Official Site® | Coinbase Pro | Digital Asset Exchange

Coinbase Pro is a leading digital asset exchange platform designed for professionals and experienced traders who seek a comprehensive and efficient way to trade cryptocurrencies. It offers a more advanced trading experience compared to its consumer-friendly counterpart, Coinbase, providing a suite of features that caters to those who demand greater control over their trades, lower fees, and access to a wide range of trading tools.

In this guide, we will explore Coinbase Pro, its key features, how to use it, and why it’s an ideal choice for both individual traders and institutions interested in trading digital assets like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), and many other altcoins.

What is Coinbase Pro?

Coinbase Pro, formerly known as GDAX (Global Digital Asset Exchange), is a professional-grade platform for buying, selling, and trading cryptocurrencies. It was created by Coinbase, one of the most popular and widely used cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, but aimed at those who need more advanced tools for trading.

The platform is designed with experienced traders in mind, offering features like:

Advanced charting tools: Detailed price charts and technical analysis features.
Low fees: Coinbase Pro provides some of the lowest fees in the industry, which is a significant advantage for active traders.
Advanced order types: Users can place limit orders, market orders, and stop orders to better manage their trades and risk.
Secure trading: With robust security protocols, including two-factor authentication (2FA) and cold storage, Coinbase Pro is known for its secure infrastructure.
Wide range of cryptocurrencies: Coinbase Pro supports numerous cryptocurrencies, including top coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and many altcoins.

In short, Coinbase Pro is tailored for traders who want a more professional interface, lower fees, and access to advanced trading features without sacrificing the security and reliability Coinbase is known for.

Key Features of Coinbase Pro

1. Advanced Trading Tools

Coinbase Pro provides advanced trading tools that make it easier to trade cryptocurrencies on a professional level. These tools include:

Real-time price charts: Track the market in real-time with customizable charts and indicators.
Order book: See live market data, including the order book, bid-ask spread, and recent trades, allowing you to understand market depth and liquidity.
Advanced charting and technical analysis: With features like candlestick charts, moving averages, RSI (Relative Strength Index), and more, traders can make more informed decisions.
Customizable indicators: Set up various technical indicators that suit your trading strategy.

These tools make it easier to conduct in-depth analysis, which is essential for making informed trading decisions.

2. Low Trading Fees

One of the standout features of Coinbase Pro is its competitive fee structure. Coinbase Pro’s fees are significantly lower than those on the regular Coinbase platform, especially for high-volume traders. The maker-taker fee model is designed to reward traders who add liquidity to the market (makers) with lower fees than those who take liquidity (takers).

Taker fees: Typically range from 0.04% to 0.50% depending on your 30-day trading volume.
Maker fees: Range from 0.00% to 0.50%.

The more you trade on Coinbase Pro, the lower your fees will be. This fee structure is ideal for active traders who are executing large numbers of trades and want to maximize their profitability by reducing transaction costs.

3. Security Features

As one of the most important aspects of any cryptocurrency platform, security is a top priority for Coinbase Pro. The platform employs multiple layers of security to protect users’ funds and data:

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Coinbase Pro supports 2FA, requiring users to enter a code from an authentication app (like Google Authenticator) when logging in or completing transactions.
Cold Storage: The majority of digital assets held on Coinbase Pro are stored in cold storage (offline), reducing the risk of hacking and unauthorized access.
Insurance: Coinbase Pro provides insurance for cryptocurrency holdings stored on the platform, protecting funds against potential security breaches.
Encryption: All sensitive data is encrypted, and the platform uses secure connections for all transactions.

These security measures ensure that users' funds and personal information are kept safe, even in the event of a cyber attack or data breach.

4. Wide Range of Cryptocurrencies

Coinbase Pro offers a diverse selection of cryptocurrencies, which is a significant advantage for traders looking to diversify their portfolios. While the platform primarily supports major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), and Bitcoin Cash (BCH), it also lists a variety of altcoins, including popular tokens and assets such as:

Ripple (XRP)
Chainlink (LINK)
Polkadot (DOT)
Cardano (ADA)
Uniswap (UNI)

Coinbase Pro frequently updates its listings to include newer and trending tokens, giving traders more opportunities to diversify their portfolios and take advantage of emerging market trends.

5. Liquidity and Market Depth

Because Coinbase Pro is designed for professional traders, the platform offers high liquidity across many trading pairs, which ensures that users can execute large trades without significantly impacting market prices. This liquidity comes from the large volume of active users and the connection to Coinbase’s global customer base.

The order book on Coinbase Pro is transparent, allowing users to see the market’s current bids, asks, and order book depth. This data helps traders make better-informed decisions regarding entry and exit points in the market.

How to Set Up Coinbase Pro

Getting started on Coinbase Pro is relatively straightforward. Here’s how to set up your account and start trading:

Step 1: Create an Account

To use Coinbase Pro, you’ll need a Coinbase account (since Coinbase Pro is linked to Coinbase). If you don’t already have one:

Go to the Coinbase website.
Sign up by providing your email address, creating a password, and verifying your identity.
Once you’ve created your Coinbase account, you can access Coinbase Pro with the same login credentials.

Step 2: Verify Your Identity

For security and compliance reasons, Coinbase Pro will require you to complete identity verification, including submitting proof of identity (such as a government-issued ID) and a selfie. This step helps to comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations.

Step 3: Deposit Funds

You can deposit funds into your Coinbase Pro account using a bank transfer, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency transfer from another wallet or exchange. Coinbase Pro accepts several fiat currencies, including USD, EUR, and GBP.

To deposit cryptocurrencies into your account:

Navigate to the “Deposit” section of the website.
Choose your cryptocurrency and copy the address for the desired wallet.
Use that address to send your funds.

Step 4: Start Trading

Once your funds are in your Coinbase Pro account, you can begin trading. Select a trading pair (for example, BTC/USD or ETH/BTC), choose your order type (market, limit, or stop), and execute your trade.

Types of Orders on Coinbase Pro

Coinbase Pro supports various types of orders to help traders control their positions and limit their risks:

Market Orders: Buy or sell at the best available price in the market.
Limit Orders: Buy or sell at a specific price or better. Your order will only execute if the market reaches your specified price.
Stop Orders: Used to limit losses, a stop order automatically converts into a market order when the stop price is reached.
Stop-Limit Orders: A combination of a stop order and a limit order. Once the stop price is triggered, a limit order is placed.

These order types allow for greater flexibility and control over your trades, making Coinbase Pro an ideal platform for both short-term traders and long-term investors.

Mobile Trading with Coinbase Pro

Coinbase Pro also offers a mobile app, available for both iOS and Android, which allows users to trade on the go. The app provides access to all the same features available on the desktop platform, including:

Real-time price charts
Order book data
Trade execution
Notifications for price changes

This makes it easy to stay connected to the markets and manage your trades, even when you’re away from your computer.

Conclusion

Coinbase Pro is a powerful and secure digital asset exchange platform designed for active traders and professionals. Its low fees, advanced trading tools, high liquidity, and extensive security measures make it one of the top choices for anyone looking to engage in cryptocurrency trading.

Whether you're trading Bitcoin, Ethereum, or exploring emerging altcoins, Coinbase Pro provides a comprehensive and user-friendly platform that ensures your trades are secure, efficient, and transparent.