Coinbase vs Fidelity for crypto: what is the difference?

Coinbase vs Fidelity for crypto is a comparison between a dedicated crypto exchange and a crypto account run inside a large brokerage. Both let US customers buy, hold, sell and transfer bitcoin and other coins, but they differ in how many assets they offer, how they charge, which order types they support and how they hold your crypto. This guide sets out those differences without ranking either one.

What crypto can you buy on Coinbase vs Fidelity?

Fidelity Crypto supports bitcoin, ether, solana, litecoin and Fidelity Digital Dollar (FIDD), a stablecoin, subject to state availability. You must be a US citizen over 18 living in a state Fidelity serves. Fidelity also offers a Crypto IRA with the same trading fee.

Coinbase supports a far longer list of coins and also links to decentralized trading through a self-custody wallet. Its app also offers staking on assets such as ETH and ADA in eligible places. For other brokerage options, see can you buy crypto on Schwab or Fidelity.

How do Coinbase vs Fidelity crypto fees compare?

Fidelity charges 1% on each buy and sell in Fidelity Crypto and Crypto IRA accounts, with no trading fee on FIDD trades against dollars. The minimum trade is $1.

Coinbase uses a different model for simple trades. It adds a spread to the quoted price and charges a fee that depends on payment method, order size, market conditions and location, both shown on the preview screen before you confirm. On Coinbase Advanced there is no spread, and you trade on an order book with maker and taker fees instead. Our guide on what maker and taker fees are explains that structure.

What are the trading differences for bitcoin?

Fidelity offers market orders and day limit orders that expire at midnight Eastern time, and trading runs 23 hours a day from 1 a.m. ET to midnight. Coinbase Advanced supports market, limit, stop-limit and bracket orders, and Coinbase also offers futures through a separate regulated affiliate.

Custody is set up differently too. Fidelity Crypto accounts are held by Fidelity Digital Assets, N.A., a national trust bank, which says assets sit in cold storage. Coinbase says it holds all customer assets 1:1 and does not lend them without consent. Neither offers FDIC or SIPC protection on crypto.

How does a Fidelity crypto transfer out work?

You can withdraw BTC, ETH, FIDD, LTC and SOL on their main networks to an address you have verified. New addresses take 2 to 3 business days to activate. The standard limit is $2,000 a day, with an optional advanced limit of $25,000 a day, and network fees are taken from the amount sent. Crypto IRAs cannot transfer crypto. Withdrawals cannot be canceled once submitted, and Fidelity uses first in, first out tax lots. For moving coins the other way, see can you transfer crypto to Fidelity.

Features, fees and availability change often. Check each provider's own pages before deciding what fits your situation.