Best Canadian Internet Brokers 2025
Written by: Emma Gagne
Top Cryptocurrency Trading Platforms in Canada
4.9 / 5
FREE to buy and sell
100% FREE
Canada’s Best Overall Broker: Free Trading, $0 Account Fees, Best Online Platform, Superb Services, Rated #1 by The Globe and Mail
4.9 / 5
Free to buy and sell
$0 - only ECN fees
Runner Up Best Broker: Best Options Trading, Advanced Data Streams, Customer Service Lacking
4.9 / 5
$9.99 per ETF trade
$9.99 ($7 for Active Traders)
Best Big Bank Brokerage: Excellent Platform. A+ Globe and Mail Rating. Good Convenience. High Fees.
4.9 / 5
Free to buy and sell
$0 - only ECN fees
Canada’s Best Overall Broker: Free Trading, $0 Account Fees, Best Online Platform, Superb Services, Rated #1 by The Globe and Mail
4.9 / 5
FREE to buy and sell
$0 - only ECN fees
Runner Up Best Broker: Best Options Trading, Advanced Data Streams, Customer Service Lacking
4.9 / 5
$9.99 per ETF trade
$9.99 ($7 for Active Traders)
Runner Up Best Broker: Best Options Trading, Advanced Data Streams, Customer Service Lacking
4.9 / 5
Free to buy and sell
$0 - only ECN fees
Best Big Bank Brokerage: Excellent Platform. A+ Globe and Mail Rating. Good Convenience. High Fees.
4.9 / 5
FREE to buy and sell
100% FREE
Runner Up Best Broker: Best Options Trading, Advanced Data Streams, Customer Service Lacking
4.9 / 5
Free to buy and sell
$0 - only ECN fees
Canada’s Best Overall Broker: Free Trading, $0 Account Fees, Best Online Platform, Superb Services, Rated #1 by The Globe and Mail
4.9 / 5
$9.99 per ETF trade
$9.99 ($7 for Active Traders)
Best Big Bank Brokerage: Excellent Platform. A+ Globe and Mail Rating. Good Convenience. High Fees.
4.9 / 5
FREE to buy and sell
$0 - only ECN fees
Runner Up Best Broker: Best Options Trading, Advanced Data Streams, Customer Service Lacking
4.8 / 5
$9.99 per ETF trade
$9.99 ($7 for Active Traders)
Runner Up Best Broker: Best Options Trading, Advanced Data Streams, Customer Service Lacking
4.8 / 5
FREE to buy and sell
$0 - only ECN fees
50 Free Trades via TD Easy Trade
4.8 / 5
Free to buy and sell
100% FREE
Best Big Bank Brokerage: Excellent Platform. A+ Globe and Mail Rating. Good Convenience. High Fees.
4.8 / 5
$9.99 per ETF trade
100% FREE
Canada’s Best Overall Broker: Free Trading, $0 Account Fees, Best Online Platform, Superb Services, Rated #1 by The Globe and Mail
4.8 / 5
FREE to buy and sell
$9.99 ($7 for Active Traders)
Runner Up Best Broker: Best Options Trading, Advanced Data Streams, Customer Service Lacking
4.8 / 5
$9.99 per ETF trade
$0 - only ECN fees
Canada’s Best Overall Broker: Free Trading, $0 Account Fees, Best Online Platform, Superb Services, Rated #1 by The Globe and Mail
4.7 / 5
Free to buy and sell
$0 - only ECN fees
Best Big Bank Brokerage: Excellent Platform. A+ Globe and Mail Rating. Good Convenience. High Fees.
4.7 / 5
FREE to buy and sell
100% FREE
Runner Up Best Broker: Best Options Trading, Advanced Data Streams, Customer Service Lacking
4.7 / 5
$9.99 per ETF trade
$0 - only ECN fees
Canada’s Best Overall Broker: Free Trading, $0 Account Fees, Best Online Platform, Superb Services, Rated #1 by The Globe and Mail
4.7 / 5
$9.99 per ETF trade
$0 - only ECN fees
Canada’s Best Overall Broker: Free Trading, $0 Account Fees, Best Online Platform, Superb Services, Rated #1 by The Globe and Mail
4.6 / 5
Free to buy and sell
100% FREE
Best Big Bank Brokerage: Excellent Platform. A+ Globe and Mail Rating. Good Convenience. High Fees.
The Best Cryptocurrency Trading Platforms in Canada: A Comprehensive Guide
The cryptocurrency trading landscape in Canada is one of the most developed yet highly regulated markets globally, making the choice of a platform critical for ensuring security, compliance, and cost-effectiveness. Unlike the lightly regulated environments in some jurisdictions, crypto trading platforms operating within Canada are subject to stringent regulatory oversight. They must register as Money Service Businesses (MSBs) and comply with strict anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) protocols, primarily enforced by the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC). Furthermore, platforms offering margin, futures, or other financial instruments related to cryptocurrencies must navigate provincial securities regulations, notably from the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) and the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), often requiring registration as an investment dealer.
Choosing the “best” platform hinges on a trader’s specific needs: fees, available assets, platform features, regulatory standing, and overall ease of use. This extensive guide details the top choices for Canadian users, segmented by their target audience.
The Regulatory Imperative: Security and Compliance in Canada
The most critical factor for any Canadian trader is using a platform that is FINTRAC registered and compliant with relevant provincial securities laws. In 2021, the CSA and IIROC (Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada) tightened regulations, requiring platforms to treat certain crypto-asset contracts as securities, thereby subjecting them to investment dealer rules. This has resulted in a much safer, but sometimes more limited, environment. Platforms that actively comply offer a much higher degree of consumer protection and financial recourse.
Top Cryptocurrency Trading Platforms for Canadians
Here is a comparison of leading platforms catering to Canadian users, evaluated based on compliance, fees, features, and suitability for different types of traders.
| Platform | Best For | Regulatory Status | CAD Funding Methods | Fee Structure (Maker/Taker) | Available Assets |
| Kraken | Advanced Traders & Low Fees | FINTRAC Registered | e-Transfer, Wire | $\le 0.16\% / \le 0.26\%$ (Volume Discount) | 250+ |
| Wealthsimple Crypto | Beginners & Passive Investing | IIROC/OSC Regulated | Bank Transfer | $1.5\% – 2.0\%$ (Built into spread) | 60+ |
| Newton | Low-Cost & Fast E-Transfer | FINTRAC Registered | e-Transfer, Wire | Spread-based ($\sim 0.5\% – 0.7\%$) | 70+ |
| Coinbase | High Liquidity & Global Brand | FINTRAC Registered | e-Transfer, Wire | Variable (High for basic trades) | 200+ |
| Crypto.com | Mobile Users & Rewards | FINTRAC Registered | e-Transfer, Debit/Credit | $\le 0.075\% / \le 0.075\%$ (Volume/Staking) | 300+ |
1. The Best for Advanced Traders and Low Fees: Kraken
Kraken is widely considered the premier choice for serious, high-volume, and experienced Canadian traders. It is a global institution renowned for its security and professional-grade trading environment.
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Professional Features: Kraken offers a highly sophisticated platform with advanced order types (limit, stop, OCO), robust charting tools, and support for margin and futures trading (subject to regional eligibility). Its API support is excellent for automated strategies.
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Fees: Kraken’s tiered fee structure is arguably the most competitive for active traders in the Canadian market. Maker fees (for adding liquidity) start as low as $0.16\%$, and taker fees (for removing liquidity) start at $0.26\%$. These fees drop aggressively as monthly trading volume increases, making it the most cost-effective solution for frequent trading.
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Security: Known for its stringent security protocols, holding the vast majority of assets in geographically distributed cold storage. Its FINTRAC registration solidifies its compliance posture in Canada.
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Assets: Offers a broad array of altcoins (250+), providing traders with ample opportunity to diversify beyond the majors.
2. The Best for Beginners and Simplicity: Wealthsimple Crypto
Wealthsimple, the leading digital wealth manager in Canada, offers a crypto platform that perfectly caters to casual, new, and compliant-conscious investors. It prioritizes ease of use and seamless integration into the Canadian financial ecosystem.
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Ease of Use: The platform’s interface is exceptionally simple and intuitive, making it the ideal entry point for individuals buying crypto for the first time.
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Security & Compliance: Wealthsimple operates under the umbrella of its IIROC-regulated parent company. This high level of regulatory compliance is paramount, offering consumers a significant degree of trust and protection.
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Tax Reporting: A major advantage for Canadian users is the seamless integration of tax reporting. All trading activity is easily summarized for tax purposes (e.g., capital gains), simplifying the preparation of tax returns.
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Fees: No explicit commission fees are charged. The cost is built into the bid-ask spread, typically ranging from $1.5\%$ to $2.0\%$ per transaction. While higher than Kraken’s direct commission, the simplicity and lack of hidden fees appeal to beginners.
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Assets: The selection is curated (around 60 major coins), focusing on established, high-cap assets like BTC, ETH, and popular DeFi tokens.
3. The Best for Low-Cost and Fast Funding: Newton
Newton has quickly grown its reputation by focusing on providing a frictionless, low-cost trading experience with an emphasis on fast and free CAD funding methods.
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Zero Commission Model: Newton promotes “zero commission” trading. The cost is integrated into the spread, but Newton generally maintains some of the tightest spreads among Canadian-focused platforms, often between $0.5\%$ and $0.7\%$.
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E-Transfer Integration: Excels in Canadian banking support, offering instant funding and withdrawals via Interac e-Transfer with high limits, a significant convenience factor.
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Security: Registered with FINTRAC, ensuring compliance with Canadian AML/KYC requirements. Newton employs third-party institutional cold storage custody for client assets, adding an extra layer of security.
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Assets: Offers a healthy selection of around 70 assets, carefully balancing variety with security vetting.
4. The Best for Mobile Users and Rewards: Crypto.com
Crypto.com (CDC) is a global platform that has aggressively targeted the Canadian market, best known for its mobile-first ecosystem and attractive staking rewards and crypto-linked Visa cards.
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Mobile Experience: CDC’s app is extremely feature-rich, enabling trading, staking, lending, and managing the linked metal Visa debit card (which offers crypto cashback rewards).
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Fees: Fees are competitive, especially for users who stake the native CRO token. Base maker/taker fees start low at $\le 0.075\%$, offering a strong incentive for volume trading. Deposits in CAD are often free via e-Transfer.
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Assets and Ecosystem: Offers one of the widest ranges of assets (300+) and a massive ecosystem of DeFi tools, NFTs, and earning opportunities.
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Compliance: Registered with FINTRAC, making it a viable and compliant option for Canadian residents.
5. The Best for High Liquidity and Global Trust: Coinbase
Coinbase remains one of the world’s most recognized and trusted exchanges globally, providing Canadian traders with access to massive global liquidity.
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User Experience: The standard Coinbase interface is famously intuitive and easy to navigate, ideal for straightforward buying and selling.
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Liquidity: Its immense global user base ensures extremely high liquidity for major pairs (BTC/CAD, ETH/CAD), which is essential for large institutional or whale trades to minimize slippage.
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Fees: The fee structure on the basic platform can be high for small, simple transactions (flat fee plus a spread). However, sophisticated traders should utilize Coinbase Advanced (the successor to Coinbase Pro), which features a low maker/taker fee structure that rivals Kraken.
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Compliance: Coinbase is FINTRAC registered and maintains strong regulatory relationships globally.
Security and Fund Management for Canadian Traders
Regardless of the platform selected, the security of client assets must be the trader’s highest priority.
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Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Always activate the strongest form of 2FA available, preferably using an authenticator application (e.g., Authy or Google Authenticator) instead of less secure SMS-based 2FA.
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Cold Storage (Hardware Wallets): Any significant holding intended for long-term storage should be withdrawn from the exchange and stored in a personal hardware wallet (e.g., Ledger, Trezor). This is the only way to ensure the trader retains full control of the private keys, eliminating counterparty risk.
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Insurance and Custody: Verify the platform’s custody solution. Compliant Canadian platforms often partner with institutional custodians (like Balance) that may offer insurance on the custodial funds. It is important to remember that this insurance typically only covers breaches or custodian failure, not market losses or user errors.
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Regulatory Compliance Check: Periodically confirm the platform’s registration status with FINTRAC and monitor warnings issued by the OSC or CSA regarding unregistered entities.
Special Considerations for Canadian Traders
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Taxation (Capital Gains): In Canada, crypto trading profits are generally treated as a capital gain (taxed at $50\%$ of the marginal rate) or business income (taxed at $100\%$). Platforms that simplify the generation of tax reporting summaries, like Wealthsimple, provide a significant administrative advantage.
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Funding Methods: Look for platforms that offer free or low-cost CAD deposits via Interac e-Transfer or direct bank transfer (EFT). Avoid platforms that charge high credit card fees for purchases.
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Jurisdiction of Assets: Even when using a FINTRAC-registered exchange, confirm where the client funds are legally held. Ideally, funds should be held by a Canadian or Tier-1 regulated entity.
Final Recommendation: Matching Platform to Trader Profile
The selection of the “best” crypto platform is highly contextual and depends entirely on the user’s expertise, trading frequency, and comfort with complexity:
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For the Beginner/Casual Investor: Wealthsimple Crypto is the simplest, safest, and most seamlessly integrated option for Canadian banking and tax reporting. The peace of mind often justifies the slightly higher spread.
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For the Active/Professional Trader (Volume Focus): Kraken provides the most competitive fee structure, advanced trading tools, and deep liquidity necessary for sophisticated strategies, all under strong regulatory oversight.
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For the Mobile/Ecosystem User: Crypto.com offers unparalleled functionality within a single app, appealing to those who want to earn, spend, and trade crypto effortlessly.
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For Low-Cost and Fast Funding: Newton offers a compelling balance of low spreads and excellent Interac e-Transfer support, prioritizing quick access to funds.
Always prioritize FINTRAC registration and compliance with provincial securities regulators to ensure your funds and trading activities operate within the safe and legal boundaries established by the Canadian financial authorities.