When you send cryptocurrency to a third-party wallet address, Coinbase charges a fee to cover the network transaction fee (also called a miner's fee) required to complete the transaction on the relevant blockchain network. Coinbase does not profit from this fee.
Network fees are variable and can be unexpectedly high during periods of blockchain congestion, and users should check the estimated network fee before initiating any crypto transfer.
Coinbase's dual-fee structure means retail users pay both an embedded spread (up to 2% of transaction value) and a separate explicit transaction fee on every buy or sell, making the true cost of trading higher than either charge alone suggests. Users paying with debit cards or instant bank transfers face significantly higher fees than those using standard ACH transfers, which can materially affect the economics of small or frequent trades. You can see your exact total fees β including the spread β by clicking the 'Preview' button before confirming any transaction in the Coinbase app or website.