Where is Coinbase available? Restricted countries and alternatives

Coinbase supported countries ✅

Currently, Coinbase operates in over 100 countries, including:

• Africa: South Africa
• America: USA, Brazil, Canada
• Asia: Turkey, Singapore, Vietnam
• Europe: United Kingdom (UK), Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands
• Australia

While Coinbase does not share an official list, these countries are known to have access to Coinbase’s services based on user experiences, official announcements, and regional websites.

Coinbase only mentions that they do not accept users from “any jurisdiction that is subject to the sanctions programs administered by the U.S. Treasury and other governing bodies” (source).

We attempted to contact Coinbase’s customer support for clarification on the matter. Unfortunately, we did not receive a response that provided additional insight into the specific countries where Coinbase operates.

Coinbase restricted countries ❌

Due to regulatory restrictions and compliance issues, Coinbase is not available in certain countries. Based on available information, here are some countries where Coinbase’s services are restricted or not available:

• Prohibited regions: Syria, North Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba, Crimea.
• Other countries where Coinbase is restricted or unavailable:
  • India
  • Pakistan
  • United Arab Emirates (UAE)
  • Philippines
  • South Africa
  • Bangladesh
  • Russia
  • Colombia
  • Pakistan

More details and sources for each of these countries is provided in our FAQs section below.

Coinbase Wallet vs. Coinbase App

In most countries, the Coinbase Wallet is available.

The issue arises with the “normal” Coinbase App, which allows users to deposit funds, buy cryptocurrencies with fiat currency, and withdraw funds to bank accounts. This app seems to have limited availability and is not accessible in many countries.

Coinbase Wallet

• A self-custody wallet that allows you to store, send, and receive cryptocurrencies.
• Enables you to exchange cryptocurrencies and interact with decentralized applications (dApps).
• Does not support buying cryptocurrencies directly with fiat currency, depositing funds from bank accounts, or withdrawing funds to bank accounts.
• Essentially, it doesn’t handle traditional money (fiat).

Coinbase App

• Allows users to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies using fiat currency.
• Supports depositing and withdrawing funds to and from bank accounts.
• Availability is limited to certain countries due to regulatory requirements.

For users in countries where the Coinbase App is not available, the Coinbase Wallet can still be used to manage and store cryptocurrencies, but with limitations on purchasing and cashing out.

Limited availability of Coinbase services

From our observations, it appears that the only countries where Coinbase is fully available are those listed explicitly in the country selection dropdown on Coinbase’s website (screenshot below).

Other countries may have access to some of Coinbase’s services, but there may be restrictions, or the company does not fully commit to providing complete services in those regions.

For instance, large countries like India, Pakistan, Mexico, Colombia, or Argentina are not listed, indicating that they may not have full access to Coinbase’s functionalities.

Coinbase worldwide alternatives

If you are searching for Coinbase worldwide alternatives, here are a few popular names:

Conclusion

While Coinbase remains a significant player in the cryptocurrency exchange space, its availability varies due to regional regulations and compliance requirements.

The absence of a publicly shared list of operational countries adds to the uncertainty for potential users.

We reached out to Coinbase support for clarity but did not receive additional information.

For those in restricted regions, numerous alternative platforms offer similar services, but it’s crucial to choose reputable and compliant exchanges to safeguard investments.

Have any feedback, or found any missing piece in the article? Feel free to reach out to us, or contact me directly on LinkedIn.