Coinbase Wallet setup guide after the Base App rename

You can set up Coinbase Wallet in a few minutes: download the app, choose an account type, create a backup and copy your first wallet address. The third step is the one that matters. The wallet is a self-custody wallet, so the keys are with you, and Coinbase cannot give you back lost access credentials. Anyone setting up Coinbase Wallet should therefore first know which of the three account types they are creating, because the backup and the supported coins depend on it.

On top of that comes a name change that makes many guides look out of date. In July 2025 Coinbase Wallet became the Base App, and since September 2026 it has been called Coinbase Wallet again. In the App Store, the version history of the current releases reads, word for word, “We’re now Coinbase Wallet”. This guide reflects the situation as of November 10, 2026 and explains how to set up the wallet app securely, which coins it supports and how to convert crypto back into euros.

Coinbase Wallet or Coinbase account: the difference between the wallet and the Coinbase exchange

Coinbase runs two products with almost identical names, and confusing them is the most common source of mistakes during setup. The Coinbase account belongs to the Coinbase exchange (Coinbase Exchange). There you buy bitcoin with euros, Coinbase holds the coins for you, and you log in with email, password and two-factor authentication. In the EU the exchange operates under a MiCA licence from Luxembourg; details on fees and licensing are in our Coinbase review.