How to buy bitcoin in Canada
- Status
- Legal
- Currency
- Canadian dollar (CAD)
- Recommended
- 7 exchanges
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-23
Canada supervises crypto platforms as securities dealers, and the registration tier a platform holds is the most useful signal a Canadian buyer has. Bitbuy and Shakepay are registered Investment Dealers and CIRO members, the same tier as a conventional brokerage; Kraken, Coinbase and Netcoins hold the lighter restricted dealer registration. Almost every platform here funds free over Interac e-Transfer, the exception being Netcoins, which charges 1.5 percent on it. Binance is not an option: it left Canada in 2023 rather than sign the CSA undertaking, and has not returned. The Canada Revenue Agency treats bitcoin as a commodity, so selling at a profit is a capital gains event.
Best exchanges in Canada
Ranked by our editorial review of fees, security record, and local payment support. Rankings are never sold.
| # | Exchange | Rating | Fees | ID check | Pay with | Visit or read the review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kraken | 4.7 | From 0.25% maker, 0.40% taker | Required | Visit | |
| 2 | Bitbuy | 4.4 | From 0.10% maker on Pro | Required | Visit | |
| 3 | NDAX | 4.3 | Flat 0.20%, free Interac | Required | Visit | |
| 4 | Shakepay | 4.1 | No fee shown, ~1.5-2% spread | Required | Visit | |
| 5 | Coinbase | 4.5 | Maker-taker on Advanced Trade | Required | Visit | |
| 6 | Newton | 4.0 | No commission, 0.7-1.6% spread | Required | Visit | |
| 7 | Netcoins | 3.7 | 0.5% flat, 1.5% Interac fee | Required | Visit |
Why these picks
1. Kraken A 2011-vintage exchange with one of the cleanest security records in the business, heading toward a US stock listing.
Interac e-Transfer: free deposits
Bank transfer or wire: 0.5 percent
Credit card: often treated as a cash advance
2. Bitbuy Toronto platform holding the highest Canadian registration tier, with free Interac funding and Pro fees from 0.10 percent.
Interac e-Transfer: free deposits
Bank transfer or wire: flat 10 dollar fee
3. NDAX Calgary exchange with a flat 0.20 percent trading fee and free Interac and wire funding in both directions.
Interac e-Transfer: free in, 1.50 dollars out
Bank transfer or wire: free
4. Shakepay Montreal app with Investment Dealer registration and a deliberately tiny asset list, priced through a spread rather than a visible fee.
Interac e-Transfer: free deposits and withdrawals
5. Coinbase The easiest US on-ramp for beginners, publicly listed, and legally in the clear since the SEC dropped its case.
Interac e-Transfer: free deposits
Credit card: often treated as a cash advance
6. Newton Toronto platform advertising no commission, with the real cost carried in a spread that tightens as you trade more.
Interac e-Transfer: free up to 10,000 dollars a day
Bank transfer or wire: free above 10,000 dollars
7. Netcoins Vancouver platform with a flat 0.5 percent trading fee, undercut by being the one Canadian exchange that charges for Interac deposits.
Interac e-Transfer: 1.5 percent deposit fee
Bank transfer or wire: flat fee, cheaper at size
Payment methods in Canada
The rails local buyers actually use, under their local names. Support varies by exchange; the list above shows exactly which methods each one takes here.
- Interac e-TransferPrimary
often treated as a cash advance
Crypto cards available in Canada
These spend money at ordinary shops and pay you back in crypto, which is the opposite of the exchanges above: those buy bitcoin, these do not. Availability is the issuer's own published coverage.
- ether.fi Cash3% cashback on the first $2,000 (Core), $10,000 (Luxe), or $50,000 (Pinnacle) of monthly spend, stepping down to 1% then 0.5% beyond that band; invitation-only VIP pays 4% on its first $50,000.
- RedotPay CardRoughly 3% cashback on Apple Pay/Google Pay transactions is available to RedotPay Pro subscribers ($12.90/month or $129/year); the base card has no broad percentage-back cashback program.
- Crypto.com CardChangedPrepaid Visa: 0% (Basic, free) up to 5% CRO (Private, $500,000 12-month lockup), or 8% at the invitation-only $1M Prime tier; separate US Visa Signature credit card pays up to 6% in BTC or CRO.
- MetaMask CardChanged1% cashback in mUSD on the free Virtual tier; 3% on the first $10,000 of annual spend (then 1%) on the $199/year Metal tier.
Bitcoin wallets available in Canada
A wallet is where bitcoin lives after you buy it, which is the opposite of the exchanges above: those sell it, these hold it. Availability below is the maker's own published shipping or eligibility policy.
Hardware devices
- Keystone 3 Pro$149Air-gapped signing on a 4 inch touchscreen, with three security chips and a fingerprint reader, at $149.
- Ledger Flex$249The Ledger to buy if you want a touchscreen: $249, the same certified chip as the Stax, and more screen pixels than it.
- Ledger Nano S Plus$59Ledger's $59 entry device: the same certified secure element as the $399 Stax, no Bluetooth, and no iPhone support at all.
- Ledger Nano X$79The cheapest Ledger with Bluetooth, now $79 on Ledger's own store, and the one to buy if you want to sign from a phone.
- Ledger Stax$399Ledger's $399 flagship, with the biggest screen it sells and exactly the same secure element as the $59 Nano S Plus.
- Tangem Wallet$59.9A smart card you tap against your phone, sold only in sets of two or three so your backup is another card rather than a written seed.
Desktop and browser
Compare every wallet, including the ones we tell you not to buy
Watch: how to buy bitcoin in Canada
A video walkthrough of buying bitcoin in Canada: picking an exchange that takes Canadian dollar deposits, passing verification, and moving your coins to self custody.
From our YouTube channel @dontgetrekt, uploaded 2023-02-22.
Do you need a VPN?
A VPN hides which sites you visit from the network you are on and from your internet provider, which is worth having when you move money over a connection you do not control. It does not get you past an exchange's identity checks: every platform we list verifies who you are no matter where you connect from.
If you want one, the strongest records on our list belong to NordVPN (6 independent no-logs audits, the most of any service we review), Windscribe (its no-logs claim tested in the real world 3 times) and Proton VPN (the most audited service with a free tier).
Buying bitcoin in Canada, start to finish
Pick a platform and verify your identity
Choose from the table above and complete KYC verification with a photo ID. Regulated platforms in Canada require this before you can deposit.
Fund your account with Interac e-Transfer
Common options here: Interac e-Transfer, bank transfer or wire, debit card, credit card. Bank transfers are usually the cheapest; cards are faster but add fees.
Buy, then decide where to keep it
Place your order, and for anything more than pocket money consider moving it to a hardware wallet you control. Our security guide covers the habits that keep coins safe.
Legal status and regulation in Canada
Bitcoin is legal in Canada and the exchange market is tightly regulated. Platforms serving Canadians must register under the Canadian Securities Administrators' framework, and the tier varies: Bitbuy, through Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd., and Shakepay are registered Investment Dealers and members of CIRO, while Coinbase has held a restricted dealer registration since April 2024 and Kraken since April 2025, each with the Ontario Securities Commission as principal regulator. Quebec adds a layer: the Autorite des marches financiers keeps its own register, and every platform we list appears on it. Exchanges must also register with FINTRAC as money services businesses.
Words worth knowing before you buy in Canada
Picked from what this page already says about Canada, not from a standard list.
- Withdrawal feeBank transfer or wireA withdrawal fee is what an exchange charges to send your bitcoin out to your own wallet, and it is usually a flat amount rather than the real network cost.
- Recurring buyInterac e-TransferA recurring buy is the exchange feature that executes a purchase for you on a schedule, pulling money from your bank on the day you picked without you logging in.
- Maker and taker fees7 venues to compareMaker and taker fees are the two prices an exchange charges for a trade: less if your order waits in the book, more if it takes an existing order out.
Frequently asked questions
Is bitcoin legal in Canada?
Yes. Buying, holding, and selling bitcoin is legal, and crypto trading platforms must register with Canadian securities regulators. Kraken and Coinbase both hold restricted dealer registrations, and every registered platform must also be a FINTRAC money services business.
How is bitcoin taxed in Canada?
The Canada Revenue Agency treats crypto as a commodity. Selling, spending, or swapping it is a disposition: half of any capital gain is taxable for typical investors, while frequent trading can be taxed as business income instead. Keep records of every transaction.
What is the cheapest way to buy bitcoin in Canada?
Fund with a free Interac e-Transfer, then buy on an order book rather than a one-click widget. Bitbuy Pro starts at 0.10 percent maker and NDAX charges a flat 0.20 percent. Apps that advertise no commission, such as Shakepay and Newton, price through a spread of roughly 0.7 to 2 percent instead, which costs more.
Why do Canadian platforms ask so many onboarding questions?
Securities regulation requires registered platforms to assess each client's risk profile and enforce safeguards, and anti-money-laundering law requires full identity verification. Bitcoin itself is generally exempt from the purchase limits that apply to some other crypto assets.
Can I use these platforms if I live in Quebec?
Yes. Quebec requires registration with the Autorite des marches financiers on top of CSA registration, and every platform we rank appears on the AMF register. What the AMF blocks is unregistered offshore venues: it obtained court orders in 2025 requiring Canadian internet providers to block CoinEx and XT.com for Quebec residents.
Companies in Canada that hold bitcoin
Publicly listed companies headquartered here with bitcoin on the balance sheet. Holdings come from company disclosures and are dated on each page.
