It is important for crypto investors to keep track of who is centralised and who isn't. Coinbase is funded by the NYSE and several banks. That's really all you need to know. I wouldn't touch Coinbase.
Other big centralised names in crypto include Poloniex and Ripple. Don't make the rich richer - avoid centralised crypto!
Yep exactly.
Another worry of these centralized services is that they could deny users access to private keys, as was just announced today in Russia: https://en.bitnovosti.com/2018/05/22/russian-state-duma-adopted-the-draft-law-on-regulation-of-cryptocurrency-transactions/
This would essentially mean you could ONLY use crypto via 3rd parties, which again, would defeat crypto’s entire purpose.
...or via a VPN ;)
True. No matter what the circumstances, cryptography finds a way.