No. Coinbase is a legitimate exchange operating since 2012. Registered with FinCEN as a money services business, licensed as a money transmitter across the states, holds a New York BitLicense, and reports to the SEC as a public company.

Is Coinbase regulated in the United States?

Coinbase serves all 50 states, including New York under a BitLicense held since 2017. Coinbase, Inc. is registered with FinCEN as a money services business and holds state money transmitter licenses. Anytime Capital is a FinCEN-registered U.S. money services business with a branch in Atlanta.

Does Coinbase hold my crypto?

Yes, until you withdraw it to your own wallet. Anytime Capital delivers to a wallet you control or to its free non-custodial wallet.

Can I switch from Coinbase to Anytime Capital without moving my crypto?

Yes. Withdraw from Coinbase to a wallet you control (or leave it there), create an Anytime Capital account, verify once, and paste any wallet address at checkout. Nothing you already hold needs to move.

How does Anytime Capital pricing compare with Coinbase?

Anytime Capital quotes one all-in number: card, Apple Pay and Google Pay orders start from 4% with the spread included, and the amount you pay and the crypto you receive are both on screen before you confirm. Coinbase prices a 3.99% fee on debit card purchases in the simple app, plus a spread of roughly 0.5% built into the quoted price, roughly 3.99% on the headline, with network fee on crypto withdrawals; free ACH cash-out, $25 wire cash-out. Blockchain network fees apply at both. Compare the crypto that lands on the same order size rather than the headline rate.

Is Anytime Capital regulated?

Anytime Capital is a U.S.-based money services business registered with FinCEN, serving customers worldwide, with a physical branch in Atlanta and an office in Miami. Identity verification is required before you can transact, the same as at every compliant platform.

Trust & safety

Coinbase

Our pick

Is Coinbase legit? What that does and does not mean

Coinbase is a real exchange that has operated since 2012. The useful question is not whether it is a scam but what happens on the day something goes wrong, and that is where an online-only platform and a U.S. company with a front door part ways.

Registered with FinCEN as a money services business, licensed as a money transmitter across the states, holds a New York BitLicense, and reports to the SEC as a public company.
Holds your coins until you withdraw
Anytime Capital: a U.S. company you can call or visit

Coinbase vs Anytime Capital, row by row

A green check marks the platform with the edge on that row. Anytime Capital leads on 8 of 14.

Category	Coinbase	Our pick
Card purchase fee	A 3.99% fee on debit card purchases in the simple app, plus a spread of roughly 0.5% built into the quoted price	From 4% with the spread included, quoted in full before you confirm
Trading fees	Advanced Trade starts at 0.60% taker / 0.40% maker; simple trades add a spread of about 0.5% plus a flat fee from $0.99 or a percentage on larger orders	One all-in price per order with the spread included, plus an OTC desk for size
Pay with cash	Not offered	Cash at the Atlanta branch, or cash by mail from anywhere in the U.S.
Domestic wire	Domestic wire deposits accepted, $10 in and $25 out	Same-day domestic wire for larger orders through the OTC desk
Apple Pay & Google Pay	Yes	Yes
Talk to a human	24/7 phone line, live chat and email, plus a help center	Phone (470) 748-2530, email, and two walk-in offices
Physical locations	None for customers	Atlanta branch and Miami office
Where it serves	Coinbase serves all 50 states, including New York under a BitLicense held since 2017. Coinbase, Inc. is registered with FinCEN as a money services business and holds state money transmitter licenses.	Serves customers worldwide, with U.S. branches in Atlanta, Miami and Houston; eligibility confirmed during verification
Identity verification	Government ID, selfie and Social Security number on every U.S. account; source-of-funds questions on larger activity.	Government ID and selfie online, or in person at the Atlanta branch
Bank account & debit card	No FDIC-insured cash account	FDIC-insured cash account with a free virtual debit card
Large orders	Coinbase Prime and an institutional OTC desk exist, but retail customers are routed to Advanced Trade rather than a named trader	Dedicated OTC desk with a named contact
Custody of your coins	Held in your account until you withdraw	Your own wallet address, or the free non-custodial Anytime Capital wallet
Regulation	Registered with FinCEN as a money services business, licensed as a money transmitter across the states, holds a New York BitLicense, and reports to the SEC as a public company.	U.S.-based, FinCEN-registered money services business
Way to escalate a problem	Coinbase does have a phone number, which is rare among exchanges, but reviewers say the line and chat mostly route to scripted answers and that restricted accounts still wait on an internal review nobody can speed up.	Phone, email, or in person at the Atlanta branch

Card purchase fee

Coinbase: A 3.99% fee on debit card purchases in the simple app, plus a spread of roughly 0.5% built into the quoted price
Anytime: From 4% with the spread included, quoted in full before you confirm

Trading fees

Coinbase: Advanced Trade starts at 0.60% taker / 0.40% maker; simple trades add a spread of about 0.5% plus a flat fee from $0.99 or a percentage on larger orders
Anytime: One all-in price per order with the spread included, plus an OTC desk for size

Pay with cash