Before sending or receiving crypto through your CoinGate account using an external wallet, you may be required to verify that you own that wallet. This applies to both withdrawals and deposits involving exchange and self-hosted wallets.
Why is wallet ownership verification required
CoinGate must confirm that the wallet belongs to you or your business. This helps us:
- Prevent accidental transfers to unsupported or third-party addresses
- Block fraudulent redirections
- Meet AML regulatory requirements
- Keep your account and funds secure
Do I always need to verify?
Not always. If you're using a wallet held at a regulated exchange (such as Coinbase or Kraken), we detect this automatically and approve the address without any action from you.
In rare cases, we may not be able to identify the exchange automatically - you'll then be prompted to confirm ownership manually by providing your exchange details.
Manual verification is always required for self-hosted wallets - wallets where you hold the private keys yourself (such as MetaMask or Trust Wallet).
When do I need to verify a wallet?
You may be asked to verify a wallet before:
- Withdrawing crypto to a self-hosted or an exchange wallet address
- Depositing from a self-hosted or an exchange wallet address
Verification is a one-time step per address. Once approved, that wallet is permanently whitelisted - no further verification is required for future deposits or withdrawals.
How does verification work?
When prompted, you'll be asked to choose a path depending on where your wallet is held.
Exchange wallet (custodial)
If your wallet is held at an exchange and wasn't detected automatically:
- Enter your exchange details - Provide the exchange name and website URL. Upload an account statement dated within the last 30 days that shows your business details and, where available, the wallet address. Accepted formats: JPG, PNG, PDF, ZIP (up to 50 MB).
- Confirm business details - Review the pre-filled company details and click Confirm.
Self-hosted wallet
If your wallet is self-custody (such as MetaMask, Trust Wallet, or Ledger):
- Choose a verification method - You'll be offered three options: WalletConnect (recommended), manual signature, or document upload.
- Connect your wallet - If using WalletConnect, select your wallet provider from the list (MetaMask, Phantom, Coinbase Wallet, and 700+ others) and connect.
- Sign the verification message - We'll generate a unique message tied to your account and wallet address. Signing is non-transactional - it doesn't move any funds. It simply confirms that you control the private key.
- Receive confirmation - If the signature is valid and matches the address, verification completes and your address is approved.
What if I can't sign a message?
If your wallet doesn't support message signing, you can verify ownership by uploading a screenshot of your wallet showing the public address and a transaction reference linked to your CoinGate account.
If verification fails
If your wallet cannot be verified automatically:
- Double-check that you used the correct network and address format.
- Ensure your wallet supports message signing, or use the document upload fallback.
- Contact CoinGate Support via your dashboard or Help Center for manual assistance.