How to Buy Bitcoin in Canada

How can I buy Bitcoin in Canada? Regardless of your degree of experience, navigating the Canadian crypto industry can be daunting. Keeping abreast with the most recent regulatory changes and the growing number of licensed exchanges is essential. This guide will teach you how to buy Bitcoin (BTC) safely in Canada using the most reputable exchanges and adhering to the necessary procedures.

Top Platforms to Buy Bitcoin in Canada

Canada offers several ways to buy Bitcoin, ranging from simple apps to more advanced trading platforms. Each option comes with its own fees, features, and payment methods, so it’s important to choose one that fits your needs. In this guide, we’ll look at the top platforms for purchasing Bitcoin in Canada. We’ll start with the top self-custodial wallet – Best Wallet.

Best Wallet: Overall Best Self-Custodial Wallet to Buy Bitcoin

The best app to buy Bitcoin in Canada is Best Wallet. Best Wallet, which we regard as the best non-custodial crypto wallet for 2026. Best Wallet is an interesting option because it is essentially a one-stop option for all your Bitcoin and cryptocurrency needs. Not only can you store your Bitcoin and many other cryptocurrencies in the wallet, but you can also seamlessly buy new crypto right through the wallet.

Additionally, Best Wallet is non-custodial, which means only the user has access to the private keys and backup passphrases. Users have full control over their crypto assets via a mobile app, browser extension, or desktop software.

Not only does Best Wallet allow you to hold and trade Bitcoin, but it is also compatible with many other cryptocurrencies, which means it could be an all-in-one stop for all of your crypto needs. Best Wallet features very liquid markets for thousands of crypto assets on over 60 blockchains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Sui, Dogecoin, Uniswap, and many others.

When it comes to trading fees, Best Wallet charges none. The only fees you may encounter are blockchain fees. It’s important to note that Best Wallet is a non-custodial wallet, meaning your crypto assets will remain safe and in your hands.

Read more about this multi-blockchain crypto wallet in our Best Wallet Review.

Best Wallet Pros & Cons

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Don’t Want to Store Bitcoin? Try Futures Trading

While buying Bitcoin directly through Canadian exchanges and wallets is the most common route, some investors prefer not to handle private keys or manage long-term storage. If your focus is on short-term trading opportunities rather than holding BTC, futures trading is a great alternative.

CoinFutures is one of the best futures trading platforms for beginners, making it easy to speculate on Bitcoin’s price without owning it. This allows Canadian traders to benefit from market swings while avoiding the complexities of crypto custody.

It is a beginner-friendly crypto futures trading platform that lets you speculate on cryptocurrency price movements without owning the asset. Its gamified interface makes learning futures trading simple and engaging, while leverage of up to 1000x offers the potential for amplified gains, but also carries the risk of significant losses.

The platform allows you to go long (bet on the price of a crypto to rise) or short (bet on the price of a crypto to fall), which opens up profit-making opportunities in bull and bear markets. Furthermore, futures trading strategies such as hedging provide an extra protection for your crypto assets against market volatility.

Read more about this 1000x leverage trading platform on our CoinFutures Review. If you know the step-by-step guide for trading BTC, check out our BTC Futures Trading guide.

CoinFutures Pros & Cons

Visit CoinFutures

Kraken: Global Exchange For Crypto Trading

Kraken was launched in 2011 and caters to Canada, as well as the US, and the EU. The exchange allows Canadians to purchase about 200+ CAD-paired altcoins in addition to Bitcoin.

Kraken has very low fees of 0.00% to 0.16%, depending on the size of the order and whether one places or takes an order. Kraken allows funding with either a credit or debit card, wire transfer or e-transfer, or even in-person at your local Canada Post.

Here’s our in-depth Kraken review for more info.

Coinbase: Listed Crypto Exchange in North America

Coinbase allows you to purchase bitcoins with a credit card and receive them instantly. This US exchange is one of the most user-friendly places to buy Bitcoin, making it great for beginners. There’s very high liquidity, along with high buying limits, but one issue is that your transactions are tracked, which is a privacy concern.

You can read our full Coinbase review to learn more in detail.

CEX.IO

CEX.IO is a London-based exchange on which you can buy Bitcoin via credit card or bank transfer. Canada is one of the many countries this Bitcoin exchange supports. CEX.IO is an easy exchange to use and is known to be reliable, but bear in mind that it has higher fees.

Be sure to read our complete CEX.IO review.

Coinmama: Trade Bitcoin Worldwide

Coinmama operates in around 200 countries worldwide, including Canada. One of the main advantages of this Bitcoin exchange is that you can purchase with a credit or debit card. It’s also an easy platform to use for beginners. However, there’s a 4.5% fee on each purchase, which is on the higher side compared to many Bitcoin exchanges.

Don’t miss our Coinmama review for more.

Local Bitcoin Crypto Exchanges Based in Canada

Next up—what’s the best way to buy Bitcoin in Canada? Overall, there are many Canada-based Bitcoin exchanges. Among the most popular ones are CoinSmart, Coinsquare, and Bitbuy.

CoinSmart

CoinSmart is a Canadian cryptocurrency trading platform based in Toronto, which launched in mid-2018.

You can buy Bitcoin on CoinSmart with CAD directly using a credit or debit card for a 6.75% processing fee. As for other deposit methods, the costs for funding are 0% for wire transfers, while an Interac e-Transfer is 0% on $2,000+ or 1.5% on $100-$1,999.

Once your account is funded, trading for BTC with CAD costs a trading fee of 0.2%, and withdrawing the BTC from the exchange costs an additional 0.0005 BTC fee.

Coinsquare

Coinsquare, founded in 2014, is a Canadian Bitcoin exchange based in Toronto. Apart from Bitcoin, it features a handful of other cryptocurrencies available for trading, including Ethereum, XRP, Solana, Dogecoin, and Litecoin.

Coinsquare allows users to fund their accounts for free (0% fee) using Interac e-Transfer or wire transfer.

Withdrawal options are direct bank deposits, charged at 1.5% with a $20 minimum, wire transfers, charged at 1.5% with a $10,000 minimum, or an Interac e-Transfer for a 0% fee and $20 minimum.

Bitbuy

Bitbuy’s overall mission is to simplify the trade of crypto assets for all Canadians. It is a convenient Canadian cryptocurrency exchange offering over-the-counter (OTC), brokerage, and advanced trading options.

Fees are extremely reasonable compared to the competition, and customer support seems to be doing a very good job. Overall, it is a solid choice if you live in Canada.

You can read our Bitbuy review for more detailed information.

Coinberry

Note: All Coinberry accounts have been transferred to Bitbuy. The platforms are owned/operated by the same Canadian company, WonderFi.

Coinberry, founded in 2017, is a FINTRAC-registered platform for buying and selling Bitcoins in Canada.

As a side note, Coinberry’s partnership with the Town of Innisfil resulted in the first payment of property taxes with Bitcoin in Canadian History.

Shakepay

Shakepay is a crypto trading platform based in Montreal that lets you buy and sell Bitcoins without any fees for deposits or withdrawals. Since it is completely commission-free, Shakepay earns its revenue by taking a small margin on the buying and selling prices of cryptocurrency. Shakepay only supports Interac e-Transfer and wire transfers (no credit or debit cards).

The company also offers neat features through its Shakepay Card, such as the Shakepay Round Up, where users can turn their spare change into Bitcoin by rounding up purchases to the nearest dollar.

Newton

Newton is a Canadian-based “no-fee” cryptocurrency exchange. It allows users to use Interac e-Transfer, wire transfers, or crypto to make deposits and withdrawals. The platform is beginner-friendly, streamlining the buying and selling process by offering market orders only.

Although they do not charge fees in a traditional sense, users should watch out for the spread between buying and selling prices. Withdrawal fees are also free, and Newton will cover up to the first $5 in gas fees when you withdraw with crypto.

The platform has support for users on iOS and Android. Newton is a registered money service business with FINTRAC in Canada.

Crypto Platforms Registered in Canada

In order to ensure adherence to national regulations, a number of crypto exchanges have registered as Restricted Dealers with Canadian securities regulators as of April 2025. Among the registered platforms, you will find many popular names:

• On April 1, 2025, Kraken registered with the Ontario Securities Commission.
• In April 2024, Coinbase Canada Inc. obtained registration.
• As of March 8, 2024, Newton Crypto Ltd.‘s registration was amended.
  January 8, 2025, saw the registration of Shakepay Inc.

Why does it matter? In addition to improving investor protection, using registered platforms complies with Canadian regulations.

How Many Bitcoin ATMs are There in Canada?

Only the United States has more Bitcoin ATMs (BTMs) than Canada. There are currently over 3,600 BTMs available in Canada, according to CoinATMRadar. Most of these ATMs are located in six major cities: Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, Ottawa, and Calgary.

There are over three dozen different operators with varied buy and sell fees. Many of these Bitcoin ATMs allow the purchasing of other cryptocurrencies, such as Ethereum and Litecoin.

Is Bitcoin Legal in Canada?

The use of cryptocurrencies has been steadily increasing in Canada:

• Adoption rate: From 4% in 2019, roughly 13% of Canadians now hold crypto assets as of 2024.
• Market growth: With an anticipated yearly growth rate of 8.37%, Canada’s cryptocurrency market is forecast to generate $1.7 billion in 2024 and might reach $2.4 billion by 2028.

These patterns show that digital assets are becoming more and more integrated into the Canadian financial system.

While digital currencies aren’t officially recognized as money, Bitcoin is legal in Canada. According to the Government of Canada website, tax rules do apply to digital currency transactions, and cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin are taxed as either a capital gain or business income. Canadian residents are, therefore, free to buy, sell, and trade Bitcoin, which is regulated under Canada’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing laws.

How Popular is Bitcoin in Canada? Crypto ETFs

The Google Trends chart below displays the interest in Bitcoin throughout Canada. This chart offers real-time data straight from Google. When you search for ‘bitcoin,’ the chart shows how often users search for it on Google. A score of 100 indicates the highest interest, while a score of 50 indicates it’s half as popular.

The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) have approved a number of crypto ETFs for trading on Canadian exchanges. The approval of crypto ETFs has further increased the reach of crypto assets to investors who were previously skeptical about the Bitcoin Network, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies.

Canada has become a global leader in crypto ETFs, offering multiple spot and futures-based options for Bitcoin and Ethereum that provide investors with regulated, exchange-listed exposure to crypto assets without directly holding the underlying cryptocurrencies.

What are the Main Canadian Bitcoin Communities?

As so many Canadians are involved in Bitcoin, there are plenty of Canadian Bitcoin communities to be found. The main community can be found on Reddit. There are also some large Meetup groups in Canada:

• Toronto Bitcoin Meetups
• The Bitcoin Bay
• Vancouver Blockchain & Crypto Network

Conclusion: How to Purchase Bitcoins in Canada

A rising number of safe, regulated platforms that accept a range of payment methods have made it easier than ever to purchase Bitcoin in Canada.

Prior to buying, spend some time evaluating the costs, security features, and usability of the crypto exchanges and wallets on our list. Remember that storing your digital assets in a trustworthy BTC wallet like Best Wallet is just as crucial as picking the best place to buy Bitcoin in Canada. Best Wallet solves that problem by being a reliable and top all-in-one crypto app.

Being aware and careful can help you navigate the Canadian cryptocurrency market with confidence as it continues to change. All set to begin? Pick a platform and start exploring the Bitcoin world.

See Also:

• Best Crypto Wallets in Canada for 2026
• 6 Ways to Buy Bitcoin with a Debit Card

FAQs

Is it legal to buy Bitcoin in Canada?

Although digital currencies aren’t officially recognized as money, Bitcoin is fully legal in Canada.

Where to buy Bitcoin in Canada?

If you’re looking to buy Bitcoin in Canada, feel free to choose from the top picks in our guide—from local crypto exchanges to international crypto wallets.

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