Coinbase vs Smartbroker+ Comparison

The Coinbase savings plan targets investors who want to buy regularly and automatically rather than trying to time an entry. The barrier is as low as it gets at a one euro minimum, the range covers more than 400 crypto assets, and execution runs without further intervention: weekly, on the 1st and 15th of the month or monthly. The first purchase is executed as soon as the plan is set up; amount and frequency cannot be changed later, so you cancel the plan and create a new one.

On regulation Coinbase stands well in Europe: it was the first company to hold a BaFin crypto custody licence, and deficiencies identified in 2022 have been remedied according to the company. Crypto services are now provided by Coinbase Luxembourg S.A., licensed under MiCA since 20 June 2025 and supervised by Luxembourg's financial regulator CSSF; the licence covers 30 EEA countries. Payment routes include SEPA transfer, card, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay, an unusually broad selection for the European market. Not every payment method works for the savings plan, the app shows which ones do; instalments can also be paid from the euro balance in the account.

What changed in 2026: Customers in the EEA can no longer buy stablecoins without MiCA authorisation such as USDT, DAI or PYUSD on Coinbase, so they are no longer available for a savings plan either. According to Coinbase, balances still held on the cut-off date of 30 October 2026 are converted once into USDC at the market rate. On 22 October 2026 the Central Bank of Ireland announced a fine of €3.25 million against Coinbase Ireland Limited, which holds euro balances for Coinbase customers: between November 2020 and August 2025 client funds were not adequately safeguarded. The regulator does not allege any loss of client money, and the sanction takes effect once confirmed by the Irish High Court. Details in our Coinbase review.

The sore point is price: up to 1.875% per purchase, depending on the payment method, is high in this comparison, so up to 18.75 euro on 1,000 euro. Across a savings plan with many small instalments that compounds noticeably over the years. Investors who value convenience and regulatory footing above the last fraction of a percent are well served; anyone watching costs should weigh the fees against cheaper savings plan providers.

Smartbroker+ is perceived in the DACH region as a multi-asset broker that combines cryptocurrencies with stocks, ETFs, and derivatives on one platform. With 39 tradable cryptocurrencies and custody via Tangany GmbH, which has held a MiCAR authorisation from BaFin since August 2025, the provider is considered to be on solid regulatory footing. Smartbroker AG has notified BaFin under MiCAR that it receives and transmits crypto orders, which are executed via Baader Bank. Trading fees of 0.9 % for crypto are in the mid-range among German neobrokers; the trading venue's mark-up or mark-down and a €1 small-order surcharge below €500 come on top.

Users appreciate that crypto can be bought from as little as €0.01, which enables an especially accessible entry point. Regular investing works through savings plans on 35 crypto ETPs, which run without an order fee. The platform is available via app and web and is aimed at investors who want to manage different asset classes centrally. For users who already invest in stocks and ETFs and want to add crypto as an additional component, Smartbroker+ is seen as a practical solution.

Transfers to or from personal wallets are not possible, and staking is not offered for directly held cryptocurrencies; both are occasionally criticized by users. Deposits come only from the registered reference account, either by SEPA direct debit with funds available within seconds or by bank transfer. Users see room for improvement in the waiting time after registration, and the crypto wallet requires residence in Germany. Smartbroker+ is therefore particularly suitable for securities investors in the DACH region looking for a German broker with BaFin-regulated crypto custody and a broad product range.