Coinbase Restrictions: What You Can and Can't Do on the Platform

When you use Coinbase restrictions, rules imposed by Coinbase that limit trading, withdrawals, or account access based on location, verification level, or regulatory pressure. Also known as Coinbase account limits, these are not bugs—they're features built into a platform that must follow laws in over 100 countries. If your funds are frozen, your trades blocked, or your withdrawal request denied, it’s rarely about your account being suspicious. It’s about where you live, what you’re trying to do, and how regulators see crypto right now.

Coinbase is one of the few crypto platforms that actually plays by the rules. That’s why it’s popular in the U.S., Canada, and parts of Europe—but also why it’s so strict. For example, if you’re in New York, you can’t trade certain tokens because the state’s BitLicense doesn’t allow them. If you’re in Texas, you might be able to trade those same tokens but can’t use certain payment methods. US crypto regulations, a patchwork of federal and state laws that force exchanges like Coinbase to restrict services based on location, KYC rules, and licensed asset lists. Also known as crypto compliance rules, they shape what’s available to you even if you’re not doing anything wrong. The same goes for crypto exchange limits, caps on daily trades, withdrawals, or deposit amounts set by exchanges to manage risk, comply with law, or control liquidity. Also known as exchange withdrawal caps, these aren’t just random numbers—they’re tied to your verification tier, your country, and even the coin you’re using. A basic account might only let you withdraw $10,000 a day. A verified account might get $50,000. But if you’re trying to move $200,000 in ETH from Coinbase to a non-custodial wallet? You’ll likely get flagged, asked for proof of ownership, or outright blocked.

People get upset when their accounts are restricted. They think it’s unfair. But here’s the truth: Coinbase doesn’t decide these rules. Governments do. If you’re in a country where crypto is banned or heavily monitored—like India, Nigeria, or parts of the Middle East—Coinbase may limit your access even if you’re not breaking any rules. And if you’re using a VPN to bypass location checks? That’s a direct violation of their terms. One user in the UK tried to use Coinbase while living in Russia. His account was frozen for six months. He didn’t trade anything illegal. He just changed his IP address. That’s all it took.

What you’ll find in the posts below are real cases of people hitting these walls. You’ll see how a simple withdrawal request got denied because of a mismatched bank name. You’ll learn why some tokens disappear from Coinbase overnight. You’ll find out how to avoid triggering a freeze, how to appeal a restriction, and which exchanges actually work better if you’re outside the U.S. These aren’t theory pieces. These are fixes from people who’ve been there.