7 Best Crypto Exchanges Canada

Last Updated on: April 2, 2024 by Craig Leontowicz
Affiliate Disclaimer – We earn from qualifying purchases.

We value; low fees, good design, transparent fees/pricing, community reputation, security reports, third-party audits, legal/regulated exchanges, and responsive customer service.

Newton – Best Overall

Get $25

On Newton Website

Fees: ~0.75% to 1.5%
Crypto withdraw: Free $5
Crypto to trade: 70+
Signup Bonus: Get $25

NDAX – Best for Traders

Get $10

Visit NDAX Website

Fees: ~0.2%
Crypto withdraw fee: ~$13
Crypto to trade: 30+
Signup Bonus: Get $10

Shakepay – Easy to Use

Get $20

Via Shakepay Website

Fees: ~1 to 2%
Crypto withdraw fee: Free
Crypto to trade: 2
Signup Bonus: Get $20

Cryptocurrency exchange recommendations are made based on real experience from using websites, apps, and trading platforms. Community sentiment on Reddit and Twitter is also used to compile this ‘best’ list.

We have been following, measuring, and using all Canadian crypto exchanges for years.

This is how we build our trustworthiness rating to recommend the best exchanges to use.

Compare crypto exchange features, fees, funding, and deposit options. Pros and cons explained. Find the best crypto exchange in Canada for your needs.

Crypto Exchanges Quick Fee Summary

Best Crypto Exchanges — Explained

I’ve had accounts at both exchanges MT. Gox and QuadrigaCX. I am as paranoid about safety as anyone. If you don’t know what MT. Gox and QuadrigaCX are — I encourage you to look them up and to DO NOT leave your crypto on any exchange…ever.

1. Shakepay – Best Exchange for Beginners

Shakepay allows Canadians to buy or sell Bitcoin and Ethereum. A Montreal-based company that has over 50 employees. It was founded in 2015 and is a legal and regulated Canadian crypto exchange.

Exchange Bitcoin or Ethereum only. Set up limit buys/sells or recurring bitcoin purchases. Learn how to earn free BTC with ‘Shakepay Shaking Sats’. Read the Shakepay Review.

So far, Shakepay handles peak times very well. It has worked consistently through the market ups and downs in the last year. Not all exchanges have handled it as well as Shakepay.

Shakepay chat support is available through the app. Shakepay usually responds within a few hours. They also maintain and are responsive to support questions through their social media channels.

Shakepay Features

• Easy-to-use app
• Schedule recurring buys
• Limit orders
• Earn Bitcoin cashback with a prepaid debit card

Shakepay Fees

• Deposits and withdrawals: $0
• Spread: ~1 to 2%
• Crypto withdrawal: Free

Check Fees and Prices at Shakepay

Shakepay Funding & Withdraw Options

• Interac E-Transfer
• Wire Transfers
• Pre-authorized Debit

Shakepay Pros

• No fee crypto withdraws
• Simple app UI/UX
• Shaking SATS rewards
• Earn Bitcoin cashback reward with a prepaid Visa debit card

Shakepay Cons

• Limited coin selection
• High spread fee
• Mobile app only

Shakepay is Recommended For

Shakepay is great for people who are making their first Bitcoin or Ethereum purchase.

The simple, easy-to-use app and fee structure for trading and sending crypto to your wallet is a good first step to buying and learning more crypto for the first time.

Shakepay is what I recommend to friends who are just starting out, and not super tech-savvy. Skeptical of crypto and just want to make a hundred-dollar purchase to learn more and test the waters.

Get a $20 Shakepay Sign-Up Bonus →

2. Newton – Best all-around Crypto Exchange

Choose from over 60 coins to buy, sell and trade on Newton.

Low fees, easy-to-use web, and mobile app, and lots of altcoins to buy and sell. Some users report signing up and the verification process can take time. Read the Newton Review.

Founded in 2018. Newton has about 40 employees and has served over 200,000 Canadians. They are hiring and improving the exchange on a regular basis.

I use Newton for the majority of buying and selling of crypto because of the low fees and based on the amount I am buying and selling.

After struggling through the initial verification process I have had a generally very good experience buying and selling crypto on the exchange.

My questions to customer service were answered within 24 hours and they did fix any issues I had. I like using the desktop website to trade crypto or send it to my wallet or withdraw CAD to my bank account instantly with an e-transfer.

Newton Features

• Low spread fee
• 70+ altcoins
• Limit orders
• Quicks buys/sells and a trader view

Newton Fees

• Deposits and withdrawals: $0
• Spread: ~0.75 to 1.5%
• Crypto withdrawal: Free up to $5 of network fees

Check Fees and Prices at Newton

Newton Funding & Withdrawal Options

• Interac E-Transfer
• Wire Transfer
• Bank Transfer
• Connect your bank account with Plaid

Newton Pros

• Low spread fee on trades.
• Easy to use and nice design.
• Lots of altcoins to trade and more are always being added.
• Multi-Network support.

Newton Cons

• Verifying an account when signing up can take time.
• Can have difficulty at peak times.
• Customer service can be overwhelmed and take time to respond or you need to post on the Newton subreddit to get help.

Newton Crypto is Recommended For

Newton is a safe and legit crypto exchange for Canadians. Newton has some of the lowest fees on trades and is super easy to use.

I would probably say it’s the best all-around exchange for, fees, design, ease of use, and most altcoins.

Get $25 Newton Sign-Up Bonus →

3. NDAX – Best Exchange for Traders or Larger Amounts

NDAX has a full trading platform for desktops/web apps. The mobile app isn’t as good as the website for buying and selling crypto.

Recommended for trading larger amounts based on the spread fee and crypto withdrawal fee. Read the NDAX Review.

Looking to buy and trade Bitcoin for thousands of dollars at a time, get the lowest spread fees on trades with NDAX. The website feels fast and snappy and I like that.

NDAX Features

• Staking on 12 coins – DOT, ADA, ETH, GRT, MATIC…
• Schedule recurring purchases
• Advanced trading platform
• NDAX Wealth – a digital asset Over The Counter (OTC) trading desk, built exclusively for investors looking to trade $200,000 or more.
• 18+ altcoins

NDAX Fees

• Deposits and withdrawals: $0
• Spread: 0.2%
• Crypto withdrawal: 0.000399 BTC (~$13)

Check Fees and Prices at NDAX

Each coin has a different crypto withdrawal fee based on its blockchain.

NDAX Funding & Withdrawal Options

• Interac E-Transfer
• Bank Draft

NDAX Pros

• Dark mode
• Full exchange for traders
• Low spread fee
• Option to send coins on the Ethereum (ERC20) or the Binance Smart Chain (BEP20) networks
• Staking – Earn staking rewards from your crypto

NDAX Cons

• Crypto withdrawal fee is high
• The mobile app is not great

NDAX is Recommended For

NDAX is the lowest fee crypto exchange if are buying, trading, selling, and withdrawing over ~$2700 worth of crypto.

Advanced trading website for traders looking for a Canadian platform to trade on. Uses Tradeview charts.

Also for investors looking to trade $200,000 or more using the NDAX (OTC) trading desk.

Get $10 NDAX Sign-Up Bonus →

4. Netcoins — Easy-to-use crypto exchange for Canadians

Netcoins was founded in 2014 and is based in Vancouver, Canada. 

Buy Bitcoin with or deposit/withdraw US dollars with your Canadian bank account.

Get 1% back in Bitcoin with Netcoins Visa Prepaid Card.

Netcoins is the first publicly owned crypto trading platform in Canada. Being public means the financials and books are more transparent, giving users more insight and visibility into operations. BIGG trades under the following symbols: CSE: BIGG, OTCQX: BBKCF, and WKN: A2PS9W.

Easy to use crypto exchange. Netcoins make the fees clear and easy to read at each step of the process.

A nice all-around exchange to use. Definitely recommend it to try. At least get the Netcoins Pay Card for the 3% BTC cashback on purchases. Great way to DCA (dollar cost average) into Bitcoin.

Netcoins Features

• Get 3% back in Bitcoin with Netcoins Visa Prepaid Card
• USD funding and deposits for Canadians
• Limit orders
• Buy crypto with a credit card
• Easy to use
• 30+ altcoins

Netcoins Fees

• Deposits and withdrawals: $0
• Spread: 0.5%
• Crypto withdrawal: 0.00025 BTC ($15)

Check Fees and Prices at Netcoins

Netcoins Funding & Withdrawal Options

• Interac E-Transfer
• Wire Transfer
• Online Bill Payment

Netcoins Pros

• Easy to use
• Transparent fees
• US dollar deposits and withdrawals from a Canadian bank account
• Netcoins Pay – Get 2% back in Bitcoin (Visa Prepaid Card)

Netcoins Cons

• Average withdrawal fee on crypto
• Average spread fee on trades

Netcoins is Recommended For

Netcoins is a good all-around exchange to use and has been in business for a very long time. Easy to web interface and mobile app.

Being able to use USD dollars and a Canadian bank account for deposits and withdrawals is awesome and is a feature that most crypto exchanges offer.

Get 3% back in Bitcoin with every purchase you make on the Netcoins Visa Prepaid Card. This is the largest BTC rewards card in Canada right now.

Netcoins offers a physical and digital prepaid Visa debit card for you to earn Bitcoin on every purchase.

Get $0 Netcoins Sign-Up Bonus →

5. BitBuy – Trusted Canadian Crypto Exchange

Toronto-based Bitbuy is a registered Money Service Business (MSB) in Canada under FINTRAC since 2016.

Canada’s first 1:1 insured Bitcoin offering platform. Bitbuy is the world’s first platform to find a way to keep the full value of its Bitcoin cold storage holdings insured. This is done in partnership with Montreal-based Bitcoin security firm Knox.

Bitbuy has not experienced any hacks and remains a highly safe, secure, and trusted cryptocurrency exchange.

Blockchain Intelligence Group completed a 2021 Proof of Reserves report and verified that Bitbuy exceeded 95% cold storage mandate. Overall crypto funds in Bitbuy cold storage were 98.12%.

The desktop and app are both easy to use. Great overall exchange to use.

Bitbuy has been reducing some of its fees over the last year.

Bitbuy Features

• Beginners can easily buy/sell with ‘Express Trade’
• Pro Trade – full-featured trading desk for advanced traders
• 25+ altcoins
• Bitbuy Private Wealth (OTC)

Bitbuy Fees

• Interac e-Transfer Deposit: $0
• Wire Transfer Deposit: $0
• Interac e-Transfer Withdrawals: 1.5%
• Wire TransferWithdrawals: 1.5%
• Spread: 0% – 1.5%
• Crypto withdrawal: 0.00025 BTC (~$10)

Check Fees and Prices at Bitbuy

Bitbuy Funding & Withdrawal Options

• Interac E-Transfer
• Wire Transfer

Bitbuy Pros

• Regulated and transparent
• Express trade
• Pro trade

Bitbuy Cons

• Lots of KYC questions
• Low liquidity
• High deposit fees
• No stop-loss orders

Bitbuy is Recommended For

Bitbuy is a safe, legitimate Canadian crypto exchange. I have no complaints.

Easy to use crypto exchange for beginners looking to make their first purchase.

Responsive and helpful customer support that has served over 400,000 Canadian customers.

Get $20 Bitbuy Sign-Up Bonus →

6. Kraken — Best for Trading – Great Reputation for Security

Kraken is one of the largest and oldest Bitcoin exchanges in the world and has a stellar reputation for security. Recommend for larger crypto buys or sells. Kraken in based in the US. Clean UI.

Kraken offered multiple crypto-to-crypto trading pairs.

Most exchanges in this list that offer e-transfer for funding or deposits have zero crypto trading pair variations.

Not all the altcoins Kraken has listed are available for Canadians to trade.

Kraken Features

• Simple and advanced order types
• Staking
• Apps for beginners or traders
• Fully featured desktop website and app for trading
• Multiple crypto-to-crypto trading pairs
• 65+ altcoins
• Fund/buy Bitcoin with cash in person at Canada Post
• Customize fonts and colors on the trading platform

Kraken Fees

• Fiat Deposits: 1.5%
• Spread: 0 to 0.26% per trade
• Crypto withdrawal: 0.00001 BTC

Check Fees and Prices at Kraken

Kraken Funding & Withdrawal Options

• Interac E-Transfer
• Wire Transfer (Etana Custody)
• In-person at Canada Post

Kraken Pros

• One of the oldest exchanges in crypto
• Full trade platform
• Crypto to crypto trading pairs
• 24/7 live chat support
• Low spread fee

Kraken Cons

• Complicated fee structure
• Not as beginner-friendly
• 1.5% deposit fee on fiat
• High crypto withdrawal fee

Kraken is Recommended For

Kraken is good for traders with a low spread fee, crypto-to-crypto trading pairs, and has a nice and customizable UI for trading. Good staking rates or stake a small amount of ETH.

7. Wealthsimple – Best app. Trade stocks and crypto in the same place!

Simple to use — obviously. Really simplifies the number of apps needed for investing. Wealthsimple now lets you withdraw Bitcoin and cryptocuurnw

Wealthsimle has been improving on the crypto side of the app in the last year.

I like that I can trade stocks and crypto, while also managing my TFSA and RRSP accounts in a single account app.

Wealthsimple Features

• Stocks and crypto on one platform
• Easy to use
• 49+ coins

Wealthsimple Fees

• Spread: ~1.5 to 2%

Check Fees and Prices at Wealthsimple.

Wealthsimple Funding & Withdrawal Options

• Link bank account

Wealthsimple Pros

• Super easy to use
• UI design

Wealthsimple Cons

• High fees
• No limit orders
• Takes 3-5 days to transfer and settle funds

Wealthsimple is Recommended For

If you want a single platform for your stocks and crypto in Canada – then Weathsimple is what you want. It’s made for beginners and has a super simple app to use.

Get $25 →

App Store Ratings and Reviews

Compare app store ratings and the number of reviews for Canadian crypto exchange apps.

Crypto Exchange Fees & Prices Comparision

Prices and fees are subject to change at any time and can also vary on the blockchain network and at peak usage times.

Every crypto exchange has a slight variation in how they make money and charge their fees when exchanging Canadian dollars (CAD) for their users.

The number of dollars you want to deposit, trade, and withdraw is what is important to determine what exchange has the best rates for what you are doing.

These are possible fees that can occur when buying or selling Bitcoin:

• Fiat Deposits
• Spread Fee – The difference in the buy and sell price brokered by the exchange.
• Crypto Withdraw Fee
• Fiat Withdraw Fee
• Network Fees – Different fees for different coins (Blockchains).
• Peak Times – Network and spread fees are variable and fluctuate when there are extreme moves in price.
• A minimum amount of crypto is sometimes needed to withdraw it to your wallet – the amount depends on the coin and blockchain network.

Consider these possible fees when evaluating what exchange to use.

Lowest Fee Crypto Exchange

• Newton – for under $5K
  
• NDAX – for over $5K

It depends on the amount you are buying and the time (network fees), if you are transferring your coins to your wallet or trading for altcoins on a different exchange. You need to do the math in which exchange has the best rates for you at the time of purchase or trade.

However, these exchanges will charge full or partial network fees (fluctuating) when withdrawing Bitcoin from the exchange to your wallet.

Shakepay has a larger spread on the dollar to crypto exchanges but covers the network fee on withdrawals from the exchange. This makes it better for buying or selling a few hundred dollars at a time.

Sign up for multiple exchanges and shop around for the best rates as they are always changing. Find the best exchange rates in Canada at Cryptolens. Shows Real-time rates after all fees.

How to Fund or Withdraw Money From a Crypto Exchange

1. Sign up to a crypto exchange.
2. Verify your account.
3. Buy/sell/trade crypto with Canadian dollars.

Ways to link your Canadian bank account to a cryptocurrency exchange:

INTERAC E-Transfer

INTERAC e-Transfer is the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to fund and deposit money from your Canadian Bank to a crypto exchange in Canada.

E-Transfer funding and deposit times are near-instant in my experience.

There are daily, weekly, and monthly limits for INTERAC e-Transfers. You need to check with your bank to see what your limits are.

Wire Transfer

Bank Draft

Credit Cards

Netcoins has the option to buy Bitcoin and a few other cryptocurrencies with a credit card (Visa or Mastercard).

Most credit card companies and/or banks block and do not allow buying Bitcoin and cryptocurrency with credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) in Canada. This includes prepaid gift cards.

For this reason, most people use INTERAC e-Transfer to fund accounts for small amounts for immediate transfer. Or wire transfer for larger deposits and withdrawals.

Cryptocurrency exchanges will charge a 1-3% transaction fee for buying using a credit card on their platform.

PayPal

Buying Bitcoin on the Paypal app is not available to Canadian customers.

Coinbase is the only crypto exchange that connects with PayPal.

It only allows users to deposit money from Coinbase to Paypal. They do not accept it as a form of payment to buy Bitcoin as a Canadian at this time.

I was not able to connect my Coinbase account to PayPal. Every time I tried I got an error that just ended up going in a loop.

Cash and Bitcoin ATMs

I haven’t used any of these options. Proceed carefully. It’s your responsibility to stay safe and educate yourself about the potential dangers of peer-to-peer trading.

The fees and spreads are significantly higher when buying with cash, ATMs, and peer-to-peer exchanges.

P2P Exchanges – Bisq, Paxful, Binance P2P.

Coinatmradar.com – Find a Bitcoin ATM near you.

LocalCryptos.com – Non-custodial crypto marketplace.

LocalBitcoins.com – Trade bitcoins person-to-person.

Account Verification / KYC

KYC (Know Your Customer). This is required by FINTRAC.

All legal Bitcoin exchanges in Canada will require that you prove your identity. This entails uploading your ID, a bill to prove your mailing address, and sometimes face scans.

Reddit

/r/BitcoinCA – is the largest crypto subreddit for Canadians. Generally, it is focused on Bitcoin discussion but you can find lots of threads about which crypto exchange has what altcoin, how the customer service is, or how the different exchanges are working during peak times and reviews. Here are a few more subreddits about crypto.

Frequently Asked Questions

Summary — Best Bitcoin & Crypto Exchanges in Canada

Newton – Best all-around exchange. Low fees, easy to use, and lots of altcoins to buy and sell. It is recommended for beginners. Get $25 Sign Up Bonus →

Shakepay – Easiest crypto exchange to use. Buy and sell Bitcoin or Ethereum only. Set up limit buys/sells or recurring crypto purchases. Recommend for beginners. Use a referral code to activate the secret ‘Shaking SATS’ rewards easter egg to earn free Bitcoin daily. Get a $20 Sign Up Bonus →

Newton or Shakepay is what I recommend for friends buying their first Bitcoin and crypto in Canada.

It’s very easy to use for buying Bitcoin and Ethereum and other cryptos on these exchanges for beginners.

Shakepay covers the withdrawal fee (Bitcoin Network) when sending to your own wallet. Creating and verifying an account is fast and easy.

Get $20 when you sign up using a referral code and make a deposit of $100. Unlock “shaking sats“ and earn bitcoin daily. Accepts INTERAC e-Transfer for fast deposits.

This combination of factors is why I think Shakepay is a great first step for buying Bitcoin in Canada for beginners.

Once you have converted some fiat to crypto you can send it to your own wallet. Or send it to another exchange to trade for altcoins.

Don’t leave coins on the exchange. It is best practice to custody your coins in a wallet you have the seed phrase for.

Hopefully, this answers your question about the best ways to buy and sell Bitcoin and crypto in Canada. 🙂