# Coinbase **Source:** https://geo.sig.ai/brands/coinbase **Vertical:** Finance **Subcategory:** General **Tier:** Emerging **Website:** coinbase.com **Last Updated:** 2026-04-14 ## Summary Coinbase is the largest U.S. cryptocurrency exchange with $6.6B revenue in 2024, providing retail and institutional investors with trading, staking, custody, and Web3 developer services. ## Company Overview Coinbase (Nasdaq: COIN) is the largest U.S.-regulated cryptocurrency exchange and digital asset platform, providing tens of millions of retail users and thousands of institutional clients with services spanning trading, staking, custody, and Web3 infrastructure. Founded in 2012 by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam, Coinbase became the first major U.S. cryptocurrency company to go public, listing on Nasdaq in April 2021 in a landmark direct listing that valued the company at over $85 billion at its peak. The company operates a diversified business model across consumer trading, institutional services, and ecosystem products. Its retail trading platform accounts for the largest portion of revenue, with transaction fees varying with cryptocurrency market volatility—Coinbase's financials are tightly correlated with crypto market cycles. The institutional business, Coinbase Prime, provides custody, trading, and financing to hedge funds, asset managers, and corporations holding digital assets. Coinbase also generates subscription and services revenue through staking (earning yields by validating transactions) and Base, its Ethereum Layer 2 network that has become one of the most active blockchain networks. Coinbase had a landmark 2024, generating $6.6 billion in revenue as cryptocurrency markets recovered significantly, with Bitcoin reaching all-time highs above $100,000. The company has emerged as a critical piece of the regulated crypto infrastructure in the United States, benefiting from growing institutional adoption and a more favorable regulatory environment. With its dominant domestic brand recognition, regulatory licenses, and expanding product suite, Coinbase is positioned to be the primary gateway for U.S. participants in the growing digital asset economy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Coinbase? Coinbase is the largest U.S. cryptocurrency exchange, offering retail and institutional trading, staking, custody, and Web3 developer tools. It is publicly traded on Nasdaq (COIN). ### How does Coinbase make money? Coinbase earns primarily from transaction fees on cryptocurrency trades, plus subscription and services revenue from staking, custody, and its Base Layer 2 network. ### What is Coinbase Base? Base is Coinbase's Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain network that provides faster, cheaper transactions for Web3 applications, and has become one of the most active Layer 2 networks since launching in 2023. ### Is Coinbase publicly traded? Yes, Coinbase is publicly traded on Nasdaq under the ticker COIN, having gone public in April 2021 via a landmark direct listing. ### What is Coinbase? Coinbase is the largest U.S.-regulated cryptocurrency exchange, offering retail and institutional trading, crypto custody, a self-custody wallet, staking, and developer infrastructure — publicly traded on NASDAQ (COIN) since April 2021. ### What is Coinbase's Base network? Base is Coinbase's Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain built on the OP Stack — providing a fast, low-cost on-chain environment for decentralized applications while giving Coinbase a strategic position in the emerging onchain economy. ### How does Coinbase generate revenue? Coinbase earns transaction fees on retail trades, subscription and services revenue (staking, Coinbase One, Coinbase Prime), and interest on customer USD balances — diversifying beyond pure trading fee revenue which fluctuates with market conditions. ### What regulatory challenges does Coinbase face? Coinbase has faced an SEC lawsuit alleging it operates as an unregistered securities exchange — a landmark case whose outcome will significantly shape U.S. cryptocurrency regulation and Coinbase's ability to list tokens in America. ### What services does Coinbase offer beyond a crypto exchange? Beyond its retail exchange, Coinbase offers Coinbase Advanced Trade for professional traders, Coinbase Prime for institutional clients, Coinbase Custody for institutional asset storage, Base (its Layer 2 blockchain), and Coinbase Pay and Coinbase Card for commerce and spending. ### How does Coinbase ensure security of customer assets? Coinbase stores approximately 98% of customer funds in offline cold storage, maintains crime insurance against breaches, is SOC 2 Type II certified, and operates under regulatory compliance frameworks in all jurisdictions where it holds licenses—including its BitLicense in New York. ### What is Coinbase's regulatory status? Coinbase is a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: COIN) and a licensed money transmitter in all U.S. states where it operates. It holds regulatory approvals in the EU, UK, Canada, Singapore, and other markets, making it one of the most compliant crypto exchanges globally. ### What is Base, Coinbase's Layer 2 blockchain? Base is an Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain developed by Coinbase that offers fast, low-cost transactions using Optimism's OP Stack technology. It is designed to onboard the next billion users to on-chain applications, and Coinbase has committed to being a long-term contributor without extracting Base revenue for itself. ## Tags b2c, fintech, blockchain, public, global, platform --- *Data from geo.sig.ai Brand Intelligence Database. Updated 2026-04-14.*