Overview
Coinbase Global, Inc., commonly known as Coinbase, is a leading American publicly traded company that operates a comprehensive cryptocurrency exchange platform. Founded in June 2012 by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam, Coinbase has grown to become the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States by trading volume. Key aspects of Coinbase include:
- Remote-first operations: Since May 2020, Coinbase has operated entirely on a remote-first model, with its legal headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware.
- Product offerings:
- Coinbase: App for buying, storing, and trading cryptocurrencies
- Coinbase Pro: Professional asset trading platform
- Coinbase Wallet: App for accessing decentralized crypto apps (dapps)
- Coinbase Prime: Trading platform for institutional customers
- Coinbase Custody: Custody solution for institutional clients
- USD Coin: Digital stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar
- Coinbase Card: Debit Visa card for spending cryptocurrency
- Coinbase Earn: Platform rewarding users with altcoins for learning about cryptocurrencies
- Regulatory compliance: Coinbase is a regulated platform that adheres to anti-money laundering regulations and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements.
- User base and financials: As of 2020, Coinbase reported 43 million verified users, 7,000 institutions, and 115,000 ecosystem partners across over 100 countries. The company generated $1.14 billion in net revenue and $322 million in net income in 2020.
- Security measures: Coinbase emphasizes security for user assets but notes that custodially held crypto assets could be subject to bankruptcy proceedings if necessary.
- Global presence: Coinbase operates in several countries, including the UK, Switzerland, Canada, Ireland, Germany, and the United States, providing real-time market information, value-added services, and market infrastructure. Coinbase plays a significant role in facilitating cryptocurrency transactions globally and continues to expand its offerings and reach in the rapidly evolving cryptocurrency market.
Leadership Team
Coinbase's leadership team comprises experienced executives and board members who drive the company's strategic direction, operational efficiency, and growth in the cryptocurrency industry. Executive Team:
- Brian Armstrong - Co-Founder and CEO: Sets strategic vision and leads company growth.
- Emilie Choi - President and COO: Drives growth and ensures operational efficiency.
- Alesia Haas - CFO: Oversees financial operations and played a key role in the company's IPO.
- Surojit Chatterjee - Chief Product Officer: Manages product development and offerings.
- L.J. Brock - Chief People Officer: Oversees human resources and talent acquisition strategies.
- Manish Gupta - Executive VP of Engineering: Leads engineering team and drives technological innovation.
- Paul Grewal - Chief Legal Officer: Handles high-stakes legal matters and regulatory issues. Board of Directors:
- Fred Ehrsam - Co-Founder and Board Director: Brings expertise in cryptocurrency and financial markets.
- Kathryn Haun - Board Director: Former federal prosecutor with expertise in regulatory compliance.
- Chris Dixon - Board Director: Partner at Andreessen Horowitz with experience in technology and finance.
- Gokul Rajaram - Board Director: Product and engineering executive at Square.
- Marc Andreessen - Board Director: Well-known venture capitalist and co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz.
- Kelly Kramer - Board Director: Contributes to the board's diverse skill set. This leadership team collectively navigates the complex regulatory landscape of the cryptocurrency industry, ensures operational excellence, and drives Coinbase's strategic initiatives.
History
Viewing your transaction history on Coinbase is a straightforward process. Here are the methods to access and manage your transaction history:
- Using the Coinbase App:
- Sign in to the app
- Tap the Menu icon in the top left corner
- Scroll down and select "Transaction History"
- For specific asset history, tap "Crypto," select the asset, and scroll down
- Using the Coinbase Website:
- Sign in to your account
- For account balance and transactions: Go to the "Accounts" page
- For buy and sell order history: Navigate to the "Transfers" page
- For open and filled orders: Check the "Orders" section in the top right
- Generating Transaction Reports:
- Sign in to your account on the website
- Click your profile name and image in the top right corner
- Select "Reports" and click "Generate Report" next to "Transaction History"
- Choose file type (CSV or PDF) and wait for generation
- Click "Download" to save the report
- Customizing and Filtering Reports:
- Select specific date ranges (e.g., All, Year-to-date, Last month, Custom)
- Filter by transaction type, wallet, or asset type By following these steps, you can easily access, view, and manage your transaction history on Coinbase, allowing for better tracking and analysis of your cryptocurrency activities.
Products & Solutions
Coinbase offers a comprehensive suite of products and solutions tailored for both retail and institutional cryptocurrency investors.
Retail Products
- Coinbase App: A user-friendly application for buying, storing, and trading over 250 cryptocurrencies for U.S. customers.
- Coinbase Advanced Trade: An upgraded version of Coinbase Pro, providing advanced trading features, real-time market data, high-throughput APIs, and access to over 550 markets. It includes tools like TradingView charts and various technical indicators.
- Coinbase Wallet: An app allowing users to access decentralized crypto apps (dapps) and store, send, and receive cryptocurrencies.
- Coinbase Earn: A learning platform rewarding users with small amounts of altcoins for watching educational videos and taking quizzes about different cryptocurrencies.
- Coinbase Card: A debit Visa card enabling customers to spend their cryptocurrency holdings.
- USD Coin (USDC): A digital stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar, facilitating quick and stable transactions.
Institutional Products
- Coinbase Prime: A full-service prime broker offering multi-exchange access, advanced smart order routing, secure custody, and financing opportunities. It provides access to over 240 assets and 500+ trading pairs across multiple exchanges and liquidity venues.
- Coinbase Custody: A secure storage and management solution for digital assets, designed for institutional investors.
- Coinbase Execution Services: Offers execution consultancy and high-touch trading on an agency-only basis, helping institutional clients execute trades efficiently.
- Multi-Exchange Access: Through Coinbase Prime, institutional clients can access multiple exchanges and liquidity venues without prefunding accounts, ensuring deeper aggregate liquidity.
Additional Solutions
- APIs and Developer Tools: Coinbase provides application programming interfaces (APIs) for developers and merchants to build applications and accept payments in digital currencies.
- Research and Analysis: Coinbase Institutional offers research and analysis on digital assets, including macro trends, deep dives, and updates on significant events in the cryptocurrency space. Coinbase's diverse product lineup caters to a wide range of needs, from basic cryptocurrency trading and storage for retail users to advanced trading, custody, and execution services for institutional investors.
Core Technology
Coinbase's core technology and infrastructure are built on several key components and strategies that enable it to operate as a leading cryptocurrency exchange and wallet service:
Cloud Infrastructure
Coinbase leverages Amazon Web Services (AWS) to host its exchange and other services, utilizing:
- AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) for secure access control
- Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS) and PostgreSQL databases for data storage
- Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) instances to power the exchange
- Amazon Kinesis for big-data processing
- AWS CloudTrail for audit logs This AWS infrastructure provides Coinbase with scalability, security, and real-time analytics capabilities.
Security and Compliance
Security is paramount for Coinbase, employing robust measures including:
- Institutional-grade offline storage through Coinbase Custody
- Regulation by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS)
- High-security standards similar to traditional banks
Data Analytics and Insight Pipeline
Coinbase has developed a sophisticated data analytics pipeline using AWS services, processing real-time exchange analytics and providing insights to engineers without complex data traversal.
Network and Scalability
The company's network topology is designed and maintained using AWS CloudFormation templates, allowing for version-controlled networks and seamless duplication for development and staging environments. This setup enables efficient global scaling of services.
Multi-Service Ecosystem
Coinbase operates multiple lines of business, including:
- Coinbase: The main platform for buying, selling, and trading cryptocurrencies
- Coinbase Pro: An order book exchange for advanced traders and organizations
- Coinbase Custody: A secure storage solution for institutional investors
- Coinbase Wallet: A user-friendly wallet for storing and transacting cryptocurrencies
- Coinbase API: Facilitates the development of applications extending blockchain technology to new use-cases
Integration and User Experience
To enhance user experience, Coinbase has integrated services like Coinbase Pay, streamlining the process of depositing cash, converting it to crypto, and accessing decentralized applications (dApps) on various blockchain networks. These technological and infrastructural elements collectively support Coinbase's mission to create an open financial system, promote blockchain adoption, and provide a secure and scalable platform for cryptocurrency transactions.
Industry Peers
Coinbase, a leading cryptocurrency exchange platform, operates in a competitive landscape with several industry peers across different categories:
Cryptocurrency Exchange Platforms
- Binance: Known for its extensive range of digital assets and high trading volumes, offering spot market trading, futures, and options trading.
- Kraken: Focuses on digital currency exchange, providing a secure and efficient platform for trading various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin.
- Blockchain.com: Specializes in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency-related solutions, allowing users to buy, sell, and swap cryptocurrencies.
- Gemini: A New York-based exchange founded by the Winklevoss twins, meeting stricter regulatory standards.
- Crypto.com: Offers a range of cryptocurrency services, including trading and financial products.
Financial Exchanges and Data Companies
- London Stock Exchange Group plc: Operates in the broader financial exchanges and data sector.
- CME Group Inc.: A major player in financial exchanges, though not specifically focused on cryptocurrencies.
- Nasdaq, Inc.: A significant financial exchange expanding into the digital assets space.
- Deutsche Börse AG: A European exchange operating in the financial exchanges and data sector.
Other Financial Technology Companies
- Robinhood: Known for its brokerage services, Robinhood has expanded into cryptocurrency trading.
- BlockFi: Provides financial services focused on cryptocurrencies, including interest-earning accounts and loan products.
- CoinZoom: Offers a platform for buying, selling, and trading cryptocurrencies, along with other financial technology services.
- FTX: Specializes in derivatives, options, and other advanced cryptocurrency trading products.
Investment and Finance Services Category
- Q4: A competitor in the investment and finance services category, holding a significant market share of 29.15%.
- Morningstar: Another major competitor in this category, with a market share of 16.61%.
- Orion Advisor: Holds a market share of 7.66% in the investment and finance services category. This diverse landscape of competitors highlights the various sectors Coinbase interacts with, ranging from specialized cryptocurrency exchanges to broader financial exchanges and financial technology firms. Each competitor brings unique strengths and offerings to the market, contributing to the dynamic and evolving nature of the cryptocurrency and financial technology industries.