Is Coinbase legal in the UK?

Yes, Coinbase is fully legal to use in the UK. CB Payments Ltd is registered on the FCA cryptoasset register (FRN 1003842), which means it is authorised to offer cryptoasset services to UK consumers.

Is Coinbase regulated by the FCA?

Yes, Coinbase's UK entity CB Payments Ltd (FRN 1003842) is registered on the FCA cryptoasset register. This means it has passed the FCA's anti-money-laundering assessment. Note that this is FCA registration, not full FCA authorisation.

Is my money safe on Coinbase UK?

Coinbase uses cold storage for the majority of customer funds and carries crime insurance for hot wallet assets. However, your crypto is not protected by the FSCS. If Coinbase were to fail, you would be an unsecured creditor.

What is Coinbase's FRN number?

Coinbase's UK entity CB Payments Ltd has the FCA firm reference number (FRN) 1003842. You can verify this on the FCA register at register.fca.org.uk.

Is Coinbase the same as CB Payments Ltd?

CB Payments Ltd is Coinbase's UK-registered subsidiary. It is the legal entity through which Coinbase operates in the United Kingdom and holds FCA registration.

Does Coinbase offer FSCS protection?

No. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme does not cover cryptoassets. This applies to all crypto platforms, including those registered with the FCA. Your crypto holdings on Coinbase are not insured by FSCS.

Regulation2026-03-28

Is Coinbase FCA Regulated?

Yes. Coinbase operates in the UK through CB Payments Ltd (FRN 1003842), which is registered on the FCA cryptoasset register. CB Payments Ltd is also registered as an e-money institution. This means Coinbase has passed the FCA's anti-money-laundering checks and is legally permitted to offer cryptoasset services to UK consumers.

What Coinbase's FCA Registration Covers

AML/KYC compliance under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017
Legal right to promote cryptoasset services to UK consumers
Ongoing supervisory oversight from the FCA for anti-money-laundering purposes
Requirement to maintain adequate systems and controls for AML compliance

FSCS protection — your crypto is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Investment advice authorisation — Coinbase is not authorised to provide regulated investment advice
Protection against exchange insolvency — if Coinbase went bust, you would be an unsecured creditor

Coinbase's UK Regulatory Entity

FCA Entity Name: CB Payments Ltd
FRN (Reference Number): 1003842
Company Number: 15084966
Registration Type: Cryptoasset register + e-money

CB Payments Ltd is Coinbase's UK-registered subsidiary responsible for its operations in the United Kingdom. The company is registered at Companies House (company number 15084966) and on the FCA cryptoasset register under FRN 1003842. CB Payments Ltd handles Coinbase's regulatory obligations in the UK, including compliance with the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017. You can verify this registration directly on the FCA register by searching for the firm reference number.

Verify on FCA Register

Is Your Crypto Safe on Coinbase?

While FCA registration does not mean your crypto is insured, Coinbase implements significant security measures to protect user assets. Coinbase stores the vast majority of customer crypto in cold storage (offline wallets), which protects against hacking. The company also carries crime insurance to protect digital assets held in hot wallets. Coinbase is publicly listed on the NASDAQ (COIN), which means it is subject to additional financial reporting requirements and SEC oversight in the US. If Coinbase were to become insolvent, your crypto would not be protected by the FSCS — you would be an unsecured creditor in the insolvency process.

How Coinbase Compares to Other FCA-Regulated Exchanges

ExchangeFCA StatusScore

Coinbase

Registered

8.1/10

Kraken

Registered

7.3/10

Gemini

Registered

7.3/10

See the full list of FCA-regulated crypto exchanges in the UK.

Frequently Asked Questions

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