
  • Axie Infinity (AXS)
  • Cosmos (ATOM)
  • Filecoin (FIL)
  • Shiba Inu (SHIB)

Winner: OKX supported more coins and tokens than Coinbase.

OKX vs Coinbase: Fees

OKX Trading Fees

OKX offers tiered spot trading fees that depend on whether you're a regular user or a VIP user. Discounts are determined by a combination of your 30-day trading volume, daily asset balance, and OKB holdings. The more OKB you hold, the lower your fees. For regular users, it starts with a 0.08% maker and a 0.1% taker.

Here's a quick breakdown of OKX spot trading fees:

Tier 30-Day Volume Maker Fees Taker Fees
VIP 0 - 0.08% 0.1%
VIP 1 ≥ 5,000,000 0.045% 0.05%
VIP 2 ≥ 10,000,000 0.04% 0.045%
VIP 3 ≥ 20,000,000 0.03% 0.04%
VIP 4 ≥ 100,000,000 0.02% 0.035%

Similar to spot trading, futures contracts also have a tiered maker-taker fee structure. Regular users start with a 0.02% maker fee and a 0.05% taker fee, with discounts offered for higher OKB holdings.

Unlike spot and futures contracts, options trading on OKX have a flat maker fee of 0.02% and a taker fee of 0.03%. Check the full OKX fee structure here.

Coinbase Trading Fees

As discussed above, Coinbase offers two main trading platforms: Coinbase and Coinbase Advanced Trade. Each platform has its own fee structure, so understanding the difference is crucial before you start trading.

The amount you pay in fees on Coinbase depends on the size of your transaction. Here's a breakdown:

  • For transactions under $10, there's a flat fee of $0.99.
  • For transactions between $10 and $200, the fee is up to $2.99
  • Transactions above $200 typically have a 1.49% fee, but this can vary depending on your location and payment method. In some countries, using a credit or debit card for a large transaction might incur a higher fee of 3.99%.

On top of trading fees, Coinbase also charges a “spread fee”. This fee represents the difference between the market price of the cryptocurrency and the price that Coinbase offers you. The spread is typically around 0.5%, but it can fluctuate based on market conditions.

Similar to OKX, the Coinbase Advanced platform offers a maker-taker fee model. Makers are incentivized with lower fees, ranging from 0% to 0.4%. Takers pay a higher fee, ranging from 0.05% to 0.6%.

Trading Volume Coinbase Taker Fee Coinbase Maker Fee
$0K - $10K 60bps 40bps
$10K - $50K 40bps 25bps
$50K - $100K 25bps 15bps
$100K - $1M 20bps 10bps
$1M - $15M 18bps 8bps
$15M - $75M 16bps 6bps
$75M - $250M 12bps 3bps
$250M - $400M 8bps 0bps
$400M+ 5bps 0bps

While staking and unstaking crypto on Coinbase itself doesn't incur any fees, Coinbase does take a commission from the rewards you earn through staking. This commission helps cover their operational costs for providing this service.

The commission rate varies depending on the specific cryptocurrency you're staking. Here's a breakdown of the current rates:

  • ADA, ATOM, MATIC, SOL: 35% commission on staking rewards
  • ETH: 25% commission on staking rewards

Deposit and Withdrawal Fees

OKX generally doesn't charge deposit fees for cryptocurrencies. However, if you use third-party fiat deposit providers like Moonpay or Mercuryo, they may charge their own fees and spreads, typically ranging from 2% to over 10%.

When it comes to withdrawing cryptocurrencies from OKX, you'll encounter network fees. These fees are essential for compensating miners or validators on the underlying blockchain network. They essentially pay for the computing power required to process your transaction and secure the network.

Different cryptocurrencies have varying network complexities, and the fees associated with processing transactions can differ. For example, Bitcoin transactions typically incur higher network fees compared to less congested blockchains.

Similar to OKX, Coinbase Advanced also charges gas fees for withdrawing cryptocurrencies. It's deposit and withdrawal fees for fiat currencies vary depending on the chosen method:

Payment Method Fiat Currency Coinbase Deposit Fee Coinbase Withdrawal Fee
Bank Transfer (ACH) USD Free Free
Wire Transfer USD $10 $25
SEPA Transfer EUR €0.15 Free
SWIFT GBP Free £1
Debit Card USD, EUR, GBP Up to 3.99% -

Winner: OKX emerges as the clear winner with lower trading fees (0.08% maker and 0.1% taker). In contrast, Coinbase charges a flat fee of up to 1.49% on its basic platform, and even its maker-taker fees (0.4% maker and 0.6% taker) are significantly higher than OKX's.

OKX vs Coinbase: Security

Both OKX and Coinbase use strong security measures to protect your digital assets:

  • Cold Storage: It's a super secure way to keep your crypto offline, where hackers can't reach it easily. Both OKX and Coinbase store the vast majority (around 98%) of user funds in cold storage.
  • Hot Wallets: Think of a hot wallet like your everyday wallet – it's convenient for quick access, but maybe not ideal for storing large sums. A small portion of funds (used for daily transactions) is kept in hot wallets for faster transfers. Both exchanges use this method.
  • Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): You enter your password, then a code from your phone or another device for extra security. Both OKX and Coinbase offer 2FA, which is highly recommended.
  • Security Audits:  Regular check-ups are important, even for online platforms. Both OKX and Coinbase undergo security audits by independent firms.
  • Password Management: Coinbase uses a powerful method (bcrypt) to scramble your password into a unique code. This code is unreadable, even by Coinbase, so your actual password stays safe. They never store your password in its original form. OKX also uses hashing algorithms for password storage.
  • Address Book Whitelisting: Both exchanges support withdrawal address whitelisting. It lets you create a list of approved wallet addresses for sending and receiving crypto. This helps prevent accidental transfers to unauthorized addresses and adds an extra layer of security for your funds.

Apart from these features, Both platform also offers insurance funds. Your crypto holdings are insured in case of a security breach where the exchange is at fault. OKX currently has over $1.76 billion in insurance funds.

Coinbase has crime insurance to protect a portion of your digital assets in their storage systems. This means if there's a theft, like a hacking attack, some of your crypto might be insured. 

Here's what Coinbase doesn't insure:

  • Any crypto was stolen due to weak passwords
  • Non-fungible tokens (NFTs)
  • Any losses in the value of your cryptocurrency due to price fluctuations

According to Coinbase, U.S. customer funds are held in cash equivalents at FDIC-insured banks. These accounts are structured to provide pass-through FDIC insurance, safeguarding your funds up to the current per-depositor limit (currently $250,000).

However, Coinbase One offers a program called “Account Protection” that could reimburse you up to $1 million if your account is compromised due to a security breach within their system. However, it's not traditional insurance and has specific eligibility requirements.

OKX and Coinbase Regulatory Licenses

OKX has been actively pursuing licenses around the world to solidify its position:

  • Singapore: OKX's Singapore subsidiary secured in-principle approval for a payments license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in early 2024. This allows OKX to offer digital payment token services and facilitate cross-border money transfers.
  • Dubai: Back in January 2024, OKX received a provisional virtual asset license in Dubai, granting them access to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) market. This license allows OKX to provide a range of crypto services directly to retail investors.
  • Hong Kong (under review): OKX also applied for a virtual asset license in Hong Kong. While their application is still under review by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), it demonstrates OKX's commitment to operating within a compliant framework.

Coinbase is also a highly regulated crypto exchange, even more than OKX, with various licenses:

  • US States: Coinbase operates under Money Transmitter Licenses (MTLs) in several US states like New York, Pennsylvania, and Alaska. These licenses allow them to facilitate the transfer of funds.
  • Canada: It has secured a “Restricted Dealer” registration with the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA).
  • Europe: It is also among the top crypto exchanges in Europe and authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, as an electronic money institution. Also, the German entity Coinbase Germany GmbH is authorized by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority.

OKX vs Coinbase: User Friendliness

Coinbase is a clear beginner-friendly crypto exchange. Its interface is clean, uncluttered, and easy to navigate. It keeps things basic. The main screen displays essential features like buying, selling, and viewing your crypto holdings. No confusing charts or overwhelming financial data.

Buying crypto on Coinbase is like buying anything online. Choose your currency, enter the amount, and confirm. It's fast and intuitive, perfect for first-time buyers. It also has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices with over 4.5/5 rating. The Coinbase app mirrors the same design of the web platform. It allows you to buy, sell, and manage your crypto on the go, making it convenient for busy lifestyles.

Coinbase understands the learning curve for beginners. They offer a variety of educational resources, including articles, videos, and quizzes, to help you navigate the world of crypto with confidence.

OKX caters to a more experienced audience. While it offers a wider range of features and trading options, its interface is less beginner-friendly. The platform is packed with features. Charts, graphs, and trading tools abound. This can be overwhelming for new users who just want to buy some Bitcoin. OKX also offers educational resources, but not as extensively as Coinbase.

Winner: Coinbase’s clean interface, straightforward buying process, and educational resources make it ideal for beginners. However, if you're an experienced trader looking for a wider range of features, OKX might be worth considering

Final Thoughts: Which is Better, OKX or Coinbase?

To sum up OKX vs Coinbase, both stand as reputable crypto trading platforms with their unique strengths and offerings. OKX offers an extensive range of features, including advanced trading tools, leverage trading, and DeFi integration, making it a preferred choice for experienced traders seeking versatility and innovation.

Coinbase is best for beginners with easy to use trading interface and high security with regulatory compliance. It offers a basic spot market with buying and selling crypto using payment methods like ACH transfer, SEPA, Google Pay, and more.

FAQs

Is OKX available in the US?

OKX Exchange is not available in the US due to regulatory restrictions. However, US users can still access OKX Wallet, which provides a range of services for managing cryptocurrencies. It's important to note that OKX operates another exchange specifically for the US market called “OKCoin”.

Is Coinbase good?

Yes, Coinbase is a well-established and reputable cryptocurrency exchange, known for its user-friendly interface and beginner-friendly features like instant buy/sell using fiat currencies. It operates in over 100 countries and offers a variety of cryptocurrencies for trading. However, some users may find its fees to be higher compared to other cryptocurrency exchanges like OKX and Bybit.

Can OKX be trusted?

Yes, OKX is a trusted cryptocurrency exchange with a strong reputation in the industry. It serves over 50 million users globally. The exchange emphasizes secure crypto transactions with features like address whitelisting, strong encryption, and asset custody, with features like cold storage and regular security audits.

Is OKX Exchange better than Coinbase?

OKX is better if you want to trade with high leverage (up to 100x) and access advanced trading features like copy trading and trading bots. It also offers more staking and earning services, plus a Web3 ecosystem.

On the other hand, Coinbase is known for its regulatory oversight, especially in the US and Europe. It's trusted by many users because of this. Coinbase Wallet is also quite popular among users. Additionally, Coinbase offers advanced services like Coinbase Prime, which is geared towards institutional traders.

Which is best for altcoins, OKX or Coinbase?

OKX supports over 330 cryptocurrencies and offers a wider range of trading pairs compared to Coinbase, which supports around 246 cryptocurrencies. Therefore, OKX may be considered better for trading altcoins due to its larger selection and niche-based assets like metaverse, AI, DeFi, RWAs, and NFT tokens.

Which is safest, OKX or Coinbase?

Both OKX and Coinbase prioritize security and employ strong security measures to protect users' funds. They use features like cold storage, two-factor authentication, and PoR audits to enhance security. Additionally, both platforms offer insurance funds to protect users' assets in case of a security breach. However, Coinbase is largely regulated in the US and European countries, whereas OKX is more regulated in the Asian market.

OKX Pros

  • One of the highest trading volumes among crypto exchanges, with an average exceeding $1.5 billion per day
  • Advanced trading tools such as copy trading, margin trading, options, and perpetual futures
  • Robust security measures, including cold storage for the majority of funds, 2FA, and regular security audits
  • Advanced order types like trailing stop-loss and iceberg orders, catering to experienced traders
  • Web3 DeFi wallet for non-custodial asset storage and NFT market exploration

OKX Cons

  • It restricts access to certain features or the entire platform in some jurisdictions (like the USA and Canada) due to regulatory requirements
  • Fiat-off-ramp is not available in certain countries

What is Coinbase?

2 what is coinbase

Coinbase is another large and established U.S.-based crypto exchange founded in 2012. It is a regulated platform under Money Transmission License and registered with FinCEN. Currently, it doesn’t have a physical headquarters as of 2024. Before, it was in San Francisco, USA. The exchange is also among the first publicly traded companies to launch its own blockchain network “Base” for decentralized finance (DeFi).

The exchange offers a user-friendly experience for beginners. They make it simple to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies like BTC and ETH. With Coinbase, you can easily invest in over 246 different cryptocurrencies, with more than 400 trading pairs available. 

It supports fiat currencies like USD, GBP, and EUR. You can deposit or withdraw money using different methods depending on your location. In the United States, you can use your bank account, debit card, or even PayPal to buy crypto. They also offer options for Faster Payments and purchases using services like Apple Pay and Google Pay.

While the “Coinbase Basic” platform is a great starting point for beginners, it also offers a more advanced platform called “Coinbase Advanced Trade”. This platform is geared towards experienced traders and offers features like sophisticated charting tools and deeper market analysis with order books. There is a bit of a learning curve to using Coinbase Advanced, but it can be a good option for those who want more control over their trades.

Coinbase Pros

  • Coinbase operates in over 100 countries, allowing you to buy crypto with local currencies.
  • Through its “Instant Cashouts” feature, users can withdraw fiat currency directly to their linked bank accounts
  • “Learn & Earn” program with educational quizzes that reward users with small amounts of crypto (up to $10 in some cases)
  • It offers a more advanced platform with features like order books, charting tools, and lower trading fees
  • The Coinbase Visa Debit Card allows you to spend your crypto holdings worldwide and earn rewards in crypto.

Coinbase Cons

  • High fees for smaller crypto transactions compared to cryptocurrency exchanges like OKX and Binance
  • To unlock benefits like reduced trading fees and boosted staking rewards, you’ll need a Coinbase One subscription, starting at $29.99/month, adding extra costs.

OKX and Coinbase Key Features Compared

Derivatives Trading

Firstly, let’s talk about the OKX exchange. It offers a wide range of derivative products for traders like crypto futures trading. OKX has three main types of futures contracts: USDT-Margined, USDC-Margined, and Coin-Margined. 

  • USDT and USDC are stablecoins, cryptocurrencies pegged to the US dollar. 
  • Coin-margined contracts use the actual cryptocurrency (like Bitcoin) as the collateral. This allows traders to choose the margin currency that best suits their needs.

When trading futures, you need to put up a deposit, called a margin, which acts as a security for the borrowed funds used to leverage your position. OKX offers cross and isolated margin modes. 

  • Cross margin allows you to use your entire account balance as collateral for all your open positions. 
  • Isolated margin lets you allocate a specific amount of margin for each position individually.

OKX offers leverage of up to 100x on certain popular futures contracts like BTC/USDT perpetual and ETH/USDT perpetual. Other altcoins like SOL, XRP, and MATIC have a maximum leverage of up to 50x.

OKX also has a dedicated margin trading platform with up to 10x leverage. Margin trading allows you to borrow funds from the exchange to increase your buying power. 

In its derivatives market, it also offers an options trading platform. Options contracts give you the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a cryptocurrency at a specific price by a certain expiry date.

3 options trading platform

In contrast to OKX, Coinbase only offers traditional futures trading on 5 cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and Bitcoin Cash. However, it offers perpetual futures trading in many other coins like APT, PEPE, SOL, XLM, and more.

Coinbase Advanced Trade offers a standard 5x leverage by default for BTC and ETH unless you choose to use a higher leverage option. The maximum leverage is set at 10x (10% base initial margin). 

Here are some requirements for using the Coinbase Advanced Futures portal:

  • U.S. Residency: Only legal residents of the United States with a valid U.S. address can access Coinbase Futures trading.
  • Verification: To ensure your identity and protect your account, Coinbase will require verification of your Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
  • Suitability Assessment: Coinbase goes beyond basic verification. They conduct a comprehensive review to assess your suitability for futures trading. This review considers your age, trading experience, current employment details, income level, and net worth.
4 btc perpetual

Winner: OKX has a better futures trading platform with over 100x leverage and supports many futures contracts. On the other hand, Coinbase only allows futures trading for selected US traders and with a maximum leverage of 10x.

Earn Services

OKX Earn emerges as the clear winner in terms of earning variety. It goes beyond the basic staking offered by Coinbase, providing a multi-pronged approach to generate returns on your crypto holdings. 

Here’s a breakdown of OKX’s offerings:

  • Simple Earn: This low-barrier-to-entry option allows you to deposit your crypto and automatically start earning interest. It’s perfect for beginners. OKX offers both flexible and fixed-term staking. Flexible staking allows you to deposit and withdraw your crypto at any time, providing liquidity. Fixed-term staking locks your crypto for a predetermined period in exchange for potentially higher returns like up to 100% APR.
  • On-chain Earn: This means DeFi staking with flexible rewards. You can provide liquidity to the DeFi protocols and earn trading fees as a commission.
  • Structured Products: These are pre-defined investment packages with specific terms and potential returns. This includes snowball, seagull, dual investment, and shark fin.
  • OKX Loan: You can borrow crypto against your holdings, essentially leveraging your assets to generate additional income. You can then use the borrowed funds to invest further or simply hold them to earn more interest.
5 earn services

Coinbase Earn adopts a more straightforward approach, focusing solely on staking. The platform currently offers variable APYs (Annual Percentage Yields) of up to 15% depending on the specific cryptocurrency.

A key advantage of Coinbase Earn is its accessibility. You can get started with as little as $1. Currently, Coinbase is offering 4.2% APR on Ethereum, 7.53% on Avalanche, and 13.63% on Comos (ATOM).

Winner: OKX leads with higher staking rewards and offering many earn products like snowball, dual investment, shark fin, and crypto loans. On the other hand, Coinbase offers only simple staking.

Copy Trading

OKX copy trading lets you copy the moves of experienced traders, kind of like following their lead. OKX has a pool of experienced traders called “lead traders”. You can browse through their profiles and see their past performance like PnL, win rate, AUM, no. of copy traders, and copy trader PnL.

Once you’ve chosen a lead trader, you can simply copy their trades. This means that whenever the lead trader buys or sells a cryptocurrency, your account will automatically do the same. You can also set the maximum amount you’re willing to invest per trade. Lead traders get a cut of the profits made by the copiers. This can be up to 15% of your profit.

6 copy trading

Winner: OKX offers a copy trading platform, whereas Coinbase does not have this feature.

OKX Standout Features Review

1. Advanced Order Types

OKX offers advanced order types beyond basic market and limit orders. These advanced options can be particularly useful for managing risk and automating trades.

  • TP/SL (Take Profit/Stop Loss): This combination sets two automated orders. The Take Profit order gets triggered when the price reaches a specific profitable level, locking in your gains. Conversely, the Stop Loss order automatically sells your holding if the price falls to a predefined level, limiting potential losses.
  • Trailing Stop: The order type automatically adjusts your “Stop Loss” order as the price moves in your favor. Imagine you buy an asset at $10. A trailing stop with a $2 buffer would set your initial stop loss at $8. If the price increases to $12, the stop loss would automatically trail up to $10, protecting your profits while offering some flexibility for price fluctuations.
  • Trigger Order: This two-part order waits for a specific price condition to be met before activating a market or limit order. For instance, you could set a trigger order to buy only if the price breaks above a certain resistance level.
  • Iceberg Order: It displays only a portion of your actual order quantity to the market. This can be useful for placing large orders without significantly impacting the current price. The remaining quantity is hidden, allowing you to buy or sell a larger amount without causing sudden price slippage.
  • TWAP (Time-Weighted Average Price): This order type aims to acquire a desired amount of an asset over a specific timeframe at an average price. TWAP automatically distributes your order throughout the chosen period, potentially achieving a better average price than a single market order.
7 advanced order types

2. OKX DeFi Ecosystem

OKX offers a self-custody DeFi wallet. It supports over 70 different decentralized networks, with even more on the horizon. The wallet provides a user-friendly dashboard to track your entire crypto portfolio, including its performance and transaction history. This all-in-one platform makes it easy to stay on top of your investments.

For NFT enthusiasts, OKX offers a one-stop shop for exploring, creating, and trading NFTs across 11+ networks. You can find popular NFT collections like Bored Ape Yacht Club and CryptoPunks, with up-to-date data on floor prices and trading volumes.

It also allows you to swap cryptocurrency between different networks at the best possible rates. With access to over 20 networks, 400+ decentralized exchanges (DEXs), and 20+ cross-chain bridges, OKX offers a powerful and transparent swap experience. The DeFi platform also offers various options to maximize your returns. You can explore features like saving, staking, and liquidity pools to generate passive income.

8 okx defi ecosystem

3. JumpStart (Launchpad)

OKX Jumpstart is a launching pad for brand new cryptocurrency projects. It acts as a bridge between potential investors and exciting ventures in the crypto market. Launched projects have garnered significant interest, with over 2.4 million people checking out Jumpstart so far.

Since its inception, a staggering amount of over $3.7 billion has been raised through Jumpstart for these new projects. This substantial figure highlights the platform’s ability to connect promising crypto ventures with interested investors. Currently, Jumpstart boasts a successful track record, having already launched 14 different crypto projects.

9 jumpstart 1

4. Trading Bots

OKX offers a variety of trading bots to automate your cryptocurrency trading strategies:

  • Grid Bots: It automatically places buy orders when the price dips and sell orders when the price rises within your designated range. This way, you aim to profit from small price swings, regardless of the overall market direction.
  • Signal Trading: This approach leverages the expertise of other successful crypto traders. You can connect your OKX account to “TradingView” signals created by analysts. If a signal aligns with your trading goals, the bot can automatically execute buy and sell orders based on the analyst’s recommendations.
  • DCA Bots (Dollar-Cost Averaging): The strategy is popular for long-term investors. DCA Bots help you gradually build your crypto holdings by placing smaller buy orders regularly. For example, you can set a DCA bot to buy a specific amount of Bitcoin weekly (every Monday), regardless of the current price.
  • Arbitrage Bots: These bots exploit price discrepancies between different markets like spot-futures. The bot identifies a situation where crypto can be bought on one market at a lower price and quickly sold on another for a higher price, capturing the profit difference.
  • Slicing Bots: They slice large buy or sell orders into smaller chunks, aiming to get a better average price by placing these smaller orders throughout the order book.
10 trading bots 3

Coinbase Standout Products Review

1. Coinbase Card

The Coinbase Card is like a regular debit card, but it lets you spend your crypto at millions of “Visa” accepted stores worldwide. This card connects to your Coinbase account. When you use the Coinbase Card to shop, it automatically changes your chosen crypto to US dollars to pay for things. No need to mess with exchange rates. You can even get cash from ATMs worldwide using your crypto balance.

A cool perk of the Coinbase Card is that you earn crypto rewards on your everyday purchases. The amount you earn can change, but it can be anywhere from 1% to 4% per purchase. There’s no annual fee to use the Coinbase Card, and you won’t get charged for using it to shop either. Just be aware that some ATMs might have their own fees, so check before you withdraw cash.

11 coinbase card 1

2. Coinbase Wallet

Coinbase Wallet is a decentralized self-custody wallet that gives you control over your crypto holdings, rather than keeping them on a centralized exchange. This means you are responsible for keeping your own security measures in place.

You can store over “hundreds of thousands” of different digital tokens like BTC, SOL, ETH, AVAX, LTC, and all your ERC-20 tokens. There are even features to buy and sell crypto directly within the wallet using fiat currencies like USD and EUR. 

One of the interesting features of Coinbase Wallet is its ability to connect to the decentralized web, also known as “Web3”. This opens up a whole new world of possibilities, including buying and selling non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Coinbase Wallet also allows you to participate in decentralized finance (DeFi), where you can earn interest on your crypto holdings.

Coinbase Wallet utilizes advanced security measures to keep your private keys safe. These steps involve features like requiring a PIN, fingerprint scan, or facial recognition to access your wallet. It is available as a mobile app for iPhone and Android devices, and there’s also a browser extension for Google Chrome.

12 coinbase wallet

3. Coinbase One

Coinbase One is like a VIP membership for people who use the Coinbase exchange a lot. It’s a $29.99 monthly subscription that gives you extra perks on top of a regular Coinbase account.

The main benefit of Coinbase One is that it offers zero trading fees for buying and selling cryptocurrencies up to a certain amount each month. It also gives you priority customer support. Another benefit is that you get boosted rewards when you stake certain cryptocurrencies.

It also provides free limited-time deals with the CoinTracker app and Messari platform. Coinbase One also simplifies crypto tax by providing a pre-filled Form 8949. This form can be filed directly with your tax return.

OKX vs Coinbase: Crypto Supported

OKX boasts a massive selection, with over 330 cryptocurrencies and a whopping 551+ trading pairs. This means you can trade a cryptocurrency against more than 551 other options like BTC/ETH, BTC/USDT, and BTC/USDC. In comparison, Coinbase offers 246 cryptos and 400 trading pairs. While both provide a good range, OKX comes out on top for sheer variety.

Here are some popular coins supported on both trading platforms:

  • Bitcoin (BTC)
  • Ethereum (ETH)
  • Theta Fuel (THETA)
  • Decentraland (MANA)
  • The Sandbox (SAND)
  • Axie Infinity (AXS)
  • Cosmos (ATOM)
  • Filecoin (FIL)
  • Shiba Inu (SHIB)

Winner: OKX supported more coins and tokens than Coinbase.

OKX vs Coinbase: Fees

OKX Trading Fees

OKX offers tiered spot trading fees that depend on whether you’re a regular user or a VIP user. Discounts are determined by a combination of your 30-day trading volume, daily asset balance, and OKB holdings. The more OKB you hold, the lower your fees. For regular users, it starts with a 0.08% maker and a 0.1% taker.

Here’s a quick breakdown of OKX spot trading fees:

Tier30-Day VolumeMaker FeesTaker Fees
VIP 00.08%0.1%
VIP 1≥ 5,000,0000.045%0.05%
VIP 2≥ 10,000,0000.04%0.045%
VIP 3≥ 20,000,0000.03%0.04%
VIP 4≥ 100,000,0000.02%0.035%

Similar to spot trading, futures contracts also have a tiered maker-taker fee structure. Regular users start with a 0.02% maker fee and a 0.05% taker fee, with discounts offered for higher OKB holdings.

Unlike spot and futures contracts, options trading on OKX have a flat maker fee of 0.02% and a taker fee of 0.03%. Check the full OKX fee structure here.

Coinbase Trading Fees

As discussed above, Coinbase offers two main trading platforms: Coinbase and Coinbase Advanced Trade. Each platform has its own fee structure, so understanding the difference is crucial before you start trading.

The amount you pay in fees on Coinbase depends on the size of your transaction. Here’s a breakdown:

  • For transactions under $10, there’s a flat fee of $0.99.
  • For transactions between $10 and $200, the fee is up to $2.99
  • Transactions above $200 typically have a 1.49% fee, but this can vary depending on your location and payment method. In some countries, using a credit or debit card for a large transaction might incur a higher fee of 3.99%.

On top of trading fees, Coinbase also charges a “spread fee”. This fee represents the difference between the market price of the cryptocurrency and the price that Coinbase offers you. The spread is typically around 0.5%, but it can fluctuate based on market conditions.

Similar to OKX, the Coinbase Advanced platform offers a maker-taker fee model. Makers are incentivized with lower fees, ranging from 0% to 0.4%. Takers pay a higher fee, ranging from 0.05% to 0.6%.

Trading VolumeCoinbase Taker FeeCoinbase Maker Fee
$0K – $10K60bps40bps
$10K – $50K40bps25bps
$50K – $100K25bps15bps
$100K – $1M20bps10bps
$1M – $15M18bps8bps
$15M – $75M16bps6bps
$75M – $250M12bps3bps
$250M – $400M8bps0bps
$400M+5bps0bps

While staking and unstaking crypto on Coinbase itself doesn’t incur any fees, Coinbase does take a commission from the rewards you earn through staking. This commission helps cover their operational costs for providing this service.

The commission rate varies depending on the specific cryptocurrency you’re staking. Here’s a breakdown of the current rates:

  • ADA, ATOM, MATIC, SOL: 35% commission on staking rewards
  • ETH: 25% commission on staking rewards

Deposit and Withdrawal Fees

OKX generally doesn’t charge deposit fees for cryptocurrencies. However, if you use third-party fiat deposit providers like Moonpay or Mercuryo, they may charge their own fees and spreads, typically ranging from 2% to over 10%.

When it comes to withdrawing cryptocurrencies from OKX, you’ll encounter network fees. These fees are essential for compensating miners or validators on the underlying blockchain network. They essentially pay for the computing power required to process your transaction and secure the network.

Different cryptocurrencies have varying network complexities, and the fees associated with processing transactions can differ. For example, Bitcoin transactions typically incur higher network fees compared to less congested blockchains.

Similar to OKX, Coinbase Advanced also charges gas fees for withdrawing cryptocurrencies. It’s deposit and withdrawal fees for fiat currencies vary depending on the chosen method:

Payment MethodFiat CurrencyCoinbase Deposit FeeCoinbase Withdrawal Fee
Bank Transfer (ACH)USDFreeFree
Wire TransferUSD$10$25
SEPA TransferEUR€0.15Free
SWIFTGBPFree£1
Debit CardUSD, EUR, GBPUp to 3.99%

Winner: OKX emerges as the clear winner with lower trading fees (0.08% maker and 0.1% taker). In contrast, Coinbase charges a flat fee of up to 1.49% on its basic platform, and even its maker-taker fees (0.4% maker and 0.6% taker) are significantly higher than OKX’s.

OKX vs Coinbase: Security

Both OKX and Coinbase use strong security measures to protect your digital assets:

  • Cold Storage: It’s a super secure way to keep your crypto offline, where hackers can’t reach it easily. Both OKX and Coinbase store the vast majority (around 98%) of user funds in cold storage.
  • Hot Wallets: Think of a hot wallet like your everyday wallet – it’s convenient for quick access, but maybe not ideal for storing large sums. A small portion of funds (used for daily transactions) is kept in hot wallets for faster transfers. Both exchanges use this method.
  • Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): You enter your password, then a code from your phone or another device for extra security. Both OKX and Coinbase offer 2FA, which is highly recommended.
  • Security Audits:  Regular check-ups are important, even for online platforms. Both OKX and Coinbase undergo security audits by independent firms.
  • Password Management: Coinbase uses a powerful method (bcrypt) to scramble your password into a unique code. This code is unreadable, even by Coinbase, so your actual password stays safe. They never store your password in its original form. OKX also uses hashing algorithms for password storage.
  • Address Book Whitelisting: Both exchanges support withdrawal address whitelisting. It lets you create a list of approved wallet addresses for sending and receiving crypto. This helps prevent accidental transfers to unauthorized addresses and adds an extra layer of security for your funds.

Apart from these features, Both platform also offers insurance funds. Your crypto holdings are insured in case of a security breach where the exchange is at fault. OKX currently has over $1.76 billion in insurance funds.

Coinbase has crime insurance to protect a portion of your digital assets in their storage systems. This means if there’s a theft, like a hacking attack, some of your crypto might be insured. 

Here’s what Coinbase doesn’t insure:

  • Any crypto was stolen due to weak passwords
  • Non-fungible tokens (NFTs)
  • Any losses in the value of your cryptocurrency due to price fluctuations

According to Coinbase, U.S. customer funds are held in cash equivalents at FDIC-insured banks. These accounts are structured to provide pass-through FDIC insurance, safeguarding your funds up to the current per-depositor limit (currently $250,000).

However, Coinbase One offers a program called “Account Protection” that could reimburse you up to $1 million if your account is compromised due to a security breach within their system. However, it’s not traditional insurance and has specific eligibility requirements.

OKX and Coinbase Regulatory Licenses

OKX has been actively pursuing licenses around the world to solidify its position:

  • Singapore: OKX’s Singapore subsidiary secured in-principle approval for a payments license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in early 2024. This allows OKX to offer digital payment token services and facilitate cross-border money transfers.
  • Dubai: Back in January 2024, OKX received a provisional virtual asset license in Dubai, granting them access to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) market. This license allows OKX to provide a range of crypto services directly to retail investors.
  • Hong Kong (under review): OKX also applied for a virtual asset license in Hong Kong. While their application is still under review by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), it demonstrates OKX’s commitment to operating within a compliant framework.

Coinbase is also a highly regulated crypto exchange, even more than OKX, with various licenses:

  • US States: Coinbase operates under Money Transmitter Licenses (MTLs) in several US states like New York, Pennsylvania, and Alaska. These licenses allow them to facilitate the transfer of funds.
  • Canada: It has secured a “Restricted Dealer” registration with the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA).
  • Europe: It is also among the top crypto exchanges in Europe and authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, as an electronic money institution. Also, the German entity Coinbase Germany GmbH is authorized by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority.

OKX vs Coinbase: User Friendliness

Coinbase is a clear beginner-friendly crypto exchange. Its interface is clean, uncluttered, and easy to navigate. It keeps things basic. The main screen displays essential features like buying, selling, and viewing your crypto holdings. No confusing charts or overwhelming financial data.

Buying crypto on Coinbase is like buying anything online. Choose your currency, enter the amount, and confirm. It’s fast and intuitive, perfect for first-time buyers. It also has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices with over 4.5/5 rating. The Coinbase app mirrors the same design of the web platform. It allows you to buy, sell, and manage your crypto on the go, making it convenient for busy lifestyles.

Coinbase understands the learning curve for beginners. They offer a variety of educational resources, including articles, videos, and quizzes, to help you navigate the world of crypto with confidence.

OKX caters to a more experienced audience. While it offers a wider range of features and trading options, its interface is less beginner-friendly. The platform is packed with features. Charts, graphs, and trading tools abound. This can be overwhelming for new users who just want to buy some Bitcoin. OKX also offers educational resources, but not as extensively as Coinbase.

Winner: Coinbase’s clean interface, straightforward buying process, and educational resources make it ideal for beginners. However, if you’re an experienced trader looking for a wider range of features, OKX might be worth considering

Final Thoughts: Which is Better, OKX or Coinbase?

To sum up OKX vs Coinbase, both stand as reputable crypto trading platforms with their unique strengths and offerings. OKX offers an extensive range of features, including advanced trading tools, leverage trading, and DeFi integration, making it a preferred choice for experienced traders seeking versatility and innovation.

Coinbase is best for beginners with easy to use trading interface and high security with regulatory compliance. It offers a basic spot market with buying and selling crypto using payment methods like ACH transfer, SEPA, Google Pay, and more.

FAQs

Is OKX available in the US?

OKX Exchange is not available in the US due to regulatory restrictions. However, US users can still access OKX Wallet, which provides a range of services for managing cryptocurrencies. It’s important to note that OKX operates another exchange specifically for the US market called “OKCoin”.

Is Coinbase good?

Yes, Coinbase is a well-established and reputable cryptocurrency exchange, known for its user-friendly interface and beginner-friendly features like instant buy/sell using fiat currencies. It operates in over 100 countries and offers a variety of cryptocurrencies for trading. However, some users may find its fees to be higher compared to other cryptocurrency exchanges like OKX and Bybit.

Can OKX be trusted?

Yes, OKX is a trusted cryptocurrency exchange with a strong reputation in the industry. It serves over 50 million users globally. The exchange emphasizes secure crypto transactions with features like address whitelisting, strong encryption, and asset custody, with features like cold storage and regular security audits.

Is OKX Exchange better than Coinbase?

OKX is better if you want to trade with high leverage (up to 100x) and access advanced trading features like copy trading and trading bots. It also offers more staking and earning services, plus a Web3 ecosystem.

On the other hand, Coinbase is known for its regulatory oversight, especially in the US and Europe. It’s trusted by many users because of this. Coinbase Wallet is also quite popular among users. Additionally, Coinbase offers advanced services like Coinbase Prime, which is geared towards institutional traders.

Which is best for altcoins, OKX or Coinbase?

OKX supports over 330 cryptocurrencies and offers a wider range of trading pairs compared to Coinbase, which supports around 246 cryptocurrencies. Therefore, OKX may be considered better for trading altcoins due to its larger selection and niche-based assets like metaverse, AI, DeFi, RWAs, and NFT tokens.

Which is safest, OKX or Coinbase?

Both OKX and Coinbase prioritize security and employ strong security measures to protect users’ funds. They use features like cold storage, two-factor authentication, and PoR audits to enhance security. Additionally, both platforms offer insurance funds to protect users’ assets in case of a security breach. However, Coinbase is largely regulated in the US and European countries, whereas OKX is more regulated in the Asian market.

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