Review of Coinbase exchange's services and features

Despite all the services and features offered by Coinbase, Iran is on the exchange's list of sanctioned regions, and operating from such areas carries the risk of access restrictions and account closure. During the registration process, when reaching the phone number entry stage, Iran is not included in the list of countries; a similar situation applies to the identity verification (KYC) section. Furthermore, Coinbase support is not available in Persian.

One of the suggestions often proposed for using exchanges like Coinbase is the use of VPN/VPS. It is important to note that following this suggestion does not eliminate the risk of access restrictions or account closure; in fact, it can be argued that it carries significant risks for Iranian users.

For Iranians living abroad, the situation depends on their country of residence and valid identity documents from that country. In other words, if a user resides in a non-sanctioned country and possesses acceptable local documentation, they may be able to use the services. However, for users located inside Iran, the official route is effectively closed.

Although the Coinbase exchange is not accessible to Iranians, it offers a variety of services and features for different types of users. In its main menu, services are categorized by user type: Individuals, Businesses & Institutions (including startups and organizations), and Developers. This platform features a multi-layered ecosystem that integrates everything from retail trading to advanced tools, dedicated wallets, and a Layer 2 network (Base Layer 2) within its core service and trading ecosystem, which we will highlight below.

Like any other exchange, Coinbase offers a custodial wallet available under the "Custody" section in the Institutional menu. However, it also provides another dedicated wallet for developers under the "Wallets" section in the "Developers" menu, which is a non-custodial wallet for businesses. This wallet allows the user to retain control over their private keys and assets. It is designed for storing cryptocurrencies and NFTs, interacting with decentralized applications, and supports thousands of assets and networks, including Ethereum, EVM-compatible chains, and Solana.

Base is a secure, low-cost, open-source, and developer-friendly Ethereum Layer 2 network aimed at increasing the speed of on-chain transactions and their utility in decentralized applications (Dapps). According to official documents, Coinbase has no current plans for a new token for this network. This service is highly technical and appears to be less relevant for casual retail traders.

Coinbase offers two types of cards: the Coinbase Card and the Debit Card. The Coinbase One Card is exclusively available to Coinbase One members, allowing them to hold their assets and earn up to 4% back in Bitcoin rewards on their holdings.

Similarly, the Debit Card is a service currently only available to users in the United Kingdom, where individuals can link their bank account to use it for daily purchases as a debit card and receive cryptocurrency as a reward.

Given that Coinbase is considered one of the most reputable and important exchanges, its developments significantly impact the market. For instance, when news of the launch of a Coinbase token-selling platform in 2025 was released, Coinbase stock saw a rise.

One of the notable aspects of the Coinbase exchange is its earning potential. Users can utilize features integrated into the platform to generate income alongside their trading activities. We will outline these below.

The Coinbase Learning Rewards section was once a popular feature where users earned cryptocurrency rewards for learning. However, according to the official support page, this program was discontinued as of May 27, 2025. Therefore, the section labeled "Learn" on the exchange does not currently include any prizes or bonuses.

Staking is an active and important part of Coinbase for generating passive income. On the "Earn" page, you can earn rewards through staking, with annual percentage yields (APY) of up to 14%. Additionally, staking USDC also yields rewards.

On the main page, the number of cryptocurrencies listed on Coinbase is estimated to be over 100. It is important to note that the exchange's stock is publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the ticker COIN. Consequently, news concerning Coinbase is not limited to cryptocurrencies, as changes in its stock price as a public company often hit the top financial news headlines.

What is the native currency of the Coinbase exchange?

In reality, there is no native cryptocurrency token for the Coinbase exchange on the market; the ticker COIN refers to the company's shares on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Furthermore, Coinbase has not issued a native exchange token like some other projects or platforms. However, Coinbase has introduced "Base," a layer 2 solution on the Ethereum network designed for developing Dapps.