What was GDAX?
Previously known as Global Digital Asset Exchange (GDAX), Coinbase is a major cryptocurrency exchange for Bitcoin and other digital assets. GDAX, unlike Coinbase wallet in-app purchases, is intended for experienced traders with tools to track price changes and place complicated buy and sell orders.
The 2015 Coinbase Exchange became GDAX, the Global Digital Asset Exchange. GDAX relaunched Coinbase Pro in 2018 but retained its functionality. Coinbase Pro offers trading in hundreds of cryptocurrencies, unlike GDAX, which debuted with only a few.
Understanding GDAX
Coinbase, a top U.S. cryptocurrency company, considered expanding its products in 2015. The Coinbase wallet has a simple bitcoin-buying interface but less functionality than established exchanges. The firm charged a considerable bid/ask spread, resulting in lower Coinbase pricing than market rates.
The corporation created two exchanges to attract both sorts of clients. With a “casual” interface, Coinbase allowed less experienced consumers to buy bitcoin directly. Active traders may use a new exchange with price charts and limit orders. This was once Coinbase Exchange, now GDAX.
GDAX added additional assets. GDAX launched additional assets, including Litecoin and Ethereum, in 2016, beyond Coinbase wallet capabilities. After rebranding as Coinbase Pro in 2018, the exchange maintained its operation and tested new assets before adding them to the Coinbase wallet. Coinbase Pro currently trades hundreds of assets.
GDAX Pros and Cons
GDAX has more extensive trading options than Coinbase but is more complicated to use—many consumers like Coinbase’s straightforward U.I. with a one-purchase, one-sell price.
However, Coinbase charges a broad margin on wallet purchases, making them several percentage points lower than the market. Global Digital Asset Exchange (now Coinbase Pro) uses a maker-taker fee scheme, charging traders up to 0.5 percent of the transaction value. Easy asset transfers from wallet to exchange give traders better exchange pricing.
Coinbase charges higher-than-market pricing for app-purchased bitcoin but only a modest fee for exchange exchanges. Due to the easy asset transfer from the app to the exchange, Coinbase Pro offers better pricing.
Global Digital Asset Exchange offers additional features for Coinbase users, including price charts, an open order book, and market/limit order settings. These capabilities allowed traders to forecast trends using technical analysis, which confused less experienced purchasers. The exchange is also unavailable in several areas.
Finally, the Global Digital Asset Exchange permitted trading in assets not yet accessible on Coinbase. Since 2018, Coinbase has planned to incorporate dozens or hundreds of digital assets. The exchange introduced them initially, and many followed to the wallet.
Investment in cryptocurrencies and Initial Coin Offerings (“ICOs”) is dangerous and speculative. This page does not promote investing in either. Before making any financial decisions, consult a knowledgeable specialist, as each person’s circumstances are unique. Investopedia can not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of this information. The author owns bitcoin as of this writing.
Conclusion
- The Global Digital Asset Exchange was Coinbase’s 2015 cryptocurrency exchange. New name: Coinbase Pro.
- One of the few dependable exchanges where U.S. traders could trade bitcoin for fiat currency, the Global Digital Asset Exchange, was widespread.
- GDAX/Coinbase Pro, unlike the Coinbase wallet software, is for active traders with advanced market tracking and buy/sell order features.
- The price on GDAX/Coinbase Pro is usually better than on Coinbase.
- Coinbase added additional assets to the Global Digital Asset Exchange in 2016 that were unavailable on the wallet app. The exchange has hundreds of digital assets.