Coinbase, Exchanges

What Is Coinbase Business Model?

Coinbase is a digital asset exchange company headquartered in San Francisco, California. They broker exchanges of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and other digital assets with fiat currencies in 32 countries, and bitcoin transactions and storage in 190 countries worldwide.

Coinbase was founded in 2012 by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam. Coinbase allows clients to buy and sell cryptocurrencies through a variety of payment methods, including credit card, bank transfer (ACH), and PayPal.

Coinbase has been a subject of scrutiny amid claims that it has failed to allow withdrawals of certain assets during periods of high market volatility. In January 2018, Coinbase was accused by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin of being “insolvent” after it suspended trading of Ethereum Classic due to what it called “significant divergence” from the Ethereum blockchain.

NOTE: WARNING: It is important to understand the risks involved with investing in cryptocurrencies and the Coinbase business model before doing so. Cryptocurrency investments are highly volatile and can result in significant losses. Furthermore, Coinbase has not been regulated by any government authority, so it is possible that Coinbase could be subject to fraud or other illegal activities. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you do extensive research and consult with a qualified financial advisor prior to investing in cryptocurrencies or using Coinbase.

In March 2018, Coinbase was sued for allegedly failing to allow withdrawals of Bitcoin Cash during the cryptocurrency’s launch in December 2017.

The Coinbase business model is based on a simple revenue model: they make money by charging transaction fees to their users. For most transactions, they charge a 1% fee (which is split between them and the merchant).

For example, if you buy $100 worth of Bitcoin on Coinbase, you’ll pay a $1 fee. You can see all their fees here.

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