10 Best Canadian Crypto Exchanges in 2025

More than the ongoing rivalry with the US, Canada is also known for their strict financial policies. If you are reading this, chances are that you are looking for the best crypto exchange in Canada. To help make your search faster and easier, we curated the ultimate Canada crypto exchanges top list.

In a few minutes, you will learn more about our top picks, you will know why we chose them, and what makes these Canadian crypto exchanges stand out from the competition. We will also highlight the most important qualities and features you need to focus on when researching, to help you pick out the ideal platform for your particular trading style and experience level.

Key Takeaways

• Some of the best Canadian crypto exchanges in 2025 are Uphold, eToro.US, Kraken, CEX.io, Gemini and Coinbase.
• Choosing the right crypto exchange is an important decision that can affect almost every aspect of your trading experience.
• The best way to narrow your options to the most reliable and trustworthy platforms is to only look at licensed crypto exchanges.
• Considering that crypto exchanges don’t offer insurance policies, it is critical that you trade on a safe platform with advanced security measures.
• Ideally, you want to trade on a crypto exchange that supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies as well as your local fiat currency.
• To maximize your returns, it is important that you trade on a highly liquid exchange that charges reasonable fees.
• The best crypto exchanges are easy to use yet offer various features and tools without feeling overly complicated.

Best Crypto Exchanges Canada 2025 Are…

Comparison Between the Best Crypto Exchanges in Canada

How to Choose a Good Crypto Trading Platform in Canada?

With so many crypto exchanges available online, finding the right one can be very tricky. However, just because there are countless options to choose from, it doesn’t mean that every crypto trading platform is worth your trust.

Unfortunately, there are many shady platforms that engage in deceptive practices and operate with little to no oversight. They may provide you with inadequate security, charge you outrageous fees, or even outright steal your funds and disappear without a trace. This is why finding a trustworthy and reliable exchange is so important.

To find the best Canadian crypto exchange that will provide you with a safe trading environment and support your trading strategy, you need to evaluate platforms on several key criteria:

• License & Regulation Compliance
• CAD Payments
• High Standard Security
• Minimal Trading Fees
• High Liquidity
• Modern Trading Software
• 24/7 Customer Support
• Large Choice of Crypto Assets
• Any Kind of Insurance
• Reputation and History

In the paragraphs below, we will go into more detail as to how each of these qualities can impact your trading experience and why they are the key to finding the right exchange.

License & Regulation Compliance

The first thing you want to focus on when looking for the best crypto trading platform in Canada is licensing and regulatory compliance. Checking the official registrations can help you quickly filter out the unlicensed platforms that operate without regulation from the authorities.

A crypto license is like a stamp of approval from the Canadian financial regulators, granted only to the exchanges that meet their terms, requirements, and demonstrate a high standard of transparency and accountability. These are the exchanges you want to trust with your funds.

While some unregulated exchanges offer attractive features, we recommend you avoid them as they do not answer to the Canadian authorities. This means that if something goes wrong while you trade on them, there is little you can do to hold them accountable.

CAD Payments

Support for your local fiat currency, in this case the Canadian dollar, is another important feature you want to look for when choosing an exchange. Accepting direct deposits in your currency indicates that the platform is dedicated to serving your local market and catering to your needs.

This type of support is usually accompanied by partnerships with local banks and faster, more convenient transactions. Additionally, these exchanges are more likely to support the e-wallets or online payment processors Canadian traders like to use for their daily purchases.

However, even more importantly, being able to deposit directly in CAD means that you won’t have to go through currency conversion every time you want to add money to your account. This makes the whole process more manageable and saves you on currency conversion fees.

High Standard Security

It goes without saying that the best platform to buy crypto in Canada has to be highly secure and effectively prevent cyber attacks and other types of malicious activity. To do so, the platform must provide you with a variety of security features that can help you protect your account from unauthorized access, including:

• End-to-end encryption
• Two-factor authentication
• Biometric verification
• Security key integration
• Options for cold storage
• Anti-phishing features
• Withdrawal whitelisting

In addition, the platform should regularly conduct security audits, identify and address vulnerabilities, and continuously improve its security infrastructure to stay ahead of evolving threats. Only the exchanges that take security seriously are worthy of your trust.

Minimal Trading Fees

Finding a cost-effective crypto exchange is not so much about chasing down the lowest numbers, but rather, matching the fee structure with the way you like to trade. This is because different crypto trading platforms use different pricing models and fee schedules that traders with different strategies may find more or less attractive.

Some of the more commonly used fee structures among crypto exchanges include:

• Flat fee structure, where every trade costs the same.
• Taker/Maker fee structure that charges lower or higher fees depending on whether the trade adds or removes from the exchange’s liquidity.
• Tiered fee structure that offers discounted rates to active traders.

Keep in mind that in addition to finding the structure that best aligns with your trading style, you also need to consider the withdrawal fees, as well as any other fees that the platform may potentially subject you to, to find the most cost-effective option.

High Liquidity

Liquidity is another major factor you must take into account when looking for the best digital currency exchange in Canada. In the simplest possible terms, liquidity is the difficulty, or ease, with which an exchange can fill your orders at the market price.

The concept of liquidity exists because centralized crypto exchanges rely on an orderbook matchmaking system to facilitate trades. For every buy order placed, the exchange must find a corresponding sell order that matches the price and quantity, and execute the trade.

Exchanges with large and active user bases that generate high trading volume find it easy to match orders quickly and efficiently, and are referred to as highly liquid exchanges. The platforms that lack sufficient activity and may struggle with filling orders are referred to as exchanges with low liquidity.

Therefore, the exchange you want to trade on should be a highly liquid platform capable of executing your trades smoothly, without delays or the need for price adjustments.

Modern Trading Software

After accounting for the essential traits, like security, reliability, and profitability, you can focus your research efforts on user experience and features. All of the top crypto exchanges in Canada stand out from the average ones thanks to their modern trading software, which is easy to use and yet offers enhanced functionality.

On an expertly designed crypto platform, you can:

• Navigate and trade easily and comfortably, due to a user-friendly interface
• Access real-time charts, indicators, and market data to make better decisions
• Use a variety of order types, like stop-loss and limit orders, to mitigate your risk
• Customize your dashboard to present all the information you need
• Switch between desktop and mobile without compromising your experience

In other words, the exchange should not merely allow you to place trades, but support your trading strategy and give you all the tools to trade confidently and comfortably.

24/7 Customer Support

While many users underestimate its importance, customer support is another key factor you want to consider when choosing a crypto exchange. Technical issues, bugs, or hangups are unfortunately pretty common among all digital platforms, so having someone to resolve your problem quickly and effectively should be a priority.

Dealing with a delayed withdrawal, an account lockout, or a failed transaction can be a very frustrating experience, and to make matters worse, it can even lead to missed trading opportunities. Save yourself the trouble and be sure to join a platform that supports its users with round-the-clock assistance available through multiple channels.

Large Choice of Crypto Assets

Another key trait that defines the best Canadian crypto exchanges is support for a wide range of coins from all types and market segments. While you can buy ETH and BTC on just about any crypto platform, top-shelf exchanges list hundreds of cryptocurrencies and allow traders to build a well-rounded portfolio with major, emerging, and niche coins, including:

• Legacy altcoins like BCH, LTC, and TRX
• Popular altcoins like SOL, ADA, and DOT
• Stablecoins like USDT and USDC
• Coins with great utility like BNB, XRP, and LINK
• Essential coins for DeFi like UNI, AAVE, and ATOM
• Popular meme coins like DOGE, SHIB, and PEPE

Additionally, you want to trade on a platform that keeps up with the trends and consistently extends its selection by including all the emerging tokens that show strong market demand and real growth potential.

Any Kind of Insurance

Insurance is a bit of a delicate issue for crypto platforms, as not even the best Canadian crypto exchange offers full insurance coverage to its users. This is largely due to the regulatory classifications. Namely, crypto exchanges are not categorized as traditional financial institutions, so they are not protected by the same insurance systems as banks.

Only the absolute best platforms on the market provide limited coverage to their users in very specific scenarios, and they do so voluntarily, not because they are legally required to.

Their policies cover the losses that are the result of a security breach or internal failure that the exchange itself is responsible for, and don’t cover individual losses caused by credentials mismanagement, phishing attacks, or other forms of user negligence.

For this reason, we recommend enabling all the security measures at your disposal to protect your funds and moving your coins to cold storage for safekeeping.

Reputation and History

In addition to evaluating all the performance-based and security-related factors, it is a good idea to also do your homework on the exchanges’ background and reputation before you make your decision. Try to dig a bit deeper and find information on:

• Who is behind the exchanges, and are their identities public?
• Have they been involved in lawsuits, regulatory actions, or other controversies?
• Has the exchange been breached before? And if it has, how did it deal with the aftermath?

The answers to these questions can be quite illuminating and give you a better idea of how much trust you can realistically place in a platform.

Moreover, we also suggest seeking out community feedback and seeing what other traders have to say about the exchange you plan on joining. There are plenty of crypto review platforms, social media groups, and crypto forums on which exchanges are discussed.

Real user experiences can also lead you to important insights that expert reviews or marketing materials may not highlight, so consider checking them out.

Why an App Makes a Canadian Crypto Exchange Better

Mobile experience is another consideration you should take into account when deciding which crypto exchange you want to join. Luckily, the best crypto exchanges typically offer dedicated mobile apps, designed with the same level of care and functionality as their desktop platforms, as a part of their service offerings.

What’s more, the best app for crypto trading in Canada will not only allow you to trade from your smartphone, but also give you access to several important features that are unavailable, or not as practical on PC, including:

• Biometric verification using the device’s face scanning or fingerprint ID features.
• Signing transactions by scanning QR codes using the device’s camera.
• Push notifications for important events like price movements and order execution.
• The ability to monitor market trends and portfolio performance remotely in real time.

In other words, mobile crypto apps can help you improve your security and allow you to react to market shifts more quickly and effectively. This is why it is a good idea to make them a major part of your trading strategy.

How To Register on a Canadian Crypto Exchange

 

Having discussed the qualities that make the best crypto exchange in Canada at length, it is time we show you how to join the platform once you make your decision. If you need some help with setting up your account, the step-by-step guide below can walk you through the process:

Step 1 - Sign Up With the Exchange

1. Go to the exchange’s official website, or download and install its official app.
2. Click or tap on the “Register” or “Sign Up” button.
3. Insert the necessary information and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the initial signup process.

Step 2 - Activate Your Account

1. On most exchanges, you will need to activate your account before you can log in.
2. Check your email inbox for an activation email sent from the exchange.
3. Click or tap on the confirmation link to activate your account and log in.

Step 3 - Verify Your Identity (KYC)

1. Before you can start making any transactions, you will need to pass KYC verification.
2. Initiate the KYC process from the exchange.
3. Provide the system with the necessary documentation to confirm your identity.
4. Await your approval.

Step 4 - Activate the Security Features

1. It is also a good idea to activate the advanced security measures before you start making trades.
2. Go to the settings and enable two-factor authentication.
3. From the mobile app of the exchange, enable biometric verification.

Step 5 - Add Money to Your Account

1. Deposit either cryptocurrencies or fiat currencies into your account to start trading. If you don’t know how to:
2. Here’s a guide on how to send crypto from wallet to wallet
3. Here’s a guide on how to buy crypto with a credit card

After completing the above steps, your account will be secured, funded, and ready for trading cryptocurrencies.

Crypto Regulations in Canada - Is it by Province?

Now that you know what the best way to buy crypto in Canada is, we thought it would be a good idea to discuss another important topic, and that’s crypto regulation.

In Canada, several regulatory bodies oversee different aspects of the crypto exchanges’ operations and crypto trading in general, at the federal level, including:

• The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA)
• The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC)
• The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC)
• The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

However, in addition to the federal authorities, crypto exchanges in Canada must also comply with the rules and guidelines set by the provincial regulators. Each province has its own unique approach to crypto regulation, and in the sections below, we will break down these provincial frameworks.

Ontario

The province of Ontario has one of the most developed frameworks for crypto regulation in Canada, which provides clear guidelines on how exchanges are expected to operate and remain compliant.

In Ontario, crypto exchanges are primarily regulated by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), which demands platform registration and strict adherence to provincial securities laws.

It’s also worth noting that the OSC is one of the most aggressive enforcement bodies in the country that regularly issues fines, warnings, and takes action against unregistered platforms.

Quebec

The primary regulatory body in Quebec is the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), which enforces the rules and guidelines that crypto exchanges must follow to operate legally within the province.

It requires crypto exchange operators to register as investment dealers and comply with Quebec’s securities laws, disclosure standards, and client protection obligations.

Just like ON, the province of QC also places strong emphasis on consumer protection, and the AMF actively issues public warnings and educational resources to help residents avoid scams and unregistered platforms.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia’s crypto regulation framework is largely aligned with the CSA’s national standards, but the province still maintains its own oversight through local securities laws.

Crypto exchanges that want to operate legally in the province must register with its securities regulator, the NSSC, or obtain exemptive relief to offer services to Nova Scotia residents.

While NS is a province that is generally open to crypto trading, the platforms that offer these services are still expected to follow the rules, register properly, and meet investor protection standards.

New Brunswick

Like Nova Scotia, the crypto regulation framework in New Brunswick is also closely aligned with the federal guidelines and does not introduce any province-specific crypto legislation.

The main crypto regulatory authority in the province is the Financial and Consumer Services Commission (FCNB), which is responsible for enforcing securities laws and protecting investors from fraud or misconduct.

Crypto exchange operators who want to establish and maintain a legit operation in NB must register with the FCNB or obtain exemptive relief and meet the standard CSA-aligned regulatory requirements.

Manitoba

Manitoba’s approach to crypto regulation is consistent with the broader national standards set by the CSA and does not introduce any specific local crypto-related laws or enforcement programs.

The province’s regulatory authority is the Manitoba Securities Commission (MSC), which is responsible for the oversight of the platforms that offer crypto assets.

Exchanges that want to operate legally in Manitoba must register with the MSC or obtain exemptive relief and follow standard requirements related to disclosure, compliance, and investor protection.

British Columbia

British Columbia is one of the provinces that has developed a more defined crypto regulation framework in addition to the federal guidelines enforced by the CSA and FINTRAC.

The regulatory authority tasked with regulating crypto exchanges in BC is the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC), and the operators who want to offer their services to BC traders must meet its registration and compliance requirements.

It is worth pointing out that BC’s recent law changes temporarily banned new electricity connections for large-scale crypto mining operations until new policies are developed.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island currently doesn’t have a dedicated crypto regulation framework beyond what is already established at the federal level by the CSA and FINTRAC.

The regulator that oversees crypto exchanges in the province is the Office of the Superintendent of Securities. It is responsible for enforcing the Securities Act and ensuring that exchanges comply with the federal guidelines.

Crypto exchange operators who want to offer their services in Prince Edward Island legally must register as restricted dealers or obtain the necessary exemptive relief.

Saskatchewan

Like most smaller provinces, Saskatchewan hasn’t developed a province-specific crypto regulation framework, and its rules are largely an extension of the federal guidelines.

SK’s regulatory authority is the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority (FCAA), which ensures that crypto exchanges in its jurisdiction adhere to the securities laws and offers public guidance on crypto-related risks.

Crypto exchange operators who want to offer services to SK traders need to register as investment dealers and comply with the CSA and FINTRAC regulations.

Alberta

Alberta is one of the more crypto-friendly provinces in Canada that has demonstrated a willingness to support innovation in the financial and digital asset space.

Its crypto regulation framework is closely aligned with the national standards, and the regulatory authority tasked with overseeing crypto regulation in AB is the Alberta Securities Commission (ASC).

While the province is open to emerging technologies and new business models, in order to offer their services to AB traders, crypto exchanges must meet the registration and consumer protection requirements set by the federal authorities.

Newfoundland and Labrador

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador also has no noteworthy local crypto regulations to speak of and bases its crypto regulatory framework entirely on the guidelines set by the federal authorities.

The regulatory body that oversees crypto exchanges in the province is the Digital Government and Service NL, Office of the Superintendent of Securities.

Crypto exchanges that want to operate in Newfoundland and Labrador and offer their services to traders that reside there must register as dealers and meet the standard compliance, disclosure, and consumer protection requirements.

Northwest Territories

Given that they are not a province with a dedicated securities commission, crypto regulation does not differ from the framework already established at the federal level in the Northwest Territories.

The regulatory body responsible for enforcing the CSA and FINTRAC guidelines and rules for crypto exchange operators in this territory is the Office of the Superintendent of Securities, which operates under the Department of Justice of the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Yukon

Similar to the NT, Yukon is also not a province and functions without the full legislative and regulatory independence of one. This means that it has no dedicated securities commission, and the only regulatory framework that applies to crypto exchanges operating in YT is the one established by the federal authorities, namely the CSA and FINTRAC.

The task of overseeing the implementation and adherence to the federal crypto regulations in the territory falls to the Yukon Department of Community Services, Office of the Superintendent of Securities.

Nunavut

Like NT and YT, Nunavut is also not a province and does not have the institutional autonomy to establish its own financial regulatory bodies. As such, crypto regulation in the territory is fully governed by the federal framework created by the CSA and FINTRAC.

The territorial regulator in NU is the Nunavut Securities Office, which imposes the same registration and compliance requirements on crypto exchange operators who want to offer services in its jurisdiction, just like in the rest of the country.

Crypto Taxes in Canada - What You Need to Know

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) classifies cryptocurrencies as commodities for taxation purposes. This means that crypto owners who sell, trade, or use crypto in transactions may be subject to both capital gains tax and income tax, based on how the activity is categorized.

What’s more, depending on the frequency, scale, and intent of their operation, their income tax obligations may be treated as capital gains or business income.

To help you understand how and when each of these taxes is applied, we created this table that breaks down some of the most common taxable events and the tax obligations they trigger:

It is also important to point out that, in addition to federal taxes, Canadian crypto traders are also subject to provincial taxes that we did not include in the table above.

To get the latest and most accurate information on your crypto tax obligations, we strongly encourage you to visit the CRA website and the website of your provincial or territorial tax authority.

How to File Taxes on Crypto in Canada

Now that we know a little bit more about crypto taxation in Canada, let’s see how you can accurately report and file your crypto transactions. Below, you can find an actionable step-by-step guide that you may find useful when preparing your annual return.

Step 1 - Collect your full crypto transaction history

• Log in to all crypto trading platforms you used this tax year.
• Find your transaction history, export it, and download it.

Step 2 - Organize your transactions

• Separate the taxable transactions from the non-taxable ones.
• Then, classify the taxable transactions into:
• Transactions subject to capital gains tax.
• Transactions subject to income tax.

Step 3 - Calculate gains, losses, and income

• Whether by using a crypto tax tool or manually:
• Calculate capital gains/losses using the adjusted cost base method.
• Determine your income based on the fair market value at the time of receipt.

Step 4 - Calculate the taxes

• Determine your marginal income rate based on your total annual taxable income and:
• Apply it to 50% of your capital gains to see how much you owe in CGT.
• Apply it to your entire crypto income to see how much you owe in income tax.

Step 5 - Generate a report

• Whether by using a crypto tax tool or a spreadsheet, generate a final summary of gains, losses, and income.
• Double-check the report and make sure it clearly shows transaction dates, types, values in CAD, and cost bases

Step 6 - File your crypto taxes

• Go to the CRA’s official website
• File your T1 General Income Tax Return, including:
• Schedule 3 for capital gains and losses
• Line 13000 for other income or business income, if applicable

If you think you need some additional help with reporting or filing taxes, don’t hesitate to consult a professional tax advisor.

Final Tips

In summary, there is no single best platform to buy crypto in Canada as all traders have different needs, goals, and preferences. However, a handful of platforms clearly stand out from the competition and perform consistently well in the most important areas, including security, ease of use, transparency, and reliability.

To choose the best option for your specific needs, we encourage you to test out the platforms in practice before you make your final decision. Creating an account with a crypto exchange does not cost anything, but can give you first-hand insight into the user experience, trading interface, and their available features.

Frequently Asked Questions