What Happens if Coinbase Goes Out of Business? - ChainSec (2024)

Answer

It will entirely depend on what caused Coinbase to go out of business.

If it’s the case that Coinbase shut down and goes bankrupt due to things like bad business handling or bad capital and finance management, there’s a decent chance that Coinbase would simply notify their users that their service is shutting down, while giving them ample amounts of time to withdraw their money.

On the other hand, if it’s the case that Coinbase goes bankrupt through a hack on their cold wallet storage, it’s a lot less likely for you to gain back access to your funds even if Coinbase is FDIC insured.

Is Coinbase safe?

Since Coinbase’s inception in 2012, Coinbase still hasn’t had a single devastating hack as of yet. Knowing that exchanges get hacked all the time, we should definitely give huge props to Coinbase for keeping their platform secure for more than a decade.

But regardless — while we should hope for Coinbase to be hack-free hopefully forever, leaving all your cryptocurrency holdings on exchanges is quite irresponsible. Great and easy-to-use hardware wallets like the Ledger Nano X have existed for a while now, hence there’s really no reason for anyone to not use a hardware wallet unless you don’t know how to navigate a computer or smartphone.

To learn more about Coinbase’s security, you can refer to our article here.

What’s a hardware wallet?

Hardware wallets are mostly small flashdrive-like devices used for cryptocurrency enthusiasts to secure their funds. With a hardware wallet, you don’t need to worry about your phone or your computer getting hacked because your wallet’s keys are always secured inside the hardware wallet device.

How to protect yourself

What Happens if Coinbase Goes Out of Business? - ChainSec (1)

As said earlier, exchanges get hacked all the time. To put it simply, only use exchanges such as Coinbase to buy and sell bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. It’s far better security-wise to store your funds through a reputable hardware wallet such as the Ledger Nano X. That way, you can make sure that your funds are totally secure, and that you will have access to your funds every single time.

Quick note: always purchase Ledger hardware wallets from the official website. Not on Amazon, eBay, etc. to prevent you from purchasing a fake/tampered device.

To learn more about Bitcoin and cryptocurrency wallets, you can refer to our in-depth guide here.

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What Happens if Coinbase Goes Out of Business? - ChainSec (2024)

FAQs

Will Coinbase keep my money? ›

Coinbase may hold your funds and coins for several reasons, including regulatory requirements, compliance procedures, security checks, or as part of their standard risk management practices. This is a common practice among cryptocurrency exchanges and financial institutions.

Is Coinbase safe right now? ›

Its liquidity and wise token allocation make it one of the most durable crypto exchanges. These are some reasons Coinbase is a safe crypto exchange.

Will Coinbase give me my money back? ›

If you would like a refund, please contact the merchant directly. All transactions made with cryptocurrency are direct peer-to-peer payments from the customer to the merchant. This means that once a payment is sent, there is no way for Coinbase to reverse the transaction or reclaim funds on your behalf.

Is my money protected in Coinbase? ›

Client funds are stored in omnibus FBO accounts and we maintain internal ledgers as an official record of how much cash each client holds. These records enable us to secure pass-through FDIC insurance for our customers (up to $250,000 per customer, per bank).

Why won t Coinbase let me cash out? ›

Funds on hold

When you use a linked bank account (ACH) to buy crypto or add cash to your account balance, the funds are placed on hold and won't be immediately available to send or cash out. Think of this like depositing a check to your bank account and having to wait for it to clear before you can remove the funds.

Can you withdraw all your money from Coinbase? ›

To cash out some or all of your local currency balance:

Sign in to your Coinbase.com account. Select My assets in the navigation bar. Select next to your local currency and choose Cash out. Select Cash out all to include your full balance.

Should I get out of Coinbase? ›

Coinbase has excellent security measures to ensure its users' funds are safe. However, we recommend moving your crypto assets off any exchange into a self-custodial hardware wallet.

Why not to use Coinbase? ›

High fees compared to competitors: Many reviewers believe that Coinbase charges relatively high fees when compared to other platforms in the industry. Users express dissatisfaction with these fees, especially considering that they are imposed on top of the fees already charged by crypto networks.

What is the safest crypto exchange? ›

If you are looking to trade on a highly secure, regulated crypto exchange that offers a large number of supported cryptocurrencies, Gemini is your go-to choice. If you are looking to trade a wide range of new and small-cap crypto tokens, BitMart is arguably the best choice.

Can I sue Coinbase for losing my money? ›

When you create an account on a crypto exchange, you agree to the terms in its user agreement. Coinbase's user agreement requires you to either pursue out-of-court relief through a process called arbitration or file your lawsuit in small claims court.

How do I get my money back from Blockchain? ›

On the web
  1. Login to your Exchange account via desktop web browser.
  2. Click Withdraw in the top right corner, select Crypto and choose the asset you'd like to withdraw.
  3. Next, type or paste the address to which you'd like to send funds to or select your Blockchain.com Wallet Account if you want to withdraw crypto there.
Mar 5, 2024

Is Coinbase one FDIC insured? ›

Coinbase is not an FDIC-insured bank and digital currency is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”), and may lose value.

What to do if you have money in Coinbase? ›

To cash out your balance:
  1. Sign in to your Coinbase.com account.
  2. Select My Assets.
  3. Select your local currency balance.
  4. Select the Cash out tab and enter the amount you want to cash out.
  5. Select Transfer to and choose your cash out destination.
  6. Select Review.
  7. Select Withdraw cash to complete your transfer.

Do I own my crypto on Coinbase? ›

You own your digital assets just like you always have. Coinbase maintains internal ledgering systems which track your account activity in real time. As a result, there is never a situation where customer funds could be confused with corporate assets. We also will never repurpose your funds.

How do I protect my Coinbase assets? ›

Use 2-factor authentication (2FA)

And always use the strongest type of 2FA the platform allows, ideally a Yubikey or similar hardware security key. If a service provider doesn't allow Yubikey, use an authentication app like Google Authenticator or Duo Security instead of SMS-based 2FA if possible.

Can I trust Coinbase with my SSN? ›

Coinbase uses identity verification to comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) laws and prevent fraudulent activity. KYC is a multi-step process that confirms the identity of customers. We collect necessary information mandated by law, such as verifying your identity and protecting you from potential fraudulent activity.

What is the disadvantage of Coinbase? ›

It's user-friendly, making it easy to buy, sell, and store various cryptocurrencies. Coinbase also provides a secure platform and offers a wide range of cryptocurrencies for trading. However, one drawback is that fees on Coinbase can be higher compared to other exchanges.

Is Coinbase a buy or sell? ›

Is Coinbase stock a Buy, Sell or Hold? Coinbase stock has received a consensus rating of buy. The average rating score is and is based on 48 buy ratings, 23 hold ratings, and 27 sell ratings.

How do I protect my crypto on Coinbase? ›

In addition to strong passwords, where available, use two-factor authentication (2FA). And always use the strongest type of 2FA the platform allows, ideally a Yubikey or similar hardware security key.

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