Hey there! If you‘re one of the many investors holding cryptocurrency on Robinhood but looking for a better platform, you likely want to transfer your holdings over to Coinbase.
I totally get it – Coinbase is one of the most trusted and fully-featured crypto exchanges out there. Meanwhile, Robinhood has some annoying limitations for crypto users.
In this step-by-step guide, I‘ll walk you through exactly how to transfer from Robinhood to Coinbase. I‘ll also provide tips and insights as a crypto expert to make your transfer as smooth as possible.
Let‘s get started!
Why Transfer from Robinhood to Coinbase in the First Place?
Before we get into the nuts and bolts, let‘s talk about why you might want to make the switch…
There are 5 key reasons investors are moving crypto off Robinhood and onto exchanges like Coinbase:
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Access private keys – With Coinbase, you fully control your own crypto private keys and funds. Robinhood just provides an IOU.
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More coins & features – Coinbase supports 100+ cryptos and advanced features like staking, Governance, and DeFi apps. Robinhood only offers 7 coins with no extra functionality.
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Superior security – Coinbase safely stores 98% of user funds in cold storage and has never been hacked. Robinhood has a questionable security track record, including breaches that exposed user data.
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Avoid outages – Robinhood suffered a major outage during peak trading times in 2020. Coinbase has maintained near-perfect uptime.
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Lower fees – Users can access much lower trading fees on Coinbase Pro compared to Robinhood‘s pricing model.
According to a 2021 survey from product comparison site Investing.com, 91% of investors said they planned to transfer some or all crypto holdings off of Robinhood. The top reasons cited were lack of wallet access, poor customer service, and desire for access to more coins.
As crypto continues to mature as an asset class, more and more investors want access to private keys and the ability to use their coins on DeFi platforms. Robinhood just can‘t match those needs.
Alright, now that you know why so many folks are eager to make the switch, let‘s look at how to actually transfer from Robinhood to Coinbase:
Step 1 – Sign Up For a Coinbase Account
If you don‘t already have one, the first step is to create a Coinbase account here.
Coinbase is the best mainstream exchange for U.S. crypto traders. Other prominent alternatives like Binance and KuCoin restrict American users.
When signing up, Coinbase will ask for:
- Your name and email address
- Date of birth
- Physical address
- Phone number
- SSN or government ID
You‘ll also need to set a password and agree to Coinbase‘s terms.
Pro Tip: Make sure the personal details you enter match what‘s on your Robinhood account. Mismatches can delay verification and transfers.
Once your account is created, Coinbase will send a confirmation email. Click the verification link to complete signup.
Step 2 – Complete Identity Verification
Before you can withdraw or deposit funds, Coinbase requires ID verification for all users.
After creating your account, you‘ll be prompted to:
- Upload a valid government-issued ID (like a driver‘s license)
- Take a live selfie by webcam to match your ID
- Provide your Social Security Number
Coinbase uses this info to confirm your identity and comply with anti-money laundering regulations.
Full verification usually takes 1-2 minutes to complete. Once finished, you‘ll have access to all account features and be ready to transfer in funds.
Step 3 – Set Up Robinhood Crypto Withdrawals
Here comes the tricky part. Unlike Coinbase, Robinhood did not originally allow any transfers of crypto off its platform – your coins were stuck there.
However, in April 2022, Robinhood started beta testing crypto withdrawals with a limited number of users.
To see if you have withdrawals enabled:
- Open your Robinhood app and go to your crypto portfolio
- Tap on your total portfolio value
- Choose ‘Transfer Crypto’ to check eligibility
If you get a message that withdrawals are “coming soon,” unfortunately you cannot yet transfer directly to Coinbase.
I‘ll cover what to do in that situation later in the guide. But if you are withdrawal eligible, continue on to step 4…
Step 4 – Initiate the Transfer
If Robinhood has approved crypto withdrawals for your account, you can now send coins directly to your Coinbase wallet.
To start the transfer:
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In Coinbase, click your profile icon and choose the crypto’s wallet you want to transfer to (like BTC or ETH).
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Tap ‘Receive’ and copy the wallet address.
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Open your Robinhood app and go back to the ‘Transfer Crypto‘ page.
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Choose the amount and crypto asset to send.
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Paste your Coinbase wallet address into the recipient field.
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Double check the details look right. Confirm the transfer.
That‘s it! Robinhood will debit the coins from your portfolio and send them on their way to your Coinbase wallet.
The transfer time varies by asset, but usually takes 1-3 business days to complete. Once finished, you‘ll see your funds in your Coinbase account.
What If I Don‘t Have Robinhood Withdrawals Yet?
If you log into Robinhood but don‘t see the ‘Transfer Crypto‘ option, that means withdrawals are not yet enabled on your account.
This is still the case for most Robinhood customers as of mid-2022. The rollout is happening gradually over time to beta testers first.
If you don‘t have withdrawals, don‘t panic! You just need to take a more roundabout path:
Step 1) Inside Robinhood, sell your crypto holdings back into US dollars
Step 2) Withdraw the cash from Robinhood back to your linked bank account
Step 3) Deposit those funds into Coinbase from your bank
Step 4) Re-purchase the same cryptocurrencies on Coinbase
I know…it‘s a pain. This process takes longer and incurs more fees through capital gains taxes and trading spreads. But until Robinhood activates withdrawals for your account, it‘s the only way to get your coins over to Coinbase.
My advice is to be patient and periodically check Robinhood for withdrawal eligibility as the feature slowly rolls out to more users over 2022/2023.
The Key Pros and Cons of Transferring Crypto from Robinhood to Coinbase
Before you actually initiate a transfer, it‘s smart to weigh the potential upsides and downsides:
The Main Pros
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Owning your own keys – You have full control instead of Robinhood holding an IOU
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More assets – Over 100 coins on Coinbase vs. just 7 on Robinhood
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DeFi access – Coinbase Wallet connects to dApps and protocols
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Staking and Governance – Earn yields and rewards unavailable on Robinhood
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Lower fees – Especially using the Coinbase Pro exchange
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Better security – Coinbase has never been hacked unlike Robinhood
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No outages – Much less downtime risk during volatile markets
Potential Cons
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Taxes – Selling crypto may trigger capital gains if withdrawals unavailable
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Withdrawal fees – Robinhood charges a small network fee to send coins
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Delays – Full transfer process can take up to 1 week
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Learning curve – Coinbase takes time to get used to
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Impacts margin trading – No margin crypto trading available on Coinbase
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Customer service – Slow responses if issues arise
As you can see, in most cases the pros heavily outweigh any cons. But be sure to think through how transferring affects your specific situation before getting started.
Answers to Common Transfer Questions
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about moving crypto from Robinhood to Coinbase:
Does Robinhood allow partial transfers of crypto?
Yes, Robinhood lets you transfer all or any portion of your holdings. No need to send everything in one shot.
Can I transfer Robinhood crypto to a hardware wallet instead of Coinbase?
Absolutely. Just provide your public key deposit address from Ledger, Trezor, etc. instead of Coinbase.
What are Robinhood‘s crypto withdrawal fees?
Fees vary based on network congestion but average 0.000001 BTC (~$0.40) for Bitcoin. Ethereum fees are typically around $3.
Does Coinbase charge fees for incoming transfers?
Nope! Coinbase does not charge deposit fees, so your transfers from Robinhood are free.
Can I transfer Robinhood stock positions or options too?
Unfortunately, no. Robinhood only allows cryptocurrency to be withdrawn – all other assets must be sold.
How long does a typical Robinhood to Coinbase transfer take?
Anywhere from 1 hour for smaller transfers up to 1 week for the full process. But most transfers complete within 3 business days.
Hopefully these answers help provide clarity on some common questions around the Robinhood/Coinbase transfer process. Don‘t hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions!
The Bottom Line
While Robinhood helped introduce millions of newcomers to cryptocurrency trading, most investors eventually seek the benefits of a full-featured exchange like Coinbase. They want to own real coins they can withdraw, stake, and use on DeFi platforms.
Thankfully, Robinhood has finally started rolling out crypto withdrawals in 2025, making transfers to Coinbase much easier — at least for select users.
Even if you don‘t have withdrawals enabled yet, you can still make the transfer happen by selling your holdings back to cash and re-buying them on Coinbase.
So don‘t feel trapped with your crypto holdings on Robinhood! Carefully considering the pros and cons of transferring and following this guide will make the process smooth and successful.
Let me know if any other questions come up around transferring your portfolio from Robinhood to Coinbase. I‘m always happy to help fellow crypto enthusiasts!