Gate.io vs. Coinbase: Two Crypto Giants Face-Off

Hey there! Welcome to our comparison of Coinbase and Gate.io — two of the world’s top cryptocurrency exchanges. If you’re new to trading and the world of digital assets, don’t worry, this guide is for beginners trying to weigh up which exchange or mobile app is best for them. To put it short, if you’re looking to trade regularly, Gate.io is your go-to choice, but if you have zero cryptocurrencies and want to buy some Bitcoin or other coins as an investment, Coinbase will serve you better.

Fees

Gate.io Fees

As you begin to access the world of crypto, you’ll find that different exchanges, brokers, companies, and trading platforms boast different fee structures. When it comes to Gate.io, the 0.2% trading fee for makers and takers is more or less average among the top exchanges. Users can also get their fees reduced by around 20% when paying them in Gate Token (GT), the platform’s native utility token.

Coinbase Fees

If we compare Coinbase to Gate, we quickly notice that Gate.io is a far more affordable platform. The trading fee for crypto-to-crypto deals is a staggering 2.0% — ten times higher than Gate.io! Why is this? Coinbase has a secondary platform they want you to join called Coinbase Pro, where the fees are lower (0.5%). It’s also because the trading feature is straightforward and convenient to use!

We will cover purchase costs in the ‘Instant buy options’ section further down.

Buy Bitcoin on Coinbase

Coinbase vs. Gate.io: Gate.io wins this round!

Sign Up & KYC Experience

Gate.io Onboarding

Users in the US and pretty much every other part of the world are welcome to join Gate.io. Here’s how you get started:

  1. Visit Gate.io (or download the app)
  2. Provide a country, username, email, password, and this referral ID:
  3. Add a different password for withdrawals
  4. Complete the CAPTCHA
  5. Go to your emails and click the activation link
  6. Log in with the details you provided
  7. Set up two-factor authentication (optional, but recommended)

You’re done, and the account is made! You can now make a crypto deposit and start trading without needing to verify your identity. However, if you wish to make a withdrawal or purchase some crypto later, you need to do some KYC checks.

Joining Coinbase

Unlike Gate.io, Coinbase has enforced KYC checks, as seen below:

  1. Visit Coinbase.com (or download the app)
  2. Provide your name, email address, password, and location
  3. Click the link in the verification email
  4. Provide your phone number and type the code that they will SMS to you
  5. In the next section, give your full name, date of birth, address, reason for using Coinbase, source of funds, occupation, employer, and if you’re in the US, the last digits of your SSN too
  6. Verify your identity when prompted via email
  7. Upload a photo or scan of your passport, ID card, or driving license
  8. Connect to your chosen payment method (more about that later)

Approval can take minutes, hours, or even days.

Coinbase vs. Gate.io: Gate.io’s KYC-free trading edges this round.

Ease of Use & Feel of Website or App

Gate.io UX/UI

Gate.io is a platform designed for traders, or more specifically, altcoin hunters. So, while you’ll find the usual suspects, such as Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Cardano, and Litecoin, you’ll also find an enormous selection of over 800 lesser-known cryptocurrency tokens. On top of that, Gate.io offers many interesting and reliable features, services, and ways to trade Bitcoins, including margin trading. The trading view, as seen below, contains everything that experienced traders could need from a platform.

Unfortunately for Gate.io, those who have left a review of their mobile app are not so impressed, with it scoring just 2.4 on the App Store. Work to be done!

Gate.io/USDT trading interface

Using Coinbase

If we compare Coinbase and Gate.io’s mobile apps, Coinbase wins comfortably, with an average 4.7 rating. As for the website, Coinbase is the easiest platform in the whole industry for opening an account and buying Bitcoins. No other website comes close, which is why Coinbase has over 55 million verified users, and why we don’t envision any beginners coming across any troubles getting started.

Buy Bitcoin on Coinbase

Coinbase has a huge volume of coins in reserve to ensure great liquidity for sales. To that effect, its services are closer to that of a broker than of an exchange, which is perhaps the key difference between Coinbase Global Inc and Gate Technology.

Coinbase vs. Gate.io: Coinbase is the clear winner here.

Deposit Methods

Getting your funds into Gate.io

If you have no coins whatsoever and are looking for an exchange with wallets to deposit your USD, GBP, EUR, or any other currency into, then Gate.io is not for you. There are no fiat wallets, so you will need to purchase or deposit your cryptocurrency before trading. We recommend buying some Tether (USDT), as this is found on most trading pairs; also, you won’t need to calculate any prices, as USDT is pegged to the US dollar. 

Making deposits on Coinbase

Coinbase, on the other hand, has several deposit methods, with fiat wallets widely available in GBP, EUR, USD, and a number of other currencies. Full KYC checks and personal information will be required before you can deposit via:

  • ACH transfer (USD only)
  • Wire transfer (charges by the bank processing the transfer)
  • SEPA transfer (EUR only)
  • Fast payments (GBP only)
  • Ideal/Sofort (EUR only)
  • Bank account connection
  • PayPal (USD only with a 2.5% charge)

Instant Buy Options (Buying with a Credit or Debit card)

Make purchases on Gate.io

Over the last 12 months, Gate.io has gone from a crypto-only platform to offering purchases via Banxa, Simplex, Advcash, Mercuryo, and Legend Trading. These liquidity providers sell and deliver crypto directly to your Gate.io account. Perfect! You’re also able to compare prices and choose the best deal for you without leaving Gate’s website.

Purchasing crypto on Coinbase

In 2021, Coinbase partnered with PayPal to trial American usage of the payment gateway. It has been a great success, with increased limits and a more familiar customer journey. PayPal may even have rolled out in Europe or the UK by the time you read this article; that’s how current this information is – search on Google to find out more. 

As well as PayPal, users can make debit card payments for instant purchases, which will be charged at 3.99%. However, bank transfers will be charged at just 1.49% of the transaction. This is unless the transaction’s total value is under $200, in which case the flat fee for small crypto-purchases applies:

  • $0-10 – fee: $0.99 | €0,99 | £0,99 | C$.99
  • $10-25 – fee: $1.49 | €1,49 | £1,49 | C$1.49
  • $25-50 – fee: $1.99 | €1,99 | £1,99 | C$1.99
  • $50-200 – fee: $2.99 | €2,99 | £2,99 | C$2.99

Coinbase vs. Gate.io: We will go with Coinbase for their PayPal integration and not require the help of liquidity partners.

Trading Experience

Trading with Gate.io: Margin trading and derivatives

As explained, Gate.io is an impressive cryptocurrency exchange for traders who want a massive diversity of coins and trading pairs, of which there are over 800 and 1,400, respectively. The trading experience is further complemented by high liquidity, low trading fees, margin trading and crypto derivatives on top of spot trading, and a zero-hack past, kind of (we’ll explain in the next section). 

Gate.io trading interface

Making crypto exchanges with Coinbase…

Coinbase, on the other hand, isn’t the best for trading. With 2% crypto-to crypto fees on top of a 0.5% spread, you’d be better off using Coinbase Pro, their sister platform, where fees start at just 0.5% (still very high). 

Coinbase vs. Gate.io: Trading on Gate.io is more comprehensive.

Reputation and Security

Gate’s history

Gate.io was founded in 2017 by almost the same team that closed down Bter.com, a Chinese crypto exchange. At that time, Bter.com was struggling to repay its users after a 7,170 BTC hack in 2015. Then, the China crypto ban threw them a lifeline, but it left their reputation seriously damaged. 

Nowadays, with two-factor authentication, bounty hunting rewards, and a handful of excellent security protocols, Gate.io is seen as one of the most secure exchanges in the market. 

The word on Coinbase 

Coinbase’s reputation is its strength. Their site is built with features and services designed to introduce crypto to the beginner market, helping them set up an account and turn their capital into crypto. The company is legit from top to bottom, offers impressive support, and is one of the most compliant in the USA, and whilst they don’t publish their trading volume or sales figures, we’d expect them to be in the top three worldwide. It’s the place to go for beginners.

On the other hand, their fees are very high, verification times can be slow, and their range of coins is limiting to account holders.

Coinbase vs. Gate.io: Coinbase has one of the world’s best reputations.

Gate.io or Coinbase: Which is our preferred crypto exchange?

In terms of exchanges, Gate.io is our winner, but in terms of welcoming beginners to the market, our winner is Coinbase. So ultimately, it’s a tie! 

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