#show-card ## Overview [[Coinbase]] is one of the largest and most well-known cryptocurrency exchange platforms globally. It allows users to buy, sell, trade, and store various cryptocurrencies. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in the United States, Coinbase is a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: COIN). It is often seen as an entry point for individuals new to cryptocurrency due to its user-friendly interface and regulatory compliance efforts. - **Type:** Centralized Cryptocurrency Exchange (CEX) - **Key Services:** Cryptocurrency trading, [[Wallet|wallet]]|[[Custodial wallet|custodial wallet]]]] services, [[Staking|staking]], institutional services (Coinbase Prime), educational resources. - **Native Token/Coin:** While Coinbase itself is a company, it was instrumental in launching the USDC [[Stablecoin|stablecoin]] through the CENTRE consortium. It also has its own layer-2 blockchain called [[Base]]. - **Website:** [https://www.coinbase.com](https://www.coinbase.com) - **Status:** Active and one of the leading exchanges. ## Features - User-friendly interface for buying, selling, and managing cryptocurrencies. - Wide range of supported cryptocurrencies. - Coinbase Wallet: A separate self-custodial wallet app. - Coinbase Pro (being phased out and merged into Advanced Trade on Coinbase): Advanced trading features, charts, and order types. - Staking services for various proof-of-stake cryptocurrencies. - Educational resources (Coinbase Earn) that reward users for learning about crypto. - Strong focus on regulatory compliance and security, including [[Know your customer]] and [[Anti money laundering]] procedures. - Coinbase Prime for institutional investors. - Coinbase Cloud for developers. - Base: An [[Ethereum]] [[Layer 2]] (L2) network built to offer a secure, low-cost, developer-friendly way to build on-chain. ## Ecosystem - **USDC:** Co-founded the CENTRE consortium, the issuer of USD Coin (USDC), a major stablecoin. - **Base:** An Ethereum L2 network incubated by Coinbase. - **Coinbase Ventures:** An investment arm that funds early-stage cryptocurrency and blockchain startups. ## Why it Matters in Web3 Coinbase plays a significant role in the [[Web3]] ecosystem by: - Providing a relatively safe and regulated on-ramp and off-ramp for fiat-to-crypto conversions. - Driving mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies. - Offering custodial solutions that, while centralized, are accessible to a broad audience. - Investing in and supporting the development of the broader Web3 space through Coinbase Ventures and initiatives like Base. - Its public listing has brought more traditional financial attention to the crypto industry. ## Related Concepts - [[Centralized exchange]] - cryptocurrency - [[Bitcoin]] - Ethereum - Stablecoin - USDC - Know your customer - Anti money laundering - wallet (Custodial and Self-[[Custody]]) - Base (Layer 2)