Ripple CTO Breaks Silence on Coinbase Safety

As a seasoned crypto investor with years of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a pang of concern every time I hear about the “where to keep your crypto” debate. The recent comments from Ripple’s CTO David Schwartz on the safety of keeping crypto on centralized exchanges like Coinbase have hit a nerve.


A big name in crypto, Ripple‘s CTO David Schwartz, chimed in on the whole “where to keep your crypto” debate. While he did not outright diss platforms like Coinbase, he did remind everyone that if an exchange goes belly-up, your crypto might be going with it.

As a financial analyst, I’d explain it this way: When someone inquired about FDIC insurance coverage for their USD held on Coinbase, I clarified that FDIC protection only applies to your cash if the banking institution associated with your account fails, not the exchange itself. In other words, if Coinbase were to face financial difficulties and the connected bank couldn’t fully reimburse all its depositors, you would be among those left unprotected.

While I don’t have any specific reasons to believe that keeping cryptocurrency in Coinbase isn’t secure, it’s important to remember that centralized exchanges like Coinbase carry risks. In the event of significant issues or mishaps on their end, your funds could be compromised. Despite these risks, some people find it preferable to using self-custody due to the higher likelihood of errors on their part.

— David “JoelKatz” Schwartz (@JoelKatz) July 15, 2024

When the topic of Coinbase utilizing FDIC-insured banks to store users’ USD separately was brought up, the conversation became more intriguing. This approach could potentially safeguard your funds if Coinbase experiences financial difficulties. Schwartz acknowledged this as a viable solution but emphasized the importance of meticulous record-keeping by Coinbase to ensure equitable distribution of assets in case a bank goes bankrupt.

The experience underscores the complexity of securing cryptocurrencies. While platforms such as Coinbase offer ease, there are inherent risks to consider. Therefore, before depositing all your digital coins on an exchange, it’s advisable to delve into the specifics and be aware of potential consequences should markets take a turn for the worse.

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2024-07-16 11:40