The basic route: Coinbase to your linked bank account in 1 to 5 business days
To move money from Coinbase to your bank, you sell your cryptocurrency for US dollars (or your local currency) on the Coinbase platform, then initiate a withdrawal to a bank account you have already linked to your Coinbase profile. The dollars land in your bank account between 1 and 5 business days later, depending on your bank and whether the transfer clears on a weekend or holiday.
Coinbase does not charge you a fee for this withdrawal. Your bank may charge a fee for receiving an incoming wire transfer, though most do not. The amount you receive is the full dollar amount you converted—there is no Coinbase cut on the way out.
You cannot withdraw directly to a bank account you have not yet linked. Linking takes a few minutes and requires your bank's routing number and your account number. Coinbase will verify the account by depositing two small test amounts (usually under $1 each) into your bank account; you then confirm those amounts in the Coinbase app to prove you own the account.
Key Takeaways
- You must convert cryptocurrency to dollars on Coinbase before you can withdraw to a bank—you cannot send crypto directly to most US bank accounts.
- Your bank account must be linked to Coinbase first, which requires your routing number and account number and takes a few minutes to verify.
- Withdrawals take 1 to 5 business days and are free from Coinbase, though your bank may charge a fee for receiving a wire transfer.
- Weekend and holiday delays are common; a withdrawal initiated on Friday may not land until Tuesday or Wednesday.
- Coinbase holds newly linked accounts to a $10,000 daily withdrawal limit for the first 48 hours, then raises it based on your account history.
Step-by-step: converting crypto to dollars and withdrawing
Open the Coinbase app or website and navigate to your portfolio. Select the cryptocurrency you want to sell (Bitcoin, Ethereum, or any other coin you hold). Tap or click "Sell," enter the amount you want to convert, and review the price you will receive. Coinbase shows you the exact dollar amount and any fees (usually none for standard sales) before you confirm. Hit "Sell now" and the conversion happens immediately.
Your dollars now sit in your Coinbase cash balance. Go to the "Withdraw" section, select "Bank Account," and choose the linked bank account where you want the money to go. Enter the dollar amount and confirm. Coinbase will show you the expected arrival date—usually 1 to 5 business days out. Tap "Withdraw" to finalize.
You will receive a confirmation email from Coinbase with a reference number. Your bank will show the incoming transfer as a wire or ACH deposit (depending on Coinbase's routing) within the timeframe given. If you do not see it after 5 business days, contact Coinbase support with your reference number and your bank's transaction history.
Linking a new bank account for the first time
If you have never linked a bank account to Coinbase, start in the Settings menu under "Payment Methods" or "Linked Accounts." Select "Add Bank Account" and enter your bank's name, your account type (checking or savings), your account number, and your routing number. You can find both numbers on a check, on your bank's website, or by calling your bank.
Coinbase will deposit two small test amounts into your account within 1 to 2 business days. Check your bank statement or your bank's app for these deposits—they will show as coming from Coinbase and will have a reference code. Go back to Coinbase, navigate to the bank account you just added, and enter those two amounts exactly as they appear. Once you confirm, the account is linked and ready to use.
New accounts are subject to a $10,000 daily withdrawal limit for the first 48 hours. After that, Coinbase raises the limit based on your account age and history. If you need to withdraw more than $10,000 in the first two days, you will have to wait or split the withdrawal across multiple days.
Why your withdrawal might be delayed or rejected
Withdrawals initiated on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday often do not process until Monday or Tuesday because banks do not process ACH transfers on weekends. A withdrawal initiated on a holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, etc.) will not move until the next business day. Coinbase's estimate accounts for this, but if your bank is slow, you may wait the full 5 days.
Coinbase may reject or hold a withdrawal if the bank account information does not match your Coinbase profile name exactly, if your account has been flagged for unusual activity, or if you have recently changed your password or enabled two-factor authentication. If a withdrawal fails, Coinbase will email you with the reason. The most common fix is to verify your identity again or confirm that your bank account name matches your legal name on file.
If your bank rejects the incoming transfer, the money returns to your Coinbase cash balance within 5 to 10 business days. Contact your bank to ask why the transfer was rejected—common reasons include a closed account, a name mismatch, or a frozen account due to fraud alerts.
Withdrawal limits and how they change
Coinbase sets withdrawal limits based on your account age, verification level, and transaction history. A brand-new account with a newly linked bank may have a $10,000 daily limit. After 48 hours and a few successful transactions, that limit often rises to $25,000 or $50,000 per day. Long-standing accounts with verified identity documents may have limits of $100,000 or higher per day.
You can check your current limit in the Coinbase app under Settings or Payment Methods. If you need to withdraw more than your limit allows, you can split the withdrawal across multiple days or contact Coinbase support to request a temporary increase. Coinbase does not always grant increases, especially for new accounts, but it is worth asking if you have a legitimate reason.
Limits reset daily at midnight UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), not at your local time. If you hit your limit at 11 a.m. on Monday, you can withdraw again at midnight UTC that night, which may be earlier or later depending on your time zone.
Alternatives if your bank account is not linked yet
If you need money out of Coinbase but do not want to wait for a bank account to verify, you can transfer your cryptocurrency to another exchange or wallet that supports faster payouts. Kraken, Gemini, and other exchanges offer ACH withdrawals and may have different verification timelines. You would sell your crypto on Coinbase, transfer the dollars to another exchange, and then withdraw from there—but this adds steps and may incur transfer fees.
Another option is to use a debit card withdrawal if Coinbase offers it in your region. Some Coinbase users can withdraw directly to a debit card, which may be faster than a bank transfer, though fees are higher. Check the Coinbase app under Withdraw to see if this option is available to you.
If you are in a hurry and have a Coinbase Card (a debit card issued by Coinbase), you can move dollars to that card instantly and use it to spend or withdraw cash at an ATM. This is not a bank transfer, but it gets your money accessible within minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I withdraw directly to someone else's bank account?
No. Coinbase only allows withdrawals to bank accounts linked to your own Coinbase profile. You cannot send money to a third party's bank account directly from Coinbase. You would have to withdraw to your own bank account first, then transfer the money to someone else using your bank's transfer tools or a service like Venmo or PayPal.
What happens if I enter the wrong bank account number?
If you enter an incorrect account number, the withdrawal will likely be rejected by your bank or the receiving bank, and the money will return to your Coinbase cash balance within 5 to 10 business days. Always double-check your account number and routing number before confirming a withdrawal. If the money goes to the wrong account and is accepted, you will need to contact that bank or account holder to recover it.
Do I have to pay taxes on the money I withdraw?
Withdrawing dollars from Coinbase to your bank is not a taxable event by itself. However, selling cryptocurrency for dollars on Coinbase is a taxable event—you owe capital gains tax on the profit (the difference between what you paid for the crypto and what you sold it for). Keep records of your sales for tax time. Coinbase provides a tax report in your account that you can download.
Why does Coinbase show a different amount than what lands in my bank?
This usually means your bank charged a wire transfer fee, which is deducted from the incoming amount. Most banks do not charge this fee, but some do—typically $15 to $25. Check your bank statement to see if a fee was applied. You can also call your bank to ask if they charge for incoming wire transfers and consider switching banks if the fee is high.
Can I cancel a withdrawal after I have initiated it?
If the withdrawal has not yet left Coinbase (usually within a few hours), you may be able to cancel it in the Coinbase app under your transaction history. Once the money has been sent to your bank, you cannot cancel it from Coinbase's side—you would have to contact your bank to stop the incoming transfer, which is difficult and not always possible. Always confirm the details before you hit "Withdraw."