Quick Overview: Why Does It Say User Unable to Sell on Coinbase?

Coinbase isn’t just one of the most popular crypto wallet platforms on the planet. It’s also one of the most reputable and reliable crypto exchanges as well. Even still, though, every now and again some users are faced with an “unable to sell” message on their account.

Often times this code pops up when individuals living in (or geo-located in) states, countries, and municipalities that have outlawed crypto sales are trying to go through the sales process. Coinbase will stop those transactions before they can begin. There are other reasons Coinbase might be telling you your unable to sell, too though.

We dive into those reasons below!

Why Does It Say User Unable to Sell on Coinbase?

While Coinbase definitely makes it a lot easier to sell, hold, and stake cryptocurrency these days, there are some restrictions on the platform.

Most of the time when you see the “unable to sell” message pop up in your app or through them online interface it’s because your account is – perhaps even just temporarily – unable to sell cryptocurrency for a variety of different reasons.

Let’s go over those reasons right now!

Crypto Sales May Be Unavailable in Your Country

Far and away the most common reason you’re presented with this code from the folks at Coinbase is because you are trying to sell cryptocurrency in a jurisdiction where this kind of activity has been outlawed.

Granted there aren’t all lot of nations out there that have explicitly outlawed cryptocurrency sales – right now Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore are the only ones that are blocked from selling on Coinbase – but it still may be an issue that you’ll have a tough time getting around.

Sure, there are some ways to get around this kind of geolocation blocking. Things like using a VPN and the like can “trick” Coinbase into thinking that you are somewhere you are not.

The trouble here, though, is that anytime you use tools to obvious gate your location or to skirt local laws, rules, and regulations you threaten the ability for Coinbase to do business in that locale – and Coinbase usually takes punitive action every time they detect this kind of behavior.

Whether or not they are going to detect every time you boot up a VPN to sell crypto is up for debate. And only you will know if that kind of risk is worth taking on.

Just know that the overwhelming majority of times you see the “cannot sell” error code in your Coinbase account it’s because of restrictions like this.

Crypto Trades May Be Paused

It doesn’t happen often, though it has happened a handful of times on Coinbase already – and it’s likely going to happen a handful of times in the future, too.

Sometimes crypto trades are paused by Coinbase across the board, and sometimes they are paused only on specific crypto assets or in specific locations around the world.

If you are trying to create cryptocurrencies that are currently under this pause from Coinbase you just aren’t going to be able to sell (and usually won’t be able to buy, either) until the pause has been lifted.

This happens on the Coinbase side of the platform and there’s really nothing you can do to “fix” the issue. Other than jump to another crypto exchange that isn’t currently in a pause.

Chargebacks May Be Pausing Sell Orders

If there has been a chargeback that’s occurred while processing one of your trades the chances are pretty good that Coinbase will automatically pause your sell orders, too.

You’re not going to be able to gain full access of your account until that chargeback is completed, or until your appeal has been successful.

If you haven’t had a chargeback notification – or if you haven’t had any recent trade activity that could be charged back – it’s not a bad idea to reach out to customer support and see exactly what’s going on under the hood of your account.

Someone else’s chargeback may have been erroneously attached to your account for one reason or another and your sales abilities are limited because of it.

You’ll want to get that straightened out ASAP!

Coinbase May Need More Data Before Executing Trades

Finally, sometimes the ability to sell cryptocurrency (and the ability to buy cryptocurrency, for that matter) is going to be limited on the Coinbase platform until you have provided extra information.

The ID verification process with Coinbase is a pretty simple and straightforward process. It’s only going to take a couple of minutes and the information that they request is going to be held securely on the platform.

It’s critical that you go through that ID verification process, but it’s just as important that you go through any of the necessary payment method verification processes as well.

Anything you can do to speed up and secure your account should be done!

Closing Thoughts

Nobody likes to see “Unable to Sell” pop up in their Coinbase app or on the Coinbase website. But it happens every now and again.

Luckily, the fixes for this issue are relatively simple and straightforward – so long as the issue is something that you can resolve on your own.

Providing ID information to verify you are who you say you are, confirming payment details, and making sure that there are no chargebacks on your account will all help to lessen the amount of “Unable to Sell” error codes you come across.

On the flip side of things, though, there’s really nothing you can do if Coinbase is pausing trading activity, has to cease sales transactions in certain locations around the world, or is dealing with technical issues that have halted trading in the moment.

At the end of the day, though, it’s never a bad idea to kick customer service online and see exactly what’s going on with your account when you see this error code.

They’ll be able to walk you through the step-by-step process to not only clear that code in the present, but prevent that code from popping up in the future, too.

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Quick Overview: Why Does It Say User Unable to Sell on Coinbase?