Updated August 2026
The Best Canadian Crypto Exchanges, Ranked for 2026
BuyBitcoin.ca Editorial Team
Canadian crypto researchers · methodology
The 2026 ranking, at a glance
NDAX takes the top spot for the third year running: lowest trading fees, free Interac deposits, and cold storage with dedicated Canadian insurance. Bitbuy is the safest "conservative" choice — it was one of the first Canadian platforms to earn full CIRO registration. Shakepay is still the best on-ramp for anyone who has never bought Bitcoin before and wants a friction-free path from download to first sat.
#1
NDAX
4.6/5Best overall + lowest fees
NDAX is a premier Canadian cryptocurrency exchange known for its low fees, high security, and deep liquidity for professional traders.
Maker / Taker
0.2% / 0.2%
Assets
30+
Funding
Interac e-Transfer
- Lowest trading fees in Canada
- Deep liquidity
- Excellent security
#2
Bitbuy
4.2/5Best for regulated Canadian trust
Bitbuy is a Canadian cryptocurrency exchange that focuses on ease of use and regulatory compliance, ideal for beginners.
Maker / Taker
0.1% / 0.2%
Assets
25+
Funding
Interac e-Transfer
- Easy to use
- Canadian focus
- Regulated
#3
Shakepay
4.5/5Best for beginners + rewards
Shakepay is a Canadian-born crypto app known for its simple mobile experience, free Interac e-Transfer deposits, and Bitcoin rewards on every purchase (Shakingsats). Popular for first-time buyers.
Maker / Taker
1.5% / 1.5%
Assets
8+
Funding
Interac e-Transfer
- Excellent mobile app
- Free CAD deposits/withdrawals
- Bitcoin rewards program
#4
Kraken
4.3/5Best for advanced traders
Kraken is one of the oldest and most respected cryptocurrency exchanges, offering advanced trading features and top-tier security.
Maker / Taker
0.16% / 0.26%
Assets
150+
Funding
Bank Transfer
- High security
- Advanced trading options
- Wide range of assets
#5
Newton
4.2/5Best simple mobile app
Newton is Canada's retail crypto king, offering an unbeatable CAD experience and app UX for casual investors.
Maker / Taker
Spread / 1.5%
Assets
70+
Funding
Interac FREE
- Simple CAD deposits
- Best mobile UX
- 24/7 Canadian support
#6
Wealthsimple Crypto
4.1/5Best if you already use Wealthsimple
Wealthsimple Crypto is Canada's first fully regulated crypto trading platform (CSA-registered), built into the popular Wealthsimple investing app. Ideal for existing Wealthsimple users who want a single account for stocks, ETFs, and crypto.
Maker / Taker
1.5% / 1.5%
Assets
60+
Funding
Interac e-Transfer
- Fully regulated CSA platform
- Great for existing Wealthsimple users
- Simple, clean UI
#7
Coinbase
4/5Best global brand serving Canada
Coinbase is a popular cryptocurrency exchange known for its user-friendly interface and focus on security.
Maker / Taker
0.00% - 0.40% / 0.05% - 0.60%
Assets
200+
Funding
Credit Card
- Easy to use
- Mobile app
- Insurance
#8
Crypto.com
4.5/5Best crypto debit card
Crypto.com is a comprehensive cryptocurrency platform offering trading, debit cards, and earning opportunities.
Maker / Taker
0.4% / 0.4%
Assets
250+
Funding
Credit Card
- Crypto debit card
- User-friendly interface
- Multiple earning options
See exactly what you'll pay
Fee pages are usually written by marketers. This calculator isn't — it plugs in the current spread, deposit fees and trading fees for each exchange so you can see the true all-in cost for the exact dollar amount you're thinking about depositing.
Cheapest right now: NDAX — total fees $2.00
Lowest trading fees in Canada, free Interac deposits.
| Exchange | Funding | Trading | Total fees | You receive | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDAX | $0.00 | $2.00 | $2.00 | $998.00 | Visit → |
| Kraken Pro | $0.00 | $2.60 | $2.60 | $997.40 | Visit → |
| Newton | $0.00 | $7.00 | $7.00 | $993.00 | Visit → |
| Shakepay | $0.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $985.00 | Visit → |
| Wealthsimple Crypto | $0.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $985.00 | Visit → |
| Bitbuy | $15.00 | $2.00 | $17.00 | $983.00 | Visit → |
Estimates only. Actual costs vary with spot price, order type, volume tier, and promotional periods. Trading fee uses the "market taker" or express-buy rate a first-time Canadian buyer would face for a one-time purchase.
How we ranked them
Our methodology, in the order we weight the factors:
- Regulatory status. We only rank exchanges registered with FINTRAC as an MSB. Platforms holding customer funds must also be registered with the CSA and, where applicable, CIRO.
- All-in cost. We model the real out-the-door cost for a first-time Canadian depositing $1,000 by Interac e-Transfer and buying BTC at market. Spreads are counted, not just headline commissions.
- Funding options. Interac e-Transfer is table stakes; bank wire, direct debit and Visa/Mastercard each earn extra credit.
- Custody & insurance. Cold storage of the majority of assets; segregated Canadian trust accounts for CAD; third-party insurance where available.
- App quality. Real-world use of the iOS and Android apps, with attention paid to sign-up friction, KYC time, and how obvious the "buy" button is.
- Coin selection & features. Bitcoin plus at least the top 10 alts; bonus points for staking, recurring buys, and CAD-denominated USD-stablecoin pairs.
Who this page is for
This page is aimed at Canadian residents opening their first (or next) exchange account. If you're outside Canada, the ranking on Kraken and Coinbase's own pages will be more relevant than ours. If you already have an account and are wondering whether it's worth switching, the fee calculator above is the fastest way to answer that — anything more than a $30/year saving is worth the 20 minutes to move.
What's changed since last year
- Bitget and Binance are out. Both are now restricted for Canadian residents. If you still hold funds there, our Bitget Canada withdrawal guide walks through moving everything to a regulated Canadian platform.
- Kraken removed its 0.5% Interac deposit fee, making Kraken Pro one of the cheapest options for medium-sized trades.
- NDAX added CAD-denominated USDC pairs, closing one of the last real gaps versus offshore platforms.
- Wealthsimple Crypto now supports withdrawals — you can finally move BTC to your own wallet instead of being locked into the platform.
Frequently asked questions
Next steps
- Read the full NDAX review or head straight to our step-by-step buying guide.
- Comparing two platforms? Our head-to-heads: Bitbuy vs Shakepay, NDAX vs Bitbuy, Kraken vs Bitbuy.
- Once you own crypto, plan for taxes. Start with our Canadian crypto tax guide.
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