Gemini vs Coinbase â which one is better?

Gemini vs Coinbase – which one is better?

Gemini vs Coinbase – which one is better?

According to a recent report, cryptocurrency searches have almost tripled over the last six months. This is in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic which has brought the world to its knees. People are fully aware that the ongoing crisis is going to adversely affect the economy hence they are looking for a haven to store their wealth. Normally they would turn to gold, but as they say “cryptocurrencies are the new gold.” This leads us to the next very critical question; what is a cryptocurrency? I would like to believe that most of my readers have come across this term before because cryptocurrencies have been making headlines and grabbing so much attention lately. However, for those who have never heard of this term before, you have so much catching up to do; but don’t you worry because I’ve got you covered.

Cryptocurrencies are digital coins whose operation is exclusively online.

Most of them do not have a physical representation. Also, they have the same uses as the fiat money we are accustomed to. Some common cryptocurrencies include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, and Monero. One of the many ways in which cryptocurrencies differ from traditional money is in the way that they are acquired. While traditional money is distributed by central banks, cryptocurrencies are bought from online exchanges. As a beginner in crypto, you need an exchange that is user-friendly and available in your country. Very many people want to embark on their cryptocurrency journey but do not know just where to start. Today there are very many exchanges to choose from; Gemini and Coinbase are two of the biggest and most trusted exchanges out here. The following “Gemini vs Coinbase” review explores the two exchanges in such a way that you will be able to make an informed decision about which one suits you best

Gemini vs Coinbase: what is Gemini?

Gemini is a well-respected cryptocurrency exchange which was founded in 2015. Its mane is a reference to the zodiac sign that depicts a pair of twins which is quite clever because it is the brainchild of the Winklevoss twins. Its creators are two of the earliest investors in Bitcoin. With its headquarters in New York and strict compliance with existing regulation; the exchange has quickly become a favorite among high-volume investors and institutional traders. One of its outstanding features is that it offers extra security to its users, unlike most other exchanges. This exchange is all-rounded; it allows its users to purchase cryptocurrencies using fiat money which is not the case for many exchanges. It also offers an “on and off-ramp” to cryptocurrency making it a direct competitor with the likes of CEX.io, Kraken, and Bitstamp. It also offers users a lot of extra security features that are lacking in many exchanges.

Distinctive Features

Has highly respected staples of the cryptocurrency industry
Offers both bank and wire deposit options
Responsive customer support
Allows both cryptocurrency and fiat money withdrawals
Offers advanced trading options in the form of different kinds of buy and sell orders
Within the US, it accepts deposits made using Automated Clearing House (ACH)
Gemini supported states include Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Canada, and the US
Accepts both cryptocurrency and fiat money
Offline storage of cryptocurrency and fiat money to protect from hacking

Coinbase Vs Gemini: what is Coinbase?

Coinbase is arguably the most popular digital currency globally. Its headquarters are currently in San Francisco, California and it was established by Fred Ehrsam and Brian Armstrong in 2011. Coinbase is user-friendly and easy to maneuver as compared to other exchanges. It also offers various options for buying and purchasing different digital assets. Most cryptocurrency exchanges are advanced with sophisticated buying and selling options such as ‘limit orders’ and ‘market orders’. It is the absence of these sophisticated features that make Coinbase well suited for beginners. Once you get accustomed to the exchange you can then progress to GDAX which is a more advanced platform that is associated with Coinbase.

Distinctive features

Available in over 100+ countries including USA, UK, Canada, Singapore, and Australia
It offers very responsive customer support
Deals with both cryptocurrency and fiat money
Offers simplified instant buying options
Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin are available
Both the money and cryptocurrency are stored offline for protection from hacking

Gemini vs Coinbase: How is Gemini better than Coinbase?

Better security

First of all, both exchanges take their customers’ protection very seriously and have additional security measures in place. They both separate the users’ money from the money which they use to operate. And also enforce the two-factor authentication which decreases the likelihood of an account being hacked or phished. Those are just a few of the security measures that both exchanges have put in place.

Gemini however, takes some extreme measures to secure its customers’ funds. They have secured the few digital assets that are stored online in a hot wallet using Amazon Web Services which high level of security controls. Also, only high-level employees can access the coins stored on hot wallets not to mention the hot wallets are accessed through multi-factor authentication (more advanced than two-factor authentication). They use two-level cold storage whose access to cold storage requires the simultaneous actions of more than one employee, thus increasing security. Both hot and cold wallet keys are secured on hardware that has passed a high level of security checks. Lastly, security hardware comes from different manufacturers to prevent supply-chain issues. These extreme measures could be the reason why it was picked by the Chicago Board Options Exchange to settle its Bitcoin futures in 2017. Its high-security precautions make it a better alternative for professional traders who store large volumes of cryptocurrency. However, be advised that exchanges are not suitable for long term storage.

2. Lower fees

Gemini outperforms Coinbase when it comes to fees; they are your best bet to save as much as possible on fees. It does not charge fees for deposits or withdrawals and it only charges a 0.25% or even less fee for trading. Coinbase on the other hand charges around 1.49% for bank transfers and purchases and 3.99% for credit/debit card purchases. Thanks to their very low fees, Gemini is the best alternative for high-volume traders. Most professional traders feel that Coinbase eats a very huge chunk of their profits.

Coinbase vs Gemini: How is Coinbase better than Gemini?

User-friendliness

Coinbase certainly beats Gemini when it comes to user-friendliness. Their website is not only easy to maneuver but also quite responsive. They offer an immediate option for buying and selling digital coins. You can signup, make a deposit into the site and successfully buy your first cryptocurrency in just a matter of seconds. Although the registration at both Gemini and Coinbase is pretty much alike, Coinbase is much easier for a beginner to maneuver. There are no confusing terms, you just log in and conduct your transactions. Gemini is friendlier for experienced traders because it has more advanced features; it offers a clutter-free interface, clean and the options are set out. However, for an absolute beginner, Coinbase is the charm.

Higher trade volumes

Most new users make their first few purchases using Coinbase because it is very user friendly; it is therefore not surprising that the exchange trades more coins than Gemini. For instance, in 5 months. Coinbase can trade over 5.20 BTC while Gemini only trades 1.7 BTC.

Coin availability

While both platforms offer a small variety of cryptocurrencies, Coinbase has a better coin availability than Gemini. They provide Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash; while Gemini provides Bitcoin and Ethereum only. This makes Coinbase a better option for traders who prefer to deal with a wider variety of coins.

Extensive deposit methods

Coinbase and Gemini both have different ways of funding their customers’ accounts. However, Coinbase offers more extensive deposit methods; their customers can buy their digital coins using a debit card, a credit card or a bank transfer. While Gemini only offers the bank transfer option. Cryptocurrency deposits are welcome for the specific cryptocurrencies supported by either exchange. Withdrawals follow the same deposit methods for either exchange.

Offers higher purchasing limits

Coinbase does not give any clear limits on new customers; instead, these limits are dictated by factors such as account verification, buying history and account age. The customer’s limit is shown on his/her account’s verification page. Bank transfer limits can reach up to $5,000 per week while credit card limits can go up to $60 per week. Gemini, on the other hand, has predefined bank transfers purchasing limits of $ 500 per day. Therefore, Coinbase is your better option if you are looking to immediately lock in a price higher than $500. Lastly, both Gemini and Coinbase offer wire transfers for those users looking to deposit larger sums; though prior direct communication with them is mandatory.

Conclusion

There you have it! Our complete guide of Gemini vs Coinbase. I hope that helped in distinguishing between the two exchanges. Coinbase is recommended for beginners; despite its high fees the convenience and user-friendliness are commendable. It is also the best option for you if you want to use a credit card. Gemini, on the other hand, is best for experienced traders, those who want to take their trading to another level. It is also a great option when it comes to saving on fees. With both sites being trustworthy, secure and very responsive to their customers; the winner of the Gemini vs Coinbase battle boils down to the user’s needs and preferences. What do you think? Which one is better? Is it Gemini or is it Coinbase?

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Zerocrypted

https://zerocrypted.com/gemini-vs-coinbase-which-one-is-better/

David

Coinbase Informs 13K Affected Customers Of Imminent Data Handover To IRS

US-based cryptocurrency exchange and wallet service Coinbase sent an official notice Friday, Feb. 23 to approximately 13,000 of its customers whose information it is legally required to turn over to the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The IRS had initially asked Coinbase in July 2017 to hand over even more detailed information on every one of its then over 500,000 users in an attempt catch those cheating on their taxes. However, another court order in Nov. 2017 reduced this number to around 14,000 “high-transacting” users, which the platform now reports as 13,000, in what Coinbase calls a “partial, but still significant, victory for Coinbase and its customers.”

On Friday, Coinbase told the around 13,000 affected customers that the company would be providing their taxpayer ID, name, birth date, address, and historical transaction records from 2013-2015 to the IRS within 21 days.

Coinbase’s letter to these customers encourages them “to seek legal advice from an attorney promptly” if they have any questions. Their website also states that concerns may also be addressed on Coinbase’s Taxes FAQ.

The ongoing legal battle between Coinbase and the US government dates back to November, 2016, when the IRS filed a “John Doe summons” in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

On Feb. 13, personal finance service Credit Karma released data showing that only 0.04 percent of their customers had reported cryptocurrencies on their federal tax returns so far this tax season.

Author Molly Jane Zuckerman

Posted by David Ogden Entrepreneur
David Ogden Cryptocurrency Entrepreneur

David

Prices Aside, Crypto’s Tech Stack Is Steadily Improving

Prices Aside, Crypto's Tech Stack Is Steadily Improving

Rachel Rose O'Leary and Alyssa Hertig

Feb 11, 2018 at 14:45 UTC

A look at the headlines of late may leave you with a familiar conclusion – with all the ups and downs in the market, it's just too early to take crypto seriously.

And it's true, despite the best efforts of even the industry's most notable developers, the world's largest cryptocurrencies remain not just volatile, but difficult (and risky) to use, at least in a way that their creators' intended.

Still, heading into 2018, enthusiasts the world over are hard at work on improvements.

As such, there's optimism advances could start to compound, creating a user experience that finally starts to transcend the issues – namely, the high fees and long wait times – users of most blockchains have become all too accustomed to.

In fact, in the year ahead, blockchain users could see exciting new features and scientific firsts that just might help push the industry closer to that vision:

1. Off-chain channels

What if it was possible for blockchain-based transactions to avoid using the blockchain at all?

That's the big idea behind off-blockchain payment channels, an idea that harkens back to 2015, but whose time may have finally come this year. Most associated with Bitcoin's Lightning Network, the idea is actually more general than this specific instance.

Essentially, off-blockchain payment channels would allow two people using any one cryptocurrency to send small payments back and forth, settling to the blockchain (and dealing with its high fees and slow transaction times) only when absolutely necessary.

Due to the potential impact, the idea is catching on – ethereum developers, while they often don't see eye-to-eye with their bitcoin peers, are at work on the same type of solution.

But there's more than just a rivalry at play, there's also reason to believe 2018 might be different in that actual live transactions could be sent in significant numbers.

The developers behind bitcoin's Lightning Network have declared the technology almost ready based on successful tests. Meanwhile, ethereum's developers have also unveiled successful tests for their versions of the concept, Raiden Network, with a more ambitious version, Plasma, potentially around the corner.

2. Real-live staking

As their popularity grows, attention is also being paid to the electricity required to sustain cryptocurrencies.

While the relevant data is difficult to pin down, proof-of-work, the consensus protocol that underlies bitcoin mining, is best defined as an energy-intensive process. As such, there are concerns about its electricity use could have large-scale environmental effects.

This is leading to new research on an idea from 2011. Called proof-of-stake, or "consensus by vote," the idea has been implemented, however, not at the scale intended by ethereum.

As such, it's long-awaited project Casper is likely to be under significant scrutiny this coming year, and early versions are beginning to see the light.

In a testnet released on New Year's Eve, one variation of Casper, was claimed to be functional. Karl Floersch, a leading developer behind the technology, told CoinDesk at the time that the code is working with "no hiccups."

Work remains to adapt this early version of Casper across the different ethereum clients, but ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin has said he expects the technology will be tested alongside proof-of-work sometime in the future.

3. Privacy advances

Privacy has been a somewhat neglected promise in the majority of blockchains, but it's nonetheless an issue that could see improvement this year.

Most notable is the advances in zero-knowledge proofs, what Buterin has called "the single most under-hyped thing in cryptography right now," are getting cheaper and easier to deploy.

A form of cryptography that hides information without risking validity, it's already been adapted to a small degree into ethereum, which could lead to a wave of startups experimenting with private smart contracts in novel and unexpected ways.

Plus, in a white paper published earlier this month, a system for achieving zero-knowledge without compromising trust – a point of contention in some earlier iterations of the tech – was released, an update which could have exciting consequences.

And as existing tech matures, privacy-centric cryptocurrencies such as monero and zcash are also set to improve.

In preparation for an upgrade, zcash has been steadily reinforcing its security, while monero is stepping up to implement "bulletproofs," a feature that could cut fees by 80 percent.

4. Decentralized exchanges

No, this isn't just a new version of Coinbase or Kraken.

As the industry's largest exchanges struggle to cope with the influx of new adopters, an increasing number of projects are at work developing something called a decentralized exchange. The term denotes not just a new browser-based exchange, but rather a type of software users can use to swap one cryptocurrency with another without a central entity.

2017 saw a flood of new decentralized exchange projects, such as ShapeShift's Prism, 0x, OmiseGo, Kyber Network, and many others.

Expect those efforts to accelerate this year.

So far, hardware wallet Ledger has already integrated with decentralized exchange Radar Relay, allowing users to trustlessly exchange tokens based on ethereum.

While functionality is limited (it's only supported by a single wallet and only ethereum-based tokens can be sent), many in the industry see it as a glimpse into the future of not just cryptocurrency exchanges, but the technology itself.

Posted By David Ogden Entrepreneur
David ogden Cryptocurrency entrepreneur

David

Bitcoin cracks $9,600 just hours after breaking $9,000 level

Bitcoin surged to yet another new record high on Monday
The cryptocurrency jumped to an all-time high of $9,671.84 hours after cracking the $9,400 level on Sunday
The digital currency has risen some 869 percent year-to-date
Bitcoin surged to yet another new record high on Monday, breaking a record set during the Thanksgiving weekend stateside.

The cryptocurrency jumped to an all-time high of $9,671.84 hours after cracking the $9,400 level on Sunday, according to industry site CoinDesk. It later pared some gains to trade at $9,631.21 at 10:00 a.m. HK/SIN, rising some 3.27 percent on the day.

"The move appears to be retail driven," said Brian Kelly, a CNBC contributor and CEO of BKCM, which runs a digital assets strategy.

The largest bitcoin exchange in the U.S., Coinbase, added about 100,000 accounts between Wednesday and Friday — just around Thursday's Thanksgiving holiday — to a total of 13.1 million. That's according to public data available on Coinbase's website and historical records compiled by Alistair Milne, co-founder and chief investment officer of Altana Digital Currency Fund. Coinbase had about 4.9 million users last November, Milne's data showed.

The surge in interest also comes on the back of CME's announcement that it will list bitcoin futures in the second week of December. The launch of a derivatives product for the digital currency will mark another step in establishing bitcoin as a legitimate asset class.

Still, with the digital currency having risen by some 869 percent year-to-date, plenty have taken to pointing out the potential pitfalls of what they see as a price bubble.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon in October warned that those "stupid" enough to buy bitcoin will ultimately "pay the price for it." He added that he did not comprehend the value of currencies that were not backed by a government and that "[t]he only value of bitcoin is what the other guy'll pay for it."

Still, many others have offered a more moderate assessment for bitcoin and its ascent. Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the head of Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Investment Company, said people ought to be open-minded when looking at the digital currency.

More recently, a poll among chief financial officers on CNBC's Global CFO Council showed 27.9 percent of 43 respondents thought bitcoin was "real but in a bubble" while 27.9 percent thought the cryptocurrency was a "fraud." Just 14 percent of the executives said bitcoin was "real and going higher."

Author: Evelyn Cheng

Posted by David Ogden Entrepreneur
David Ogden Cryptocurrency Entrepreneur

David