With cryptocurrencies gaining significant popularity in India, millions of Indians seek reliable ways to invest in crypto.

Coinbase and WazirX are two popular spot exchanges to choose from. Founded in 2012 in the US, Coinbase is one of the world’s oldest and most trusted crypto exchanges. WazirX was founded in 2018 in India and has emerged as the top crypto exchange in India.

Coinbase isn’t yet fully functional in India, but it is planning an entry soon.

Which exchange should you choose to trade cryptos in India? Here is a detailed comparison between the two exchanges based on their fees, deposit methods, platform performance, and more.

Coinbase Vs. WazirX: Supported Cryptocurrencies

Coinbase and WazirX offer many cryptocurrencies, and users have various options to choose which asset they want to trade.

Coinbase has over 40 cryptocurrencies. You can find all the popular cryptocurrencies on the exchange, such as BTC, ETH, BCH, DOT, EOS, and XRP.

Coinbase doesn’t have its native token, but you can trade USD Coin (USDC), a stable coin started by Coinbase and Circle.

WazirX supports around 100 cryptocurrencies, including BTC, ETH, DOT, and all other popular cryptocurrencies. It also has its native token—Wazir Coin (WZX)—currently trading at $1.45.

Coinbase has a 24h trading volume of USD 3.83 billion, and WazirX has a 24h trading volume of USD 150 million.

Verdict: WazirX is the winner, as it supports more cryptocurrencies than Coinbase.

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Coinbase Vs. WazirX: Trading Fees

Coinbase and WazirX use a market maker and market taker fee model. However, WazirX has a flat fee structure, whereas Coinbase has a tiered fee structure where the fee depends on your last 30d volume.

WazirX charges a market maker/taker fee of 0.2%/0.2%. The fee is slightly higher than competitors like Binance. However, the fee structure is simple and easy to understand.

The Coinbase exchange has two versions: Coinbase and Coinbase Pro. Coinbase is ideal for beginners, as it’s easy to use. However, the fee it charges is quite high. The market maker/taker fee is 0.5%, which is significantly higher than competitors.

There are fees for deposits and purchases as well.

Coinbase Pro has a tiered structure, and the fees range from 0.0–0.5%. There are ten tiers—users with a 30d trading volume of less than $10k fall into the first tier. The market maker/taker fee for Tier 1 traders is 0.50%/0.50%.

Users with a 30d volume of more than $2 billion fall into the tenth tier. For Tier 10 traders, the market maker/taker fee is 0.0%/0.04%.

The market maker-taker fee method is prevalent in the crypto space. Every order you place will either enter the order book or get executed without entering the order book.

Orders that enter the order book add liquidity to the market. These orders are market maker orders. Similarly, orders that don’t enter the order book remove liquidity from the market. These orders are market taker orders.

Regarding particular order types, limit orders are market maker orders, and market orders are market taker orders.

Verdict: WazirX is the winner, as it has a more straightforward trading fee system.

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Coinbase Vs. WazirX: Other Fees

There are other fees like deposit fees and withdrawal fees that users must consider before choosing an exchange.

WazirX does not charge any deposit fee, but it charges a withdrawal fee depending on the currency you wish to withdraw. For instance, the withdrawal fee for Bitcoin is 0.006 BTC, which is similar to the withdrawal fee of exchanges like Bybit.

Likewise, WazirX charges 20 USDT for USDT withdrawals and 1 WRX for WRX withdrawals.

Coinbase charges a 3.99% fee for credit card purchases and a 1.49% fee for Coinbase wallet or bank account purchases. The withdrawal fee may also apply based on the payment method and total withdrawal amount.

Verdict: WazirX is the winner, as it has fewer additional fees than Coinbase.

Coinbase Vs. WazirX: Supported Countries

Coinbase is available in over 100 countries, including the US. However, some countries like China, Russia, and Nigeria are not on the list.

WazirX is also available in most countries, apart from a few countries like the US, Serbia, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, and North Korea.

Both Coinbase and WazirX offer services in India.

Verdict: It’s a tie, as Coinbase and WazirX are available in India and many other countries.

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Account Funding Methods

Coinbase is available in many countries, the funding methods available are specific to each country. As of now, Coinbase only supports P2P transactions and cryptocurrency conversions for Indian users. It does not support direct INR deposits.

WazirX, being an Indian exchange, allows INR deposits through IMPS, NEFT, and UPI. It also supports other currencies, including EUR, IDR, NGN, TRY, SAR, and UAH. Besides, you can trade cryptos against INR on WazirX.

Verdict: WazirX is the winner, as it supports direct INR deposits through NEFT, IMPS, and UPI.

Opening Account & Account Limits

Coinbase and WazirX offer seamless registration and account opening processes.

To register on Coinbase, you need to visit the Coinbase website and click on Get started. Since Coinbase is a regulated financial company, KYC verification is mandatory for all users to trade on Coinbase.

To register on WazirX, you need to visit the WazirX website and click “Sign Up Now” to create an account. You don’t need a KYC to deposit funds and trade cryptos on WazirX. However, you’ll need to confirm your identity if you want to withdraw funds or use the P2P services.

Both the exchanges have a quick KYC service, and your account verification will not take over 48 hours.

Verdict: WazirX is the winner, as it allows you to deposit funds and trade cryptos without KYC.

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Ease of Use & Interface

WazirX and Coinbase offer an institution-grade trading platform with an intuitive user interface. However, there are few differences between the two exchanges that you must know. Let’s compare the trading platform and performance of WazirX and Coinbase.

Coinbase

Coinbase comes in two versions, as discussed earlier. The Coinbase (basic) version is ideal for beginners. It allows you to check the prices of cryptos and place buy and sell orders at the market price. It’s ideal for new crypto investors who aren’t familiar with charts and indicators.

Coinbase Pro is a comprehensive trading platform with all the features and tools available on other popular exchanges. These include:

  • Historical charts with multiple chart types, including area, candlesticks, etc. powered by TradingView
  • Multiple time frames for long-term and short-term analysis
  • Built-in indicators for thorough technical analysis
  • Drawing tools for marking crucial levels and identifying trends and trading opportunities

Coinbase supports the three basic order types: limit, market, and stop-limit. There are mobile apps for Coinbase and Coinbase Pro available for iOS and Android devices.

WazirX

WazirX has a cutting-edge trading platform and comes with all the essential features and tools.

It has a charting tool powered by TradingView. It shares the same features as Coinbase Pro, including historical charts, multiple chart types, multiple time frame analysis, built-in indicators, and drawing tools.

The trading panel of WazirX is like other leading exchanges, like Binance. The charting tool is at the center, and the list of coins is on its right. On the left side is the order form where you can place orders, and below the charting system is the order book.

WazirX, like Coinbase, supports three order types: market, limit, and stop-limit. WazirX has a mobile app available for both iOS and Android devices.

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User Experience

Coinbase and WazirX offer a very similar trading experience. Both the platforms use the TradingView charting system, so the charts, indicators, and other features available on the two platforms are the same.

However, when it comes to the ease of use and user experience, WazirX has a slight edge over Coinbase. The platform is more intuitive and responsive, and it provides an enjoyable trading experience.

Verdict: WazirX is the winner as it offers a better user experience than Coinbase.

Security Features

Security is a critical aspect of crypto trading, and every trader should consider it before choosing an exchange. Let’s compare the security measures taken by the two exchanges.

Coinbase

Coinbase has a multi-dimensional security infrastructure that helps create a secure trading experience for everyone. Some security features implemented by Coinbase are:

  • Two-Factor Authentication: Coinbase recommends users activate two-factor authentication to enhance the security of their account.
  • Cold Storage System: Coinbase stores over 95% of users’ funds in multi-signature cold storage wallets accessible only after manual authorization.
  • Pooled Insurance: Coinbase insures users’ funds by holding them in USD custodial accounts, liquid US treasuries, or USD denominated money market funds.
  • Mandatory KYC: Coinbase requires every user to complete identity verification before investing in crypto. Hence, the entire user base of Coinbase is verified.
  • Cutting-Edge Technology: Coinbase deploys leading technologies, such as IP whitelisting and SSL encryption, to provide a secure trading experience to all its users.

WazirX

WazirX has a similar security infrastructure as Coinbase. It allows users to activate two-factor authentication and stores most of their funds in cold storage wallet systems. It also has mandatory KYC requirements for withdrawing funds.

Verdict: It’s a tie, as both WazirX and Coinbase implement similar security measures.

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Customer Support

Coinbase provides customer support via email and phone. However, you can use phone support only for locking your account in case of suspicious activity or help regarding the Coinbase USD card. For other queries, you need to reach out to the support team by email.

Coinbase has a comprehensive knowledge base comprising frequently asked questions and blog posts.

WazirX offers support via live chat and email. You can access the live chat on the website. The live chat is ideal for quick queries with instant resolution. For in-depth issues, you can reach out to the WazirX support team by email.

Verdict: WazirX is the winner, as it offers live chat support.

  • Is WazirX a Safe Exchange?

Yes. WazirX is a safe exchange. It requires all its users to complete identity verification to withdraw funds. The exchange also implements top-notch security features.

  • Is Coinbase a Safe Exchange?

Yes, Coinbase is a safe exchange. It is registered as a Money Services Business with FinCEN and complies with the laws and regulations of each jurisdiction. It also has mandatory KYC requirements.

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Conclusion

Choosing between WazirX and Coinbase can be difficult, as the features provided by the two exchanges are very similar. They support multiple cryptocurrencies, have great trading platforms, and implement robust security.

However, there are a couple of key areas where WazirX is better than Coinbase in India. First, WazirX has a simple fee structure compared to Coinbase’s complex tiered system.

Second, WazirX supports direct INR deposits using IMPS, NEFT, and UPI, whereas Coinbase doesn’t support direct INR deposits. Therefore, if you want to trade cryptos in India, WazirX is better than Coinbase.

Learn how does Coinbase & WazirX stack up against the competition:

Sudhir Khatwani
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