To begin using Coinbase, visit coinbase.com or download the mobile app, create an account with your email address, complete identity verification by providing required documentation, connect a payment method (bank account, debit card, or wire transfer), and then you can start buying, selling, and managing cryptocurrencies on the platform.

Coinbase offers a simplified interface for beginners with higher fees but easier navigation, while Coinbase Advanced (formerly Coinbase Pro) provides a professional trading interface with advanced order types, detailed charts, lower fees, and deeper liquidity for experienced traders. Both platforms use the same login credentials and allow easy transfers between accounts.

Coinbase Wallet protects your cryptocurrencies by giving you full control of your private keys, which are secured on your device and never sent to Coinbase servers. The wallet uses encryption, biometric authentication, and a 12-word recovery phrase system. Unlike the exchange, where Coinbase holds the keys, with Coinbase Wallet, you maintain complete ownership and responsibility for your crypto assets.

No, the Coinbase application does not provide tracking for Coinbase stock price. To monitor COIN performance, you'll need to use traditional stock market applications, brokerage accounts, or financial information services that cover NASDAQ-listed companies. The Coinbase app focuses exclusively on cryptocurrency trading and management.

If you can't access your Coinbase account, first try the account recovery process through the login page, ensure you're using the correct email address, check for verification emails that might be in your spam folder, and verify your two-factor authentication setup. If these steps don't resolve the issue, contact Coinbase customer service through their official help center with documentation proving your identity.

Coinbase maintains crime insurance that protects a portion of digital assets held in their online storage against theft and cybersecurity breaches. However, this insurance doesn't cover individual account compromises resulting from personal security breaches. USD balances are covered up to $250,000 by FDIC insurance (in the United States), but cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by government insurance programs.

Coinbase's standard platform typically charges higher fees than most competitors, with transaction fees ranging from 0.5% to 4.5% depending on the payment method, transaction size, and region. Coinbase Advanced offers more competitive fees with a maker-taker model starting at 0.6%/0.4% and decreasing with volume. Other major exchanges often provide lower base fees, making fee comparison an important consideration for frequent traders.