Coinbase includes a spread in the price of each cryptocurrency transaction. The spread is the difference between the market price and the price at which Coinbase buys or sells the cryptocurrency to you. The spread may be up to 2% for cryptocurrency transactions.
The spread is invisible at first glance because it is embedded in the quoted price, meaning consumers may not realize they are paying it on top of the stated transaction fee.
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.