BitGo vs Coinbase Custody — Head-to-Head Custody Comparison
An independent, data-driven comparison of BitGo and Coinbase Custody across security, insurance, fees, regulatory compliance, and more.
Verdict
Quick Verdict
BitGo scores 8.2 vs Coinbase Custody's 8.2. BitGo leads in 4 of 8 categories.
BitGo is better suited for Institutions, Exchanges, Funds. Coinbase Custody is better suited for ETF issuers, Hedge funds, Asset managers.
Scores
Score Comparison
Weighted scores across all 8 custody criteria.
| Criterion | Weight | BitGo | Coinbase Custody | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security | 20% | 9.0 | 9.0 | Tie |
| Insurance | 15% | 8.5 | 8.0 | BitGo |
| Regulatory | 15% | 9.0 | 9.5 | Coinbase Custody |
| Fee Transparency | 10% | 6.5 | 7.0 | Coinbase Custody |
| Track Record | 15% | 9.0 | 8.5 | BitGo |
| Withdrawal Flexibility | 10% | 8.0 | 7.5 | BitGo |
| Reporting & Audit | 10% | 8.5 | 9.0 | Coinbase Custody |
| Counterparty Diversification | 5% | 3.0 | 2.0 | BitGo |
| Overall Score | 100% | 8.2 | 8.2 | Tie |
Visual
Score Radar
Visual overlay of BitGo and Coinbase Custody across all categories.
Deep Dive
Category-by-Category Analysis
A deeper look at how each provider performs in every scoring criterion.
Security (9.0 vs 9.0)
BitGo uses Multi-signature + MPC key management with Majority cold in cold storage and regular penetration testing. Compliance: SOC 2 Type 2. Incident history: No major incidents. Minor service disruptions reported..
Coinbase Custody uses Proprietary cold storage key management with 98%+ cold storage in cold storage and regular penetration testing. Compliance: SOC 1 Type 2, SOC 2 Type 2. Incident history: No custody-specific breaches. Coinbase exchange has had minor incidents..
Insurance (8.5 vs 8.0)
BitGo offers $250M policy limit via Lloyd's of London syndicate. Covers assets in hot and cold storage against theft and security breaches. Institutions should confirm per-asset limits and exclusions.
Coinbase Custody offers Significant coverage (exact amount not publicly disclosed) via Multiple carriers. Crime insurance covering theft from breach of physical or cyber security. Coinbase publicly listed — financial transparency via SEC filings.
Regulatory (9.0 vs 9.5)
BitGo holds South Dakota Trust Charter, New York BitLicense and is a qualified custodian operating in United States. BitGo Trust Company is a qualified custodian regulated by the South Dakota Division of Banking.
Coinbase Custody holds New York BitLicense, NY Trust Charter (Coinbase Custody Trust Company) and is a qualified custodian operating in United States. Coinbase Custody Trust Company, LLC is a fiduciary under New York State Banking Law. Publicly traded (COIN) providing financial transparency.
Fee Transparency (6.5 vs 7.0)
BitGo charges Based on AUM — tiered pricing in annual custody fees with Varies per transaction. Enterprise pricing available. BitGo Go for smaller clients.
Coinbase Custody charges 0.50% AUM (50bps) — tiered for large balances in annual custody fees with Varies per transaction. Pricing negotiable for large institutional clients. ETF custodian arrangements have separate terms.
Track Record (9.0 vs 8.5)
BitGo was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. AUM: $64B+ in custody. Incident history: No major incidents. Minor service disruptions reported..
Coinbase Custody was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA (Coinbase Global). AUM: $300B+ (Coinbase platform total). Incident history: No custody-specific breaches. Coinbase exchange has had minor incidents..
Withdrawal Flexibility (8.0 vs 7.5)
BitGo withdrawal fees: Network fees. Minimum account: Contact for pricing. Supported assets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, 700+ tokens.
Coinbase Custody withdrawal fees: Network fees + processing fee. Minimum account: $500,000. Supported assets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, 400+ assets.
Reporting & Audit (8.5 vs 9.0)
BitGo: SOC compliance is SOC 2 Type 2. As a qualified custodian, it meets SEC reporting requirements.
Coinbase Custody: SOC compliance is SOC 1 Type 2, SOC 2 Type 2. As a qualified custodian, it meets SEC reporting requirements.
Counterparty Diversification (3.0 vs 2.0)
BitGo is a qualified custodian provider. Key management: Multi-signature (2-of-3) with optional MPC. Keys split between client and BitGo..
Coinbase Custody is a qualified custodian provider. Key management: Proprietary cold storage with multi-layer security. Air-gapped signing infrastructure..
Fees
Fee Comparison
Side-by-side fee breakdown for BitGo and Coinbase Custody.
| Fee Type | BitGo | Coinbase Custody |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Fee | Varies by plan | $10,000 one-time |
| Annual Custody | Based on AUM — tiered pricing | 0.50% AUM (50bps) — tiered for large balances |
| Transaction | Varies | Varies |
| Withdrawal | Network fees | Network fees + processing fee |
BitGo: Enterprise pricing available. BitGo Go for smaller clients.
Coinbase Custody: Pricing negotiable for large institutional clients. ETF custodian arrangements have separate terms.
Features
Feature Comparison
Checklist of features across both providers.
| Feature | BitGo | Coinbase Custody |
|---|---|---|
| 700+ token support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Cold storage for 400+ assets | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custodian for major Bitcoin ETFs | ✗ | ✓ |
| DeFi and Web3 access | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dedicated account management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Hot and cold storage options | ✓ | ✗ |
| Integration with Coinbase Prime for trading | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multi-signature wallets (2-of-3) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Policy engine for governance workflows | ✓ | ✗ |
| Portfolio and tax reporting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Regulatory reporting and compliance tools | ✗ | ✓ |
| Staking (governance participation from cold storage) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Staking services | ✓ | ✗ |
Recommendation
Who Should Choose Which?
BitGo is better if you…
- ✓Are a institutions
- ✓Are a exchanges
- ✓Are a funds
- ✓Are a fintechs
- ✓Want: Industry-leading institutional track record since 2013
- ✓Want: $250M insurance coverage
- ✓Want: SOC 2 Type 2 compliant
Coinbase Custody is better if you…
- ✓Are a etf issuers
- ✓Are a hedge funds
- ✓Are a asset managers
- ✓Are a institutions
- ✓Want: Custodian for BlackRock, Fidelity, and other major ETFs — ultimate institutional validation
- ✓Want: Publicly traded company — financial transparency via SEC filings
- ✓Want: SOC 1 & SOC 2 Type 2 compliant
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BitGo or Coinbase Custody better for Bitcoin custody?
BitGo scores 8.2 vs 8.2 in our weighted Custody Score. BitGo leads in 4 of 8 scoring categories. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs: BitGo is best for Institutions and Exchanges, while Coinbase Custody suits ETF issuers and Hedge funds.
What is the difference between BitGo and Coinbase Custody?
BitGo is a qualified custodian provider, while Coinbase Custody is a qualified custodian provider. BitGo excels in Security, whereas Coinbase Custody is strongest in Regulatory.
How do BitGo and Coinbase Custody fees compare?
BitGo charges Based on AUM — tiered pricing annual custody fees with Varies transaction fees. Coinbase Custody charges 0.50% AUM (50bps) — tiered for large balances annual custody fees with Varies transaction fees.
Which is more secure, BitGo or Coinbase Custody?
BitGo scores 9.0/10 for security while Coinbase Custody scores 9.0/10. BitGo uses Multi-signature + MPC key management, and Coinbase Custody uses Proprietary cold storage.
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