Edited By
Fatima Al-Farsi
Thereโs growing frustration among people regarding Coinbase's recent verification requests. Users are being asked to prove ownership of external Bitcoin addresses, leading to a heated discussion on crypto forums about the platform's methods and practices.
Recently, a person reported sending Bitcoin to Coinbase only to be met with a demand for proof of the external address's ownership. The requirements include sending a small amount of BTC back to the same Coinbase address using the original send address from Ledger Live. This procedure has left many questioning Coinbase's verification processes.
"This is the most ridiculous event I have ever seen from Coinbase," remarked one frustrated individual on a user board.
The transaction process significantly relies on the UTXO model, unique to Bitcoin. This means that the receiving address changes with each transaction. Many users noted that to send funds from the precise previous address required by Coinbase, one must utilize Coin Control in Ledger Live, allowing manual selection of UTXOs.
Some pointed out the potential hurdles:
No Unspent Funds: If the address doesnโt show when using Coin Control, there are likely no available unspent funds linked to it.
Limited Future Variants: One comment suggested exploring other hardware wallets that maintain static addresses, like Tangem, to avoid such issues in the future.
"If the address doesnโt appear, it means there are no unspent funds associated with it," a contributor explained.
Furthermore, the chatter on various forums has raised curiosity about whether other exchanges may adopt similar verification tactics.
"Do you know if other exchanges have the same or similar issue?" asked a participant, highlighting a fear of future practices in the crypto space.
โฌ๏ธ Many users view Coinbase's requirements as overly complex and frustrating.
โญ "I donโt see how you can send it again from old addresses" - Comment revealing issues with address management.
๐ Users are encouraged to explore Coin Control for UTXO selections depending on availability.
As Coinbase continues to enforce its verification protocols, users remain vigilant, uncertain of how these changes might affect their claims to Bitcoin ownership. The evolving relationship between users and exchanges could ignite further debates across crypto platforms.
Thereโs a strong chance that Coinbase's verification protocol could lead to similar practices across various exchanges as the crypto landscape matures. As user discontent grows with these new demands for proof of ownership, experts estimate about 60% of other platforms may explore tighter compliance measures to enhance security. This could set a precedent for identity verification, pressing exchanges to adopt similar tactics. However, this trend might also invite regulatory scrutiny as users push back against perceived overreach, creating an environment where exchanges must balance security and user experience to retain customers.
This scenario echoes the transition during the early 2000s when ISPs began requiring more stringent personal information before granting customers access to services. Many feared this would impede their online freedom, but it ultimately led to a safer environment that encouraged trust in online transactions. Just as those early internet users navigated a changing landscape of security measures, todayโs crypto users face a similar evolution. The challenge lies in finding the balance between safety and autonomy in a rapidly changing digital ecosystem.