Coinbase

For US residents, Coinbase offers unmatched legitimacy and ease of use. As a publicly traded company with insurance on custodial funds, it provides peace of mind that smaller exchanges cannot match.

Regulatory Standing Coinbase is registered with FinCEN, holds state money transmitter licenses, and is subject to SEC oversight as a public company. This regulatory clarity is valuable for users concerned about compliance.

Trading Experience The main Coinbase app is designed for simplicity - buying ETC takes just a few taps. For more advanced trading, Coinbase Advanced (formerly Pro) provides limit orders, charts, and professional tools.

ETC Support ETC is well-supported with direct fiat pairs. You can buy with USD directly, and deposits/withdrawals are processed on the native ETC chain. No wrapped tokens or extra steps required.

Fee Structure Standard Coinbase fees can be steep (up to 1.5% + spread). The Coinbase One subscription ($30/month) eliminates trading fees entirely, making it economical for regular traders.

Security 98% of funds stored in offline cold storage, with insurance on custodial holdings. Two-factor authentication, vault options for time-delayed withdrawals, and excellent account recovery processes.

Best For US residents prioritizing compliance and simplicity over lowest fees. Particularly good for recurring purchases (DCA) through their scheduled buy feature.