Updated September 29, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team
Bitstamp vs Coinbase
Coinbase
Bitstamp
Higher score in this comparison
Bitstamp vs Coinbase: the differences
| Compare | BitstampReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | CoinbaseReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Coins listed | 98 | 405Higher |
| Regulators | MiCA CASP authorisation (EU), Payment institution (PI) authorisation (EU), MiFID authorisation (EU), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) MLR registration, New York State Department of Financial Services (BitLicense), FinCEN Money Services Business (MSB) registration, Monetary Authority of Singapore Major Payment Institution licence, Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF)Covers more | Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) |
| Derivatives | No | YesHas it |
| Taker fee | 0.4% | Not confirmed |
| Fiat deposit methods | Card, ACH, Apple pay, Bank | Not confirmed |
| Maker fee | 0.3% | Not confirmed |
| Proof of reserves | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Withdrawal fee | 0.09% international wire transfer (minimum 15.00 USD/EUR); BTC free or 0.1% via BitGo Instant | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Exchange type (Cex).
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Key differences
- Bitstamp scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only Bitstamp offers MiCA CASP authorisation (EU), Payment institution (PI) authorisation (EU), MiFID authorisation (EU).
- Founded is lower at Bitstamp: 2011 vs 2012.
- Bitstamp is licensed in 1 more country.
- Coins listed is higher at Coinbase: 405 vs 98.
- Derivatives: only Coinbase.
- Support channels: only Bitstamp offers Chat, Community.
- Support channels: only Coinbase offers Phone, Help centre.
- Features: only Bitstamp offers Staking.
- Features: only Coinbase offers Crypto, Virtual card.
Our verdict on each
Bitstamp
Bitstamp suits crypto buyers who prefer a custodial exchange with proof of reserves, several fiat deposit routes and regulation in the EU, UK, US and Singapore. The trade-off is cost: a taker fee of 0.4% sits above the buy-crypto median of 0.25%, so frequent traders should weigh it.
Coinbase
Coinbase suits buyers who want a free card attached to a large custodial exchange rather than a plain spending account. The monthly fee is $0, the free ATM allowance is $0 and the coin list is far wider than the site median of 62.
Score breakdown
| Area | Bitstamp | Coinbase |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4The custodial account charges a taker fee of 0.4% and a maker fee of 0.3% on spot trading. | 9.2HigherMonthly fee is $0, loading is free for direct deposit and free ATM withdrawals are $0. |
| Offer | 9.2HigherThe exchange lists 98 coins, adds staking to its custodial features and funds accounts through card, ach and apple pay. | 9.1 |
| Trust | 9.7Higher | 8.8 |
How they place
| Ranking | Bitstamp | Coinbase |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto exchanges | 76 of 297 | 21 of 297 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Bitstamp | Coinbase |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Custodial, Staking | Crypto, Custodial, Virtual card |
| Legal entity | Bitstamp Europe S.A. | Coinbase Luxembourg S.A. |
| Headquarters | Luxembourg | Luxembourg |
| Founded | 2011Lower | 2012 |
| Support channels | Chat, Email, Community | Phone, Email, Help centre |
Crypto wallets
| Fact | Bitstamp | Coinbase |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet type | Not confirmed | Mobile |
| Custody | Not confirmed | Custodial |
| Coins supported | Not confirmed | 405 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Bitstamp | Coinbase | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 0.4%above the median | Not confirmed | 0.15% |
| Coins listed | 98above the median | 405highest quarter | 76 |
| Maker fee | 0.3%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.1% |
Median across 219 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Bitstamp
Pros
- Proof of reserves: yes, so listed holdings can be set against published balances.
- The regulatory record spans the EU, UK, US and Singapore: MiCA CASP authorisation (EU), Payment institution (PI) authorisation (EU) and MiFID authorisation (EU).
- Fiat deposits run through card, ach and apple pay, giving several funding routes.
Cons
- The taker fee of 0.4% is above the buy-crypto median of 0.25%.
- Derivatives: no.
- Support runs on chat, email and community only, with no phone line listed.
Coinbase
Pros
- No monthly cost: fees are $0 and free for direct deposit
- The exchange lists 405 coins, well past the site median of 62
- The card runs on visa, the most common card network in this ranking at 57.4%
Cons
- Custody is custodial, so keys sit with the provider rather than with you
- Free ATM withdrawals are $0, which is lower than most cards here
- The card is prepaid rather than a debit card, so it draws on a balance you fund first
Who each suits
Bitstamp
Who it suits
- Buyers who want a range of fiat deposit routes, card, ach and apple pay.
- Traders who put regulated status and proof of reserves ahead of the lowest possible fee.
- Holders comfortable letting a custodial exchange hold the coins, one of the features in custodial and staking.
Who should look elsewhere
- ActivTrades, where a taker fee of 0% suits traders focused on cost alone.
- bunq, whose taker fees run 0.25% to 1.99% for a different fee band.
- Bitpanda, if a coin list of from 650 matters more than an exchange with staking.
Coinbase
Who it suits
- Buyers who already hold a balance on the exchange and want to spend it directly
- People who want one app for buying, holding and card spending
- Traders who value a long coin list over holding keys themselves
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants a debit card that draws straight from a bank balance, where Monzo Flex is the better fit
- Self-custody holders who will not leave keys with a provider, where Bitpanda suits comparing self-custody options
- People who want free cash machine withdrawals, where Wise is the stronger alternative
Current offers
Coinbase
Current offer
Bonus
Crypto rewards on every purchase with the Coinbase Card (rotating reward selection)
US Card users only, excluding Hawaii; reward rate is variable; reward offers expire and a new reward can be chosen monthly
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Bitstamp
What are Bitstamp's trading fees?+
On the standard custodial account, the taker fee is 0.4% and the maker fee is 0.3% on spot trading. That taker fee is above the buy-crypto median of 0.25%, so regular trading costs more here than at the cheaper end of the market.
How many coins are listed on Bitstamp?+
Bitstamp lists 98 coins, which sits above the buy-crypto median of 60 but well under the category maximum of 20,000. Buyers chasing long-tail tokens will find a shorter list than the largest venues on the comparison.
Coinbase
What does the Coinbase card cost to hold?+
The monthly fee is $0, and free for direct deposit for direct deposit. That puts it at the joint top of the field on monthly fee, 1 of 379 brands compared. The cost of using it is really in currency conversion and cash machine withdrawals.
Are there free ATM withdrawals with the card?+
Free ATM withdrawals are $0, so cash machine use is charged rather than included. That sits low in this ranking, 38 of 104 brands compared. Readers who take out cash often should weigh the site allowance median of €0 against other cards.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Coinbase
Bitstamp