Is coinbase the same as coinbase wallet

With nearly 100 million verified users, Coinbase is one of the largest crypto exchanges in the world. But while Coinbase may be best known for its exchange platform, about 54% of Coinbase users currently engage in other crypto activities outside of trading, according to Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong. In particular, many users take full advantage of the Coinbase Wallet, a self-custody wallet that can be connected to your Coinbase account or a growing ecosystem of decentralized applications.

What is Coinbase Wallet?

Coinbase Wallet provides a generally safe and beginner-friendly way to store your cryptocurrency and explore the ever-expanding crypto universe.

A crypto wallet holds assets off the exchange, which keeps your crypto safe from whatever risks may occur on the exchange, such as hacks, breaches, government actions, coding bugs, or other risks to your crypto.

Following Coinbase’s typical user-friendly approach, Coinbase Wallet targets beginner users, and most features are just a click or two away. However, Coinbase Wallet still includes some advanced features, like access to decentralized exchanges (DEXs), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and an assortment of DeFi protocols.

Coinbase’s easy-to-use wallet parallels many of the features you’ll get with other well-known wallets, such as Trust Wallet or MetaMask. However, it also adds support for Bitcoin, Litecoin, and other assets that are not natively supported by MetaMask.

How does Coinbase Wallet work?

Coinbase Wallet uses well-tested tech by implementing BIP39-compatible seed phrases to secure the wallet. A seed phrase, also called a mnemonic phrase, is a 12- or 24-word group that is easy to remember and acts as the private key to your wallet.

BIP39, which refers to Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 39, allows cross-wallet compatibility with several other popular crypto wallets. You can use your seed phrase to restore a wallet to Coinbase Wallet, Trust Wallet, Coinomi, Exodus, and other software wallets, as well as secure hardware wallets such as Ledger and Trezor wallets.

Coinbase Wallet can be used as a mobile app on iOS or Android or as a web extension on Google chrome and chromium-based browsers like Brave or Microsoft Edge. For most applications, the mobile app offers more functionality, such as the ability to browse available dApps.

• Ethereum wallet: At the heart of the Coinbase Wallet is an Ethereum wallet with support for ERC-20 tokens used on the Ethereum blockchain or EVM-compatible blockchains.
• Bitcoin wallet: Native support for Bitcoin sets the Coinbase Wallet apart from Ethereum-focused wallets like MetaMask.
• Support for Litecoin and other cryptos: Use your Coinbase Wallet to store LTC, BCH, DOGE, XLM, and XRP. The browser extension adds support for SOL and SPL tokens.
• Swap crypto on 16 trading platforms: Swap Ethereum-based tokens for hard-to-find tokens on Uniswap or other decentralized exchanges.
• Connect to popular DeFi protocols: Earn or borrow using a wide range of DeFi platforms, including Compound, AAVE, and more.

Coinbase Wallet pros and cons

Pros

• Easy-to-use NFT and crypto storage
• Compatible with other BIP39 wallets
• Link to Coinbase account or use independently

Cons

• Internet-connected hot wallet
• High fees on some trades
• Not open-source

Coinbase Wallet notable features

While Coinbase provides a list of supported dApps and marketplaces, you’ll find the Coinbase Wallet can connect to many other protocols and Web3 properties that aren’t listed. You can also connect to virtual worlds like Cryptovoxels, collect NFTs on OpenSea, or manage your Web3 portfolio with Zapper. The Coinbase Wallet’s notable features include:

Wide integration with dApps

To use crypto applications and marketplaces, you’ll need a wallet that speaks the same language. Most marketplaces and apps support the MetaMask wallet, but you’ll also find wide support for Coinbase Wallet, with options to connect your wallet in just a few clicks.

Multicoin support

Many crypto wallets support Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, or Dogecoin. However, a wallet that supports all these cryptocurrencies at once is more of a rarity — but that’s what the Coinbase Wallet does.

Coinbase offers off-exchange storage for:

• Ethereum
• Ethereum-based (ERC-20) tokens
• Bitcoin
• Litecoin
• Bitcoin Cash
• Dogecoin
• Stellar Lumens
• Ripple
• NFTs

Integration with Coinbase

Although you can use Coinbase Wallet as a standalone app — or even import other wallets — much of the appeal is that Coinbase Wallet can integrate with the Coinbase exchange. This integration provides the ability to buy on Coinbase and also offers access to other trading platforms, like Uniswap, through your wallet. In total, you’ll have access to countless coins and tokens, including many that you can’t buy on Coinbase’s exchange.

Coinbase Wallet potential drawbacks

No crypto wallet is a perfect fit for every use case, and even the venerable Coinbase Wallet suffers a few potential drawbacks. These include:

Limited coin support

Coinbase Wallet offers native support for more blockchains than some popular wallets, like MetaMask. However, this wallet supports fewer blockchains than many of the competitor wallets, such as Trust Wallet and Exodus.

That said, there’s a workaround for the limited coin support. All you need to do is restore your Coinbase Wallet to Binance’s Trust Wallet, Exodus Wallet, and Crypto.com’s DeFi Wallet using the multi-coin wallet setting and your 12-word seed phrase.

This option lets you store and access more types of crypto while also giving you access to quick-connect dApps designed to work with the Coinbase Wallet and Ethereum-based assets. Just choose the wallet you need for the task at hand; each can access the same assets if supported.

Limited marketplace options

If you’ve used Trust Wallet or Crypto.com’s DeFi Wallet, you might find the selection of dApps listed on Coinbase lacking by comparison. However, you have access to more dApps than you see listed on Coinbase. Connection options for apps and marketplaces often include MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, or WalletConnect-compatible wallets, which include Trust Wallet and Crypto.com’s DeFi Wallet.

Hot wallet

The term hot wallet refers to a crypto wallet that’s connected to the internet. Connectivity comes with risks. Apps or protocols may have bugs or security concerns that create a potential for losses.

However, recently added support for Ledger hardware wallets builds in an extra layer of security for the Coinbase Wallet when you’re using the Chrome extension. You can connect your Ledger Nano using the Chrome extension to put your crypto assets under lock and key.

How to set up your Coinbase Wallet

1. Install the app or browser extension

To install the Coinbase Wallet browser extension, use the download link on Coinbase.com. If installing the mobile app, search Coinbase Wallet in the iOS App Store or Google’s Play Store to find the official app.

2. Start a new wallet or import a wallet

Your Coinbase Wallet is secured by a private key, but rather than working with a difficult-to-remember string of letters and numbers, you’ll use a 12-word seed phrase instead.

If you’re starting a new wallet, Coinbase Wallet will assign a seed phase. Write this down on paper and keep it in a secure place. You should not screenshot the seed phrase or store it digitally, as that can put you at risk of hackers accessing it.

You can also import an existing wallet. However, it’s important to be aware that not all wallets are compatible, and in some cases, you won’t see all your crypto if the wallet you’re importing to does not support that type of crypto.

3. Fund your Coinbase Wallet

Because Coinbase Wallet connects to the Coinbase exchange, funding your wallet is a breeze. You can simply transfer some of your crypto to the wallet.

You can also send crypto from another wallet you own or purchase crypto from within the wallet if you’ve connected your Coinbase account.

Coinbase Wallet provides transparency on network fees and advises you when network costs may be higher than usual.

4. Connect to dApps

As a basic function, the Coinbase Wallet keeps your crypto safe from risks associated with keeping assets on an exchange. But for many crypto investors, a large part of the appeal is the new opportunities that cryptocurrencies can bring, including NFTs, DeFi borrowing and lending, staking, and swapping for up-and-coming tokens. Bookmark your favorite dApps for easy access.

Final thoughts on Coinbase Wallet

Coinbase Wallet is a beginner-friendly wallet option that offers an impressive set of features to help you get started quickly. Power users may miss some features offered by advanced wallets, such as MetaMask, but Coinbase Wallet fits the bill for many users while adding support for additional cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, and XRP.

When using the Coinbase Wallet or any other hot wallet connected to the internet, you may want to consider adding a hardware wallet, like the Ledger Nano, to the mix for an extra layer of security.

On this page

• What is Coinbase Wallet?

• How does Coinbase Wallet work?

• Coinbase Wallet pros and cons

• Coinbase Wallet notable features

• Coinbase Wallet potential drawbacks

• How to set up your Coinbase Wallet

• Final thoughts on Coinbase Wallet

Contributors

• 

  Eric HuffmanAuthor

  Eric Huffman is a staff writer for MilkRoad.com. In addition to crypto and blockchain topics, Eric also writes extensively on insurance and personal finance matters that affect everyday households.

  • View more

• 

  Angelica LeichtEditor

  Angelica specializes in crypto and personal finance content. Her work has appeared in publications such as Bankrate, Forbes, The Motley Fool, The Simple Dollar, The Houston Press, Dallas Observer, The Village Voice, and others.

  • View more

• 

  Courtney MikulskiReviewer

  Courtney Mikulski specializes in cryptocurrency, personal finance, and credit cards. Her work has appeared in publications like Bankrate, The Simple Dollar, and CreditCards.com.

  Do I need Coinbase and Coinbase wallet?

  Coinbase.com stores your crypto for you after you buy it. You do not need a Coinbase.com account to use Coinbase Wallet. Coinbase Wallet is a self-custody wallet. The private keys (that represent ownership of the crypto) are stored directly on your device and not within a centralized exchange like Coinbase.com.

  Is Coinbase wallet safer than Coinbase?

  Coinbase.com and Coinbase Wallet Are Both Great Platforms Coinbase.com is a great option for trading, staking, and earning, while Coinbase Wallet is a trustworthy software wallet provider that gives you total control of your assets.

  Is the wallet on Coinbase the same as Coinbase wallet?

  Note that Coinbase Wallet is not the same product as Coinbase.com, and you do not need a Coinbase.com account to use Coinbase Wallet. If you're looking to simply invest in crypto, Coinbase.com remains the easiest place to buy, sell, and manage your crypto.

  Is it better to have Coinbase or wallet?

  It is easy to use coinbase wallets and has the safest utility compared to any other wallet which makes it one of the best cryptocurrency wallet. The wallet is well-tested and serves as a great companion for users of the Coinbase exchange platform. It can be used by digital currency experts as well as beginners.