It's important for us to distinguish between disabling buy/sell services, closing a Coinbase account, and preventing access to funds.
Disabling Buy/Sell Services
From time to time, due to violations of our User Agreement, Coinbase may restrict access to buy/sell services on a customer's account. This can happen for a number of reasons including, but not limited to, high risk of fraud. When this happens, customers retain full use of their digital currency balances even though buy/sell services are disabled. Additionally, any funds remaining in AUD, EUR, GBP, CAD, or other local currency balances can be withdrawn to a verified bank account.
Closing a Coinbase Account
Similar to above, due to violations of our User Agreement, Coinbase may initiate closure of customer accounts. This can happen for a number of reasons including, but not limited to, engaging in prohibited activity as defined in our User Agreement. When this happens, buy/sell services are disabled and in addition you are no longer permitted to use your Coinbase account as a digital currency balance. However, you are allowed to withdraw all funds from your Coinbase account and send it to any wallet address you choose, so access to digital currency is never "frozen" in this case. You are also allowed to clear any local currency balances from your account by withdrawing to a verified bank account before the account closure proceeds.
Note that if your account is closed in this manner while a buy or deposit is pending, the funds will be available to withdraw once the transaction completes.
Preventing access to funds
In extremely rare circumstances, and only where required by law or authorized by the Coinbase User Agreement, Coinbase may block or "freeze" customer funds on our platform. For example, we will take this action when:
We are required to comply with an order from a court or other authority that has jurisdiction over Coinbase which compels us to restrict access to funds.
We are required by law to freeze or block assets in compliance with a sanctions program, including, but not limited to sanctions programs administered by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
For reference, our Prohibited Businesses and Prohibited Use Policy.
Due to violations of our User Agreement, Coinbase may disable access to buy/sell services on your account for reasons including, but not limited to, high risk of fraud. If this happens, you will maintain the ability to transact with crypto, and cashout any funds in your cash balance, to a verified bank account. Only buy/sell services will be disabled.
Due to violations of our User Agreement, Coinbase may initiate closure of customer accounts for reasons, including, but not limited to, engaging in prohibited activity. When an account closure happens, buy/sell services are disabled and you will no longer be permitted to use your Coinbase account as a crypto balance. However, access to your balances are not “frozen” as you will be able to send any remaining crypto balances from your Coinbase account to a wallet address of your choice. Additionally, before the account closure proceeds, you will be able to cash out any remaining cash balance from your account to a verified bank account.
Note: If a buy or cash add is pending when an account closure happens, the balance will be available to send/cash out once the transaction completes.
In extremely rare circumstances, and only where required by law or authorized by the Coinbase User Agreement, Coinbase may block or "freeze" customer funds on our platform. For example, we will take this action when:
We are required to comply with an order from a court or other authority that has jurisdiction over Coinbase, compelling us to restrict access to funds.
We are required by law to freeze or block assets in compliance with a sanctions program, including, but not limited to sanctions programs administered by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
For reference, our Prohibited Businesses and Prohibited Use Policy.
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