Exodus and Coinbase are cryptocurrency exchanges that offer digital wallets, betting and a variety of cryptocurrencies.
Exodus was founded in 2015 with headquarters in Nebraska, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved its Class A common stock offering in April 2021 (OTCBB: EXDSQ).Coinbase launched in 2012 and was previously based in California.
However, in 2020, it announced that Coinbase would be a remote company and plans to close its San Francisco headquarters by 2022. It went public through a direct listing in April 2021 (Nasdaq: COIN).
Coinbase is a centralized exchange, meaning it oversees transactions and secures assets on your behalf. In contrast, Exodus is a decentralized or distributed exchange. In this case, it provides the platform but does not control your trades. Instead, it supports peer-to-peer (P2P) trading. Cryptocurrency platforms differ in their approach to fees and features. Coinbase remains an excellent choice for beginners or people who want a traditional brokerage experience. On the other hand, Exodus offers more coins and control over assets.
We reviewed both cryptocurrency exchanges by looking at supported currencies, platform features, fees and security. We also evaluated the mobile apps and each exchange overall for ease of use and accessibility
EXODUS
- Fees: Variable spread and network fees
- Currencies: 138
- Security: Users are responsible for safely storing their crypto, as Exodus doesn’t hold funds or require personal information for accounts
- Wallet: Hot software wallet and integrates with Trezor Model T and Trezor One
- Transactions Supported: P2P crypto-to-crypto trades
- Max. Trading Amount: Unlimited
- Apps: Mobile: Android and iOS
Desktop: Windows, Mac, and Linux
Pros
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- Total control over your crypto assets
- Integration with Trezor hardware
- Earn rewards for staking
Cons
- Network fees may be higher than Coinbase
- Can’t withdraw to a fiat currency
- No advanced buying and selling options
COINBASE
- Fees: $0.99 to $2.99 plus 0.50% spread per trade, 3.99% for credit card purchases
- Currencies: 66
- Security: FDIC-insured USD balances up to $250,000, two-step verification, cold storage, bug bounty program, and insurance against theft
- Wallet: Web-based hot wallet software and optional Coinbase hot wallet
- Transactions Supported: Buy, sell, withdraw, send, and receive
- Max. Trading Amount: Limits vary based on your payment method and region
- Apps: Mobile: Android and iOS
Desktop: None
Pros
- Can buy crypto using USD or another fiat currency
- Several buying and selling transaction types
- Earn rewards for staking and learning about crypto
Cons
- Higher fees than other centralized exchanges
- Advanced features require using Coinbase Pro
- Less control over assets that remain on the exchange
Company Overview
Coinbase was founded in 2012 as a place to send and receive Bitcoin. The company has grown to support dozens of unique cryptocurrencies and has more than 2,700 employees worldwide.1 Coinbase is a decentralized company with no main headquarters.
Coinbase operates with users in more than 100 countries, and customers trade approximately $327 billion per quarter. Coinbase manages a robust cryptocurrency ecosystem supporting 9,000 financial institutions.1
Coinbase runs two separate trading platforms in addition to a standalone cryptocurrency wallet service. Between the suite of Coinbase products, you’re likely to find anything you need to start and manage a cryptocurrency portfolio or trading plan.
Pros Explained
Easy to use for cryptocurrency beginners: The main Coinbase website and mobile app are very easy to use and allow you to buy, sell, and exchange cryptocurrencies quickly.
Support for a large number of cryptocurrencies: Coinbase currently supports over 100 currencies for trading, and the number grows regularly.
Opportunities to earn cryptocurrency: Earn interest on eligible balances, or get a small amount of a new currency through Coinbase Earn.
Lower pricing available with Coinbase Pro: Any user can switch to Coinbase Pro, an active trading platform with more features and low fees.
Cons Explained
High transaction fees: Transaction fees are often expensive on the primary Coinbase platform.
Customer service issues: Coinbase gets poor marks for customer service, including in the event of serious account security issues.
No access to trade many altcoins: While Coinbase supports an impressive list of currencies, many are missing.
Cryptocurrencies Available on Coinbase
Coinbase supports trading of over 100 cryptocurrencies and regularly puts new coins on the list. There are too many to list here, so here’s a glance at some of the most popular currencies on Coinbase:
Bitcoin (BTC)
Ethereum (ETH)
Cardano (ADA)
Solana (SOL)
Polkadot (DOT)
USD Coin (USDC)
Dogecoin (DOGE)
Uniswap (UNI)
Litecoin (LTC)
Shiba Inu (SHIB)
Algorand (ALGO)
Stellar Lumens (XLM)
Polygon (MATIC)
DAI (DAI)
SushiSwap (SUSHI)
Trading Experience
As mentioned above, the company runs two different platforms known as Coinbase and Coinbase Pro. Each allows you to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies but offers unique features.
Coinbase
Trading on Coinbase is beginner-friendly and easy to use for anyone with basic computer skills. Coinbase is available on the web or through Android and iOS mobile devices. If you’ve ever traded stocks through an online brokerage, you’ll find a somewhat similar experience.
On the main dashboard, you’re able to view your Coinbase portfolio, and you’re never more than a couple of clicks away from a screen to buy and sell currency.