Bitbuy: regulated Canadian crypto exchange? My 2026 review

Bitbuy is operated by Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd., regulated by the Ontario Securities Commission and a member of CIRO (OCRI), the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization, and registered with FINTRAC (CANAFE). This is the full-strength Canadian regulatory setup for a crypto platform, not a cross-border arrangement. Security is a headline strength: roughly 90% of assets are held in cold storage, backed by insurance and a 1:1 reserve ratio, and client accounts are eligible for CIPF (FCPE) protection up to $1M CAD per account, an unusually strong position for a crypto exchange. Crypto is not legal tender in Canada, and gains are generally taxable, so you must declare them to the CRA yourself. This is not tax advice.

Bitbuy offers two ways to trade. Express Trade folds the cost into a spread of 0.5% to 1.85% for a simple one-tap buy or sell, while Pro Trade runs an order book at 0.50% maker/taker for active traders who want tighter pricing. Deposits by Interac e-Transfer and bank transfer are free, and Interac withdrawals are free once per day; bank and wire withdrawals cost 1.5%.

Crypto withdrawals pay the usual network fees, though several coins are free to withdraw (XRP, LTC, XLM, BCH, DASH, ATOM and NEAR). For a Canadian funding in CAD, free Interac deposits and withdrawals keep the everyday cost of using the platform low.

Bitbuy lists 60+ crypto-assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, Dogecoin and Injective, covering the mainstream and a good slice of the mid-cap market. Staking is available on nine coins with no lockup, so you can earn rewards while keeping the flexibility to sell.

Between Express Trade for simplicity and Pro Trade for tighter order-book pricing, the platform works for both a first-time buyer and an active trader. It is a spot exchange with a staking layer, focused on doing the mainstream well within a regulated Canadian wrapper.

Bitbuy stands out for pairing genuine Canadian regulation with strong security and CAD-native funding. OSC regulation and CIRO membership, about 90% cold storage, insurance, a 1:1 reserve ratio and CIPF (FCPE) eligibility up to $1M CAD add up to one of the more reassuring setups a Canadian crypto buyer can find.

With free Interac deposits and withdrawals, a simple Express Trade mode and a lower-cost Pro Trade order book across 60+ assets, it covers both beginners and active traders. For a Canadian who wants mainstream crypto inside a properly regulated, CAD-native platform, Bitbuy is a strong first choice, which is why we score it at the top of our Canadian crypto comparison.