There are several types of payment methods that you can link to your Coinbase account:
Best for | Buy | Sell | Add cash | Cash out | Speed | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bank Account (ACH) | Large and small investments | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | 3-5 business days |
Instant Cashouts to bank accounts | Small cashouts | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | Instant |
Debit Card | Small investments and cashouts | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | Instant |
Wire Transfer | Large investments | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | 1-3 business days |
Small investments and cashouts | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | Instant | |
Apple Pay | Small investments | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | Instant |
Google Pay | Small investments | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | Instant |
To link a payment method:
Go to Payment Methods on web or select Settings > Payment Methods on mobile.
Select Add a payment method.
Select the type of account you want to link.
Follow the instructions to complete verification depending on the type of account being linked.
Please note: Coinbase doesn't accept physical checks or checks from bill pay services as a payment method to purchase cryptocurrency or to transfer cash into your US dollar balance. Any such checks received by Coinbase will be voided and destroyed.
Bank Account
Instant verification
Most banks can be linked instantly and securely via Plaid by providing your online banking username and password when requested. Additional security questions and a PIN may be required depending on your bank's security procedures.
To link your bank account:
Visit your Payment Methods.
Select Add a payment method, then Bank Account
From the Plaid notification window, select Continue. You'll see a screen with bank logos.
Select or search for the name of the bank for the account you'd like to link and select Continue.
Enter your bank's login credentials.
Your bank account will then be instantly linked and available to use.
Deposit verification
Alternately, you can manually link your bank account using our deposit verification process following these steps:
Visit your Payment Methods.
Select Add a payment method > Bank Account
When the Plaid notification window opens, select X to close the window.
From the subsequent "unsuccessful" window, select Manually link bank account.
Follow the prompts to enter the account details, including your name (this must match the verified name on your Coinbase account for Coinbase.com), the type of account, and the account and routing numbers, then select the option to verify the account.
Two small test deposits will be made to your bank account (they usually reach your account in 2-3 business days). Verify the amounts by selecting verify for your bank account on the Payments Method page. Only enter the "cent" portion of the amounts. For example, if the amounts on your bank statement are $1.10 and $1.20, enter:
10
20
Once the account is linked, you can initiate your first buy. You can also use your linked bank account to receive funds from Sell orders or cashouts from your US dollar balance.
Learn more about how to use a bank account as a payment method.
Debit Card
Visa and MasterCard debit cards can be used to buy on Coinbase. We're unable to support prepaid cards or other cards without an associated billing address.
To learn more about how to cash out funds using your debit card, please see Instant Card Cashouts.
In most cases, photo ID verification is required before adding a card.
To add a debit card, follow these steps:
In Payment methods > select Add a payment method > Debit Card.
Provide your debit card information.
Two small, temporary debits will be applied to your card.
Go to your card online banking activity to find the two amounts.
Enter the amounts on Coinbase to complete adding and verifying your card.
You can now make a purchase by selecting your card on the payment methods menu on the Buy page. Please note that it is not possible to sell cryptocurrency and have the funds sent to a card.
All debit card payments are processed through Coinbase, Inc.
Apple Pay
You can purchase crypto through Coinbase using Apple Pay linked to your debit card. Adding cash, cashing out, and selling your crypto is not available with Apple Pay at this time.
Your limit to purchase crypto on Coinbase using Apple Pay is equal to the sum of both your own debit card's transaction limit and Coinbase limits. You can view your limits on the Account limits section of your Settings. Limits for purchasing and adding cash will vary depending on your region and payment method type.
For example, if you add Apple Pay to your account and your card's transaction limit is $1,000, you can purchase up to $1,000 worth of crypto in a 24-hour period in addition to the limit on your Coinbase account.
Using Apple Pay with Coinbase
Select the cryptocurrency you want to buy.
Enter the amount.
Select Apple Pay from the list of available payment methods.
If you already have a Visa or Mastercard debit card linked in your Apple Wallet, Apple Pay will automatically appear as a payment method when you’re buying crypto with Coinbase on an Apple Pay-supported iOS device or Safari web browser. If you’re using a Safari web app, make sure you're signed into your Apple account.
Apple Pay is not available on Chrome browser at this time.
Canceled transactions
If your transaction is canceled, please contact your card issuer.
Apple Pay is not an available payment method
Try the following:
Make sure you’re using an iOS device or Safari, and that you are signed into your account
Make sure your OS is up to date
Contact Apple Pay support
Google Pay
To use Google Pay:
Select the cryptocurrency you want to buy.
Enter the amount.
Select Google Pay from the list of available payment methods.
If you already have a Visa or Mastercard debit card linked to your Google Wallet, Google Pay will automatically appear as a payment method when you’re buying crypto with Coinbase on a Google Pay-supported Android device or the following web browsers:
Google Chrome
Mozilla Firefox
Safari
Microsoft Edge
Opera
UC Browser
If you’re using Coinbase on a web browser, make sure you are signed into your Google Account to use Google Pay. Note that Google Pay is not available on iOS at this time.
Canceled transactions
If your transaction is canceled, please contact your card issuer.
Google Pay is not an available payment method
Try the following:
Check that you’re using an Android device or supported web browser, and that you’re signed into your Google account.
Double-check that your device or web browser is up to date.
In your Google Pay settings, turn on sharing in the “Share that you have Google Pay with companies outside of Google'' section located under your Privacy settings (on web) or Data & Personalization (in the mobile app).
If you still have issues after trying the above steps, please contact Google Pay for further help.
Bank Wire
Adding cash from a wire into Coinbase
Coinbase can only accept wires if:
The name on the bank wire matches the legal name on your Coinbase account.
The wire is sent from a US-based bank account.
The account the wire is sent from is associated with your Coinbase profile—your bank account cannot be linked to another Coinbase account. Also, please note that you can only have one personal Coinbase account.
Your unique reference code or Coinbase wire account number is included with the wire transaction.*
The "Reference to Beneficiary" field in the wire details is left blank unless a unique reference code is required.
The exact routing information is being used from your wire details. Please use the designated wire details from your Coinbase account to send the transfer.
Note: There are no wire transaction or cashout minimums, however there is a wire fee ($10 for incoming transfers and $25 for outgoing transfers). You must have completed sufficient account verification to obtain a US dollar balance.
*You’ll be given a virtual account number or a reference code, but you don’t need both. If a reference code is not provided, then use your unique account number. Depending on your banking institution, your bank may further ask about this transaction, in which case it may be helpful to tell your bank that you were assigned a "Virtual Account Number (VAN)” to complete this transfer.
To add cash using a bank wire:
Select the Assets tab.
Select your US Dollar balance.
Select Add cash.
Make sure to select Wire Transfer tab from the Add cash menu.
Use the information displayed to initiate a wire transfer denominated in US dollars from your bank account.
After the cash transaction into Coinbase has cleared, the funds will be available in your Coinbase US dollar balance. If you'd like to add cash to your Pro balance, please log in to your Pro account to view your instructions.
Wire cashouts from Coinbase
Once you complete the verification steps to activate a US dollar balance and verify your wire cash out information, you can cash out from your US dollar wallet via bank wire.
To verify your wire cash out information, go to Payment Methods and select Add a payment method > Wire transfer. Follow the prompts to enter the wire details provided by your bank (this will add your bank account).
Once your wire information has been added, to cash out via bank wire:
Select your US dollar balance on the left side menu of the Assets page.
Select Cash out.
Select Wire transfer in the To field.
Confirm the amount and select Cash out again.
Wired funds will typically appear in your account within 2-3 business days.
Gift cards
How do I redeem my gift card?
To redeem your gift card as a payment method on Coinbase:
Sign in to your account (or create a new account) and go to your payment methods
On web: From your profile icon, select Settings > Payment methods
On mobile: From the home screen, either:
Select the menu icon, then Profile & Settings
Select More, then Add Cash, then tap the default drop-down payment method
Select Add a new payment method
Note: If you see a pop-up or ad for another payment service, simply close it to proceed
Select Gift card
Add the gift card number and PIN
Once the gift card has been redeemed, the value will be added to your account’s primary balance.
Related articles