Coinbase · Coinbase User Agreement · View original document ↗

Cryptocurrency Risk Disclosure

High severity Unique · 0 of 325 platforms
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Recent governance activity Coinbase recorded 6 documented changes in the last 30 days.
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This analysis describes what Coinbase's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

The provision establishes that users bear financial risk when trading or holding digital assets on the platform, while Coinbase disclaims liability for service interruptions and technical failures. This allocation of risk and responsibility governs the operational relationship between the platform and users.

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

High May 15, 2026

The updated terms establish a new arrangement for USDC designated as 'Secured USDC' in connection with the Coinbase One Card. Under the revised language, if you designate USDC in your wallet as Secured USDC, you agree that Coinbase may transfer that amount to a third party designated as the secured party, and you will be restricted from withdrawing or transferring those funds. Additionally, the secured party's instructions to Coinbase regarding those assets take priority over any conflicting instructions you provide. The agreement states that you consent to all such permitted transfers. This arrangement operates independently of amounts owed to Coinbase, meaning Secured USDC will not be debited to satisfy debts you owe to Coinbase.

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Medium May 2, 2026

The updated terms eliminate language that previously allowed Coinbase to restrict your withdrawals if you designated USDC as Secured USDC and to comply with third-party secured party instructions without your consent. Under the revised agreement, Coinbase will not transfer, loan, or otherwise handle your Supported Digital Assets except as required by law or as you instruct. This means the One Card Secured USDC mechanism is no longer integrated into the core asset protection clause, and users no longer face withdrawal restrictions or loss of instruction authority tied to that designation. If you currently hold Secured USDC under a separate One Card cardholder agreement, that agreement remains in effect but is no longer cross-referenced in the main User Agreement's asset protection section.

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Medium May 1, 2026

The updated terms establish a new exception to the prior prohibition on transferring user digital assets. Previously, Coinbase stated it would not transfer assets except as required by law or per user instruction. The revised language now permits Coinbase to transfer USDC designated as 'Secured USDC' to third parties pursuant to a Coinbase One Card cardholder agreement. Users who elect to use this feature agree they will be restricted from withdrawing or transferring the secured portion, and they consent to Coinbase following instructions from a designated secured party without further user approval, even if those instructions conflict with the user's own orders to Coinbase. The full terms of this arrangement are stated to be in Appendix 4, which is not included in this summary.

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Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Users operate under terms that require them to independently assess the suitability of digital currency trading or holding given their financial condition, without reliance on Coinbase investment guidance. The terms also specify that Coinbase disclaims responsibility for technical failures, communication disruptions, or errors that occur during platform use.

Cross-platform context

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
The risk of loss in trading or holding Digital Currency can be substantial. You should therefore carefully consider whether trading or holding Digital Currency is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. Coinbase does not provide any investment advice in connection with the Coinbase Services. Coinbase will not be responsible for any communication failures, disruptions, errors, distortions or delays you may experience when using the Coinbase Services, however caused.

— Excerpt from Coinbase's Coinbase User Agreement

Provision details

Document information
Document
Coinbase User Agreement
Entity
Coinbase
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 9, 2026
Last verified
May 12, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-004749
Document ID
CA-D-00047
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
3dc307b902ef1098b4f25d2d193ebebf46ef33ac6e1077fba19c28563a37eb5d
Analysis generated
May 9, 2026 19:59 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Coinbase
Document: Coinbase User Agreement
Record ID: CA-P-004749
Captured: 2026-05-09 19:59:08 UTC
SHA-256: 3dc307b902ef1098…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/coinbase/coinbase-user-agreement/cryptocurrency-risk-disclosure/
Accessed: May 20, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Coinbase's Cryptocurrency Risk Disclosure clause do?

The provision establishes that users bear financial risk when trading or holding digital assets on the platform, while Coinbase disclaims liability for service interruptions and technical failures. This allocation of risk and responsibility governs the operational relationship between the platform and users.

How does this clause affect you?

Users operate under terms that require them to independently assess the suitability of digital currency trading or holding given their financial condition, without reliance on Coinbase investment guidance. The terms also specify that Coinbase disclaims responsibility for technical failures, communication disruptions, or errors that occur during platform use.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Coinbase?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Coinbase.