Coinbase and Kraken experience limited services amid markets turbulence

Both Coinbase and Kraken's platforms were down or experiencing intermittent latency issues on Nov.8, amid market turbulence, according to users' complaints on Twitter. This news followed the disclosure that crypto exchange Binance intends to acquire its rival FTX earlier in the day.

According to Twitter users, services were limited in both exchanges, with issues related to connectivity to the platforms and unconfirmed rumors of halted withdrawals.

BREAKING: Coinbase is DOWN! Several services are down right now.Now y’all seeing real bear market dealings

— MASON VERSLUIS (@MasonVersluis) November 8, 2022

On its support profile, Coinbase said it was "experiencing network connection issues for Coinbase.com, Coinbase Pro, and Coinbase Prime. This could result in difficulty signing in. If you’re already signed in you may experience slow loading across web and the mobile app", claiming that the issue was related to the high level of new user sign-ups and transfers to the platform today.

We’ve implemented a fix and latency has improved dramatically. Due to the high level of new user sign-ups and transfers to Coinbase today, some customers had trouble signing up / experienced delays signing in. https://t.co/IcA6wtZz1N

— Coinbase Support (@CoinbaseSupport) November 8, 2022

Kraken did not comment on the issues on its channels, but highlighted that it uses Proof of Reserves audits, enabling clients to verify balances held on the exchanges and its backed assets as well. 

Check if the exchange you’re using undergoes Proof of Reserves audits.ICYMI: Kraken is committed to regular audits - enabling you to verify the balances you hold on our exchange are backed by real assets Don’t trust, verify your balance now ⤵️ https://t.co/sI0TkgLTHq

— Kraken Exchange (@krakenfx) November 8, 2022

With Proof of Reserves (PoR), an independent audit is conducted by a third party to check a custodian's assets are held as claimed.

The market turbulence was triggered by the announcement on Nov. 8 by FTX founder and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, or SBF, of an "agreement on a strategic transaction" with Binance, aiming to acquire FTX after Binance's decision to liquidate 23 million FTT tokens, triggering a liquidity crisis at FTX. The deal has been compared with a "chess move" by some, insinuating that Binance's strategy intentionally led to the deal.

The series of tweets triggered a sell-off of FTX Token that broke below the pattern’s support line. The sell-off continued and the token is down over 76% in the past 24 hours, negotiated at $5.09 at press time.

Hours after the deal, Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, or CZ, also noted on Twitter that the exchange would start using proof-of-reserves soon, adding that "banks run on fractional reserves. Crypto exchanges should not."