Do Coinbase and other major crypto exchanges provide wallet addresses for receiving external crypto payments?
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Executive summary
Major centralized exchanges like Coinbase provide deposit (receive) addresses for supported cryptocurrencies and networks so customers and external senders can fund exchange accounts or self-custody wallets; Coinbase’s Receive flow shows a QR code and an address for each asset and network [1] [2]. Coinbase also supports withdrawing to external wallet addresses and transferring from exchange to self-custody Coinbase Wallet/Base; guides and how‑tos repeatedly state you can copy a wallet address and paste it into the exchange’s Send/Receive flow [3] [4] [5].
1. How exchanges present “wallet addresses” — the practical reality
Centralized exchanges expose on‑chain deposit addresses in their “Receive” or “Deposit” flows so users (or third parties) can send crypto directly to an exchange account; TokenTax’s guide says “the Coinbase exchange provides a deposit address for each supported asset and network in the Receive flow” [6]. Coinbase Wallet (the self‑custody product, now rebranded as Base in some materials) likewise shows a QR code and the public address when you select Receive for a specific coin and network [1] [2].
2. Receiving vs. self‑custody: two different address types
There are two distinct things called “addresses” in Coinbase’s ecosystem. The exchange account deposit address routes on‑chain funds to your custodial exchange balance; Coinbase Wallet/Base is a separate, self‑custody app that gives you an address and QR code you control [2] [1]. Guides emphasize the difference — Coinbase exchange and Coinbase Wallet are separate applications and flows [4].
3. Network selection and lost funds risk
Sources repeatedly warn you must pick the correct asset and network when copying or posting an address, because sending on the wrong blockchain can permanently lose funds. Koinly and Coinbase documentation both stress selecting the right network before pasting an address or scanning a QR code [5] [2]. This is a consistent operational risk users must manage.
4. Fees, holds and transfer blockers
While several how‑tos state Coinbase “does not charge a fee for moving your cryptocurrency off the platform,” they also note network (blockchain) fees still apply and the exchange may temporarily block or delay transfers for security, verification, or payment‑clearance reasons [3] [5]. TokenLedger and Koinly guides point out holds like ID checks or anti‑fraud reviews can pause withdrawals [3] [5].
5. UX: Where you find the address and share it
Practical steps across sources: open Coinbase or Coinbase Wallet/Base, tap Receive, choose the asset and appropriate network, then copy the alphanumeric address or scan the displayed QR code [6] [2] [1]. CoinLedger and TokenTax both outline this Receive flow as the standard method for getting an address to accept external payments [4] [6].
6. Recent product changes that affect address availability
Coinbase announced the Web3 Wallet product was discontinued on December 10, 2025, and instructed affected customers on migration; that kind of sunset can change where and how users access addresses or migrate assets between on‑chain wallets and exchange custody [7]. Users should follow official migration instructions rather than third‑party checklists.
7. Beware unofficial instructions and potential scams
Not all online guides are reliable. One HackMD page recommends calling a specific phone number to obtain an address — a practice atypical for standard exchange flows and potentially unsafe; official Coinbase docs instruct you to use in‑app Receive functionality instead [8] [1]. Use only official app/web flows to copy addresses and avoid third‑party phone instructions that may be malicious [1] [8].
8. Competing perspectives and limitations in reporting
Sources uniformly agree that both the custodial exchange and Coinbase’s self‑custody wallet provide addresses and QR codes for receiving funds [3] [6] [2] [1]. Differences arise in emphasis: consumer help pages highlight UX and QR codes [2] [1], while tax and tooling guides stress exporting addresses and reconciling transactions for reporting [6] [4]. Available sources do not mention whether every single asset listed on Coinbase has a unique always‑static deposit address per user or whether some use shared addresses with memo/tag systems; that detail is not covered in current reporting.
9. Bottom line for users
You can obtain on‑chain addresses from Coinbase exchange and from Coinbase Wallet/Base to receive external crypto, but you must choose the correct asset and network, expect network fees, and be prepared for temporary holds for security or verification reasons [2] [5] [3]. Follow official in‑app Receive/Deposit flows and official migration notices for any discontinued products [1] [7].