What are the fees for NFTs on Coinbase?

On Coinbase's NFT marketplace, users enjoy gas-free minting, listing, and trading, with a 2.5% service fee on sales and optional creator royalties—gas fees only apply when transferring NFTs to external wallets.

Aug 05, 2025 at 06:07 pm

Understanding NFT Fees on Coinbase

When engaging with NFTs on Coinbase, users must be aware of the various fees involved in minting, buying, selling, and transferring digital collectibles. Coinbase supports NFT transactions primarily through its dedicated NFT marketplace, which operates on the Ethereum blockchain. As a result, transaction costs are influenced by Ethereum’s network conditions and Coinbase’s platform-specific charges. The main types of fees include gas fees, service fees, and royalty fees. Each plays a distinct role in the total cost of an NFT transaction.

Gas Fees on the Coinbase NFT Marketplace

Gas fees are essential for processing transactions on the Ethereum blockchain. These fees compensate miners or validators for computing resources used to confirm transactions. On Coinbase’s NFT platform, gas fees apply when minting, listing, transferring, or canceling NFTs. However, a key feature of the Coinbase NFT marketplace is that it currently covers gas fees for buyers and sellers under certain conditions. This means users can mint and list NFTs without paying gas, and purchases are settled without direct gas expenses. Despite this convenience, gas fees may still apply in specific scenarios, such as when transferring an NFT to an external wallet.

• If you transfer your NFT from Coinbase Wallet to another Ethereum-compatible wallet, you will incur standard Ethereum gas fees.
• Gas fees fluctuate based on network congestion and are paid in ETH, not USD or other fiat currencies.
• Users can monitor current gas prices using tools like Etherscan’s gas tracker before initiating external transfers.

Service Fees for NFT Transactions

Coinbase charges a service fee on each successful NFT sale made through its marketplace. This fee is deducted from the seller’s proceeds and is currently set at 2.5% of the final sale price. This rate is competitive compared to other NFT platforms, which may charge 5% or more. The service fee applies only when an NFT is sold; no fee is charged for browsing, bidding, or holding NFTs.

• The 2.5% service fee is automatically calculated and deducted at the time of payout.
• This fee is separate from any creator royalties that may also be collected.
• Service fees are non-refundable and apply regardless of the payment method used (USD, ETH, or other supported assets).

Royalty Fees and Creator Payouts

When an NFT is resold on the Coinbase marketplace, the original creator may receive a royalty fee if one was set during the initial minting process. Coinbase supports creator royalties, which are typically between 0% and 10% of the resale price. These royalties are paid directly to the artist or collection creator and are in addition to the 2.5% service fee charged by Coinbase.

• Royalty fees are enforced at the smart contract level, meaning they are automatically distributed upon sale.
• Buyers are shown the total cost, including any applicable royalties, before confirming a purchase.
• Not all NFTs have royalties enabled; this depends on the creator’s settings during minting.

Listing and Minting NFTs: Cost Breakdown

One of the most appealing aspects of the Coinbase NFT marketplace is its gasless minting and listing feature. Artists and collectors can create (mint) NFTs and list them for sale without upfront gas costs. This lowers the barrier to entry for new creators.

• To mint an NFT, users connect their Coinbase Wallet, upload media, add metadata (title, description, properties), and publish the listing.
• During minting, no gas fee is charged, and the NFT is created using Coinbase’s infrastructure.
• Once minted, the NFT appears on the marketplace, and the seller only pays the 2.5% service fee upon a successful sale.
• If the NFT remains unsold, no fees are incurred.

However, if a user decides to move their NFT off the Coinbase platform, such as to a third-party wallet or marketplace, they must pay the full Ethereum gas fee for that transfer. This cost is not covered by Coinbase and varies depending on network demand.

Buying NFTs: What Buyers Pay

Buyers on the Coinbase NFT marketplace are not charged gas fees when purchasing NFTs. The total cost includes the list price of the NFT, any creator royalty, and potentially network fees only if the buyer chooses to withdraw the NFT to an external wallet afterward.

• The purchase price is displayed clearly before checkout.
• Royalty fees are included in the total if the collection supports them.
• Payment can be made using USD, ETH, or other supported cryptocurrencies.
• After purchase, the NFT is stored in the buyer’s Coinbase Wallet, accessible through the app.

It is important to note that while the initial purchase is gas-free, transferring the NFT after purchase will incur gas fees. Buyers should consider this if they plan to move their NFT to another platform or wallet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Coinbase charge a fee to list an NFT?

No, Coinbase does not charge any fee to list an NFT. Users can mint and list NFTs for free. The only fee incurred is the 2.5% service fee if the NFT is sold successfully.

Are gas fees ever charged to buyers on Coinbase NFT?

Buyers are not charged gas fees when purchasing NFTs on the Coinbase marketplace. Gas fees only apply if the buyer transfers the NFT to an external Ethereum wallet after purchase.

How are creator royalties handled on Coinbase NFT?

Creator royalties are automatically paid when an NFT is resold, provided the original creator set a royalty rate during minting. These fees go directly to the creator and are separate from Coinbase’s 2.5% service fee.

Can I avoid gas fees entirely on Coinbase NFT?

Yes, gas fees are avoided for minting, listing, buying, and selling as long as the NFT remains within the Coinbase ecosystem. Gas fees only apply when transferring NFTs to external wallets on the Ethereum network.