Gemini and Coinbase are two of the best cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. They are also both based in the US, making them two of the best in the US. But while both offer similar and reliable services, they differ in how they offer them.
If you need help deciding which one to use, this article compares the services offered by the two exchanges.
Gemini Overview
Gemini is a global cryptocurrency exchange based in the United States. Founded in 2014 by twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, it is one of the best crypto exchanges for US residents. The exchange is registered in the US as Gemini Trust Company and acts as an advanced crypto trading platform as well as a digital asset custody service provider.
Gemini has a $200 million insurance policy covering digital assets in its custody, making it one of the industry’s top crypto custody service providers.
Like any other crypto exchange, you can buy, sell and trade many cryptocurrencies on Gemini. In addition, the platform has advanced charting, multiple order types, auctions and block trading for advanced traders. Gemini also has a cryptocurrency wallet with the same name as the exchange.
Coinbase Overview
Coinbase is the largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume in the US. Founded in 2012, Coinbase is even older than Gemini and has been operating for the past decade. Like Gemini, Coinbase is registered and regulated in the US and has substantial crypto insurance to protect user funds.
It focuses on simplicity, making it a beginner-friendly platform where new crypto traders and investors can begin their journey. There is also the more advanced Coinbase Pro, which has more advanced features than Coinbase (but is also free to use).
Like Gemini, Coinbase also has its own wallet named after the exchange, allowing users of the platform to easily move assets between the exchange and the wallet.
Gemini vs. Coinbase: Supported Assets
Both Gemini and Coinbase support a good number of cryptocurrencies. You can buy, sell or trade over 100 cryptocurrencies on Gemini, including top cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, while Coinbase has slightly more supported assets, with around 120 cryptos. Whatever you choose, you will likely get the digital asset you want to buy or trade.
A common weakness of the two exchanges is that they both have a limited number of altcoins to trade and are therefore not good for altcoin traders. Overall, Coinbase has a higher number of supported assets, so it wins in this regard.
Gemini vs. Coinbase: Supported Countries
Both Gemini and Coinbase are global cryptocurrency exchanges, meaning both have users worldwide, although they are two of the few exchanges Americans can use. Users come from the US, UK, Canada and other countries across many continents.
Gemini supports users from over 60 countries globally, making its services widely available. Coinbase supports even more, with its services available in over 100 countries.
Gemini vs. Coinbase: Fees
Gemini has different fee plans depending on product and usage level. For example, if you use a mobile device, you will pay a convenience fee (which is 0.5% above the current merchant price) and transaction fees, both of which will be displayed up front before you complete your order.
Typically, transaction fees increase with the order amount in any currency. For example, an order of $10 or less will cost $0.99, while an order of $50 will cost $2.99. For orders of $200 or more, a 1.49% fee is charged. The same fee schedule applies to online orders. Fees are generally lower for USD orders.
Gemini fee distribution
| 30-DAY TRADING VOLUME IN (NOTITIONAL USD) | THANKSGIVING FEE | MAKER FEE |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0.40% | 0.20% |
| ≥ $10,000 | 0.30% | 0.10% |
| ≥ $50,000 | 0.25% | 0.10% |
| ≥ $100,000 | 0.20% | 0.08% |
| ≥ $1,000,000 | 0.15% | 0.05% |
| ≥ $5,000,000 | 0.10% | 0.03% |
| ≥ $10,000,000 | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| ≥ $50,000,000 | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| ≥ $100,000,000 | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| ≥ $500,000,000 | 0.03% | 0.00% |
There are no deposit or withdrawal fees at Gemini (apart from network fees) unless you use a debit card to deposit, in which case you will be charged a fee of 3.49% of the deposit amount.
Gemini uses a maker-taker fee model to determine trading fees, as shown in the table below. For custodial fees, a 0.4% fee is charged on the amount in custody, while $125 is charged as administrative fees on any withdrawal.
Coinbase also uses a maker-taker fee model to determine trading fees. However, the fees are higher than those of Gemini, except that Gemini charges 0.01% on stablecoin pairs, which is ten times as much as Coinbase’s 0.001%.
Coinbase fee distribution
| Price level | Taker Fee | Producer tax |
| $0-10K | 0.60% | 0.40% |
| $10K-50K | 0.40% | 0.25% |
| $50,000 – 100,000 | 0.25% | 0.15% |
| $100,000 – 1 million | 0.20% | 0.10% |
| USD 1-20 million | 0.18% | 0.08% |
| USD 20-100 million | 0.15% | 0.05% |
| $100 million – $300 million | 0.10% | 0.02% |
| $300 million – $500 million USD | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| $500M+ | 0.05% | 0.00% |
In addition to this, Coinbase charges fees for fiat deposits and withdrawals depending on the methods used and the currency, as shown in the table below.
| Deposit fee | Withdrawal fee | |
| ACH | Free | Free |
| Wire (USD) | $10 USD | $25 USD |
| SEPA (EUR) | €0.15 EUR | €0.15 EUR |
| Swift (GBP | Free | £1 GBP |
Although the two exchanges have a similar fee structure, Coinbase charges more fees than Gemini, so Gemini wins in terms of fees.
Gemini vs. Coinbase: Security
Gemini and Coinbase are both among the most secure crypto exchanges in the world.
Gemini has a reputation as a very secure crypto exchange, and it continues to improve this to ensure that its customers’ assets are safe. Regular third-party security assessments are performed, including SOC2 Type 2, ISO 27001 and annual penetration testing.
However, Gemini lost a significant portion of IRA investor funds in 2022. The exchange lost a master key that allowed attackers to access users’ retirement funds, and Gemini is still in court on the matter.
Coinbase is a registered and regulated exchange just like Gemini. It is also big on security as it keeps around 98% of its customers’ funds in cold storage. Nevertheless, it has experienced several security issues that have led to the loss of funds from exchange wallets.
Although both have experienced significant security breaches, Coinbase has recorded more incidents. But overall, both Coinbase and Gemini are safe, and this department has no outright winner.
Gemini vs. Coinbase: Verdict
Both Gemini and Coinbase are world-leading cryptocurrency exchanges. They both offer customers a reasonable number of digital assets from many countries. Best of all, both Gemini and Coinbase are easy to use and
