We’re comparing two popular cryptocurrency exchanges: Bitbuy, a Canada-specific platform offering 60+ popular cryptocurrencies, and KuCoin, a global platform with a vast variety of altcoins. From a Canadian perspective the comparison is clear: KuCoin is permanently banned in Canada by the CSA. Bitbuy is one of Canada’s longest-standing registered platforms and, as of June 2026, is now owned by Robinhood.
Bitbuy Vs KuCoin: Which Is Better For Canadians?
Neither is an option for Canadians today. Bitbuy accounts were moved to Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. in May 2024, and since Robinhood closed its WonderFi purchase on June 1, 2026 the Bitbuy site tells users it is now part of Robinhood and customers are being invited to move to the Robinhood app. KuCoin is on the CSA banned list after the Ontario Securities Commission ordered it permanently out of Ontario's markets in June 2022, and other provinces reciprocated. I recommend Coinbase instead (9.8/10, #1 on my list): open a Coinbase account.
Every row below comes from each company’s own pages and the Canadian registries, checked October 2026. Where a row has no fair winner, it says so.
Bitbuy Vs KuCoin: Master Spec Table
Bitbuy
KuCoin
Winner
Company
Bitbuy Technologies Inc., founded in Toronto in 2016. Accounts moved to Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. in May 2024; parent WonderFi was bought by Robinhood on 2026-06-01. Founders: Not published.
Banned entities: Mek Global Limited (Seychelles) and PhoenixFin Pte. Ltd. (Singapore). No Canadian entity. Founders and funding: Not published.
Depends
Regulation
FINTRAC MSB M20728803 Ceased 2025-02-20. Bitbuy Technologies Inc. sits under CSA Expired Decisions. Live CSA entry is Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd., Decision 2024-10-11. Not on the CSA banned list.
60+ coins offered (BTC, ETH, SOL, ADA, DOGE, DOT, USDC). Order book on Pro. Current list: see the Robinhood app.
700+ coins globally, not for Canadians.
Depends
Price
Express: spread, Pro: maker/taker, exact rates Not published. Robinhood signaled a flat 0.5% on CAD trades after migration.
Maker/taker from about 0.1% / 0.1%, VIP tiers, 20% off with KCS. Not for Canadians.
Depends
CAD In
Free Interac e-Transfer, wire and bank draft were offered.
No longer available to Canadians
Depends
CAD Out
Not published in the sources reviewed.
No longer available to Canadians
Depends
Crypto In And Out
Crypto deposits and withdrawals to private wallets were allowed. Networks and minimums: Not published.
Free crypto deposits, variable withdrawal fees. Transfers from KuCoin to regulated Canadian exchanges may be blocked.
Depends
Custody
Held with BitGo, majority in insured cold storage; quarterly proof-of-reserves under CIRO rules. Crypto was never CIPF-covered.
Hacked for $275M in 2020 (about $200M recovered). Not recognized in Canada; no recourse.
Depends
Verification (KYC)
No longer available to Canadians
No longer available to Canadians
Depends
Account Types
Express and Pro platforms; OTC desk and Private Wealth.
No longer available to Canadians
Depends
Provinces
No longer available to Canadians
Banned in Ontario and reciprocated elsewhere. KuCoin's terms (updated 2026-09-29) name Ontario and British Columbia as Restricted Locations, not all of Canada.
Depends
Extra Products
Staking on nine coins including ETH, SOL, ADA and DOT, at a combined 39% fee on rewards.
No longer available to Canadians
Depends
Tax Tools
No longer available to Canadians
No longer available to Canadians
Depends
App
App Store rating 4.6 (Oleg's old row). Being replaced by the Robinhood app.
What Are The Key Differences Between Bitbuy And KuCoin?
Bitbuy Vs KuCoin: Side By Side
Bitbuy
KuCoin
Description
Bitbuy was founded in Toronto in 2016 and was one of the first registered crypto marketplaces in Canada. It offered 60+ cryptocurrencies through an Express platform for beginners and a Pro platform for experienced traders. Its accounts moved to Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. in May 2024, and since June 2026 it has been part of Robinhood, which acquired parent company WonderFi for C$250 million. Customers are being invited to move to the Robinhood app.
KuCoin is a Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange known for its huge altcoin selection, futures trading and trading bots, serving tens of millions of users worldwide. It is not available to Canadians: it is permanently banned from Ontario's capital markets, appears on the CSA's banned platform list, and its mandatory identity verification blocks Canadian sign-ups.
Coins
60+ including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, Dogecoin, Polkadot and USDC.
700+ coins globally, not accessible from Canada.
Fees
Free Interac e-Transfer deposits. Express Trade prices included a spread, the pricier way to buy. Pro Trade used lower maker/taker fees with TradingView charting. Staking carried a combined fee of roughly 39% of rewards (30% Bitbuy plus 9% custodian). Robinhood has signaled a flat 0.5% CAD trading fee after migration; the schedule is likely to change during the transition.
Low maker/taker trading fees starting around 0.1% and 0.1%, decreasing with VIP level. Free crypto deposits, variable withdrawal fees. KCS holders got a 20% discount on trading fees.
Pros
One of Canada's longest-standing registered platforms, later under CIRO oversight with segregated client assets and quarterly proof-of-reserves
Express and Pro platforms served beginners and advanced traders alike
Free Interac e-Transfer deposits
Staking on nine coins including ETH, SOL, ADA and DOT
Insured cold storage custody with BitGo and a clean security track record
OTC desk and Private Wealth services
Huge range of altcoins
Advanced order types, futures, lending and trading bots
Low fees
Licensed in some regions (MiCA in the EU via Austria, AUSTRAC in Australia)
None of this is available to Canadians
Cons
No longer a separate platform: accounts moved to Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd., then to Robinhood
Staking's roughly 39% combined cut of rewards was the highest in Canada
Support was email-ticket only, with no live chat or phone
Fees ran higher than global competitors unless you stuck to Pro Trade
No margin, derivatives or stop-loss orders
Migration to the Robinhood app brings new terms, fees and interface
Permanently banned from Ontario's capital markets with about CAD 2 million in penalties, a ruling reciprocated across Canada
Mandatory KYC since July 2023 ended anonymous trading
Warning: using a VPN to get around the block violates KuCoin's terms, and KuCoin can freeze accounts and withhold funds from users dodging geo-blocks
Hacked for $275 million in 2020
Guilty plea in the US with about $297 million in penalties
Regulated Canadian exchanges have blocked incoming transfers from KuCoin
Security
Majority of digital assets in insured cold storage with BitGo, mandatory 2FA, quarterly proof-of-reserves under CIRO requirements, withdrawals to private wallets allowed. No hacks in nearly a decade of operation.
$275 million was stolen in the 2020 hack attributed to North Korean hackers, with around $200 million later recovered. 2FA available, mandatory KYC and tightened compliance since 2023.
Methods To Buy
Interac e-Transfer, wire transfer, bank draft and crypto deposits were accepted. Today new Canadians are pointed to the Robinhood app instead.
Canadians cannot buy crypto on KuCoin. Verification requires ID from a supported country, and Canada is not one. Legacy users should withdraw, but transfers arriving directly at regulated Canadian exchanges from KuCoin may be blocked, so route through your own wallet first.
App
Bitbuy's app held a 4.6-star rating on the App Store. It is being replaced by the Robinhood app.
The app works in supported countries but is inaccessible to Canadians.
Account Limits
Standard verified accounts handled typical retail volumes, with OTC and Private Wealth desks for large trades. Legacy limit figures changed repeatedly through the platform mergers.
Not applicable for Canadians. Elsewhere limits depend on KYC tier; unverified legacy accounts can only sell or withdraw.
How Do You Fund And Cash Out Bitbuy And KuCoin In Canada?
Bitbuy: CAD Deposits (When It Operated)
Method
Fee
Minimum
Maximum
Speed
Interac e-Transfer
Free
Not published
Not published
Not published
Funding for the live platform is now on Robinhood. Bitbuy-specific limits are Not published. No funding for Canadians. Legacy users can only withdraw.
What Do Bitbuy And KuCoin Offer Beyond Buying And Selling?
Bitbuy Only
Staking:Staking on nine coins including ETH, SOL, ADA and DOT, with a combined 39% cut of rewards (30% Bitbuy plus 9% custodian).
OTC desk and Private Wealth: Offered for large trades.
KuCoin Only
Futures, lending and trading bots (historic): KuCoin offered futures, lending and bots globally. Not available to Canadians.
What Happens To Your Money If Bitbuy Or KuCoin Fails?
Bitbuy: Existing Bitbuy users should watch for Robinhood migration emails and read the new terms and fees before accepting. Accounts are held by Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd., a CIRO-regulated dealer, and the registry says the CSA entry for Bitbuy Technologies Inc. is expired. If you do not want to move, withdraw your crypto to a wallet you control. CIPF covers cash but never crypto.
KuCoin: KuCoin is banned by Canadian regulators, so there is no registered Canadian entity, no CIPF cover and no complaint route that gets your money back. If you hold funds, withdraw to a wallet you control before sending anywhere else, because transfers straight to Canadian exchanges may be blocked. Warning: using a VPN violates its terms and can freeze your account. It was also hacked for $275 million in 2020.
How Are Bitbuy And KuCoin Treated For Tax In Canada?
Bitbuy: Selling or swapping crypto on Bitbuy was a disposition for CRA purposes. Export your full transaction history before your account is migrated or closed. Export formats: Not published.
KuCoin: Trades on KuCoin were dispositions for CRA purposes. Export your history now. Export formats: Not published.
Selling, swapping or spending crypto is a disposition for the CRA on any platform. This is not tax advice: see my guide to crypto taxes in Canada.
Which Should You Choose, Bitbuy Or KuCoin?
Choose Bitbuy If
You want a registered platform that serves Canadians today: Coinbase is our number one replacement, with free Interac e-Transfer funding and a Canadian restricted dealer registration.
You hold a Bitbuy account and want to compare it with what Robinhood is offering before you accept the migration.
Choose KuCoin If
You want a registered platform that serves Canadians today: Coinbase is our number one replacement, with free Interac e-Transfer funding and a Canadian restricted dealer registration.
What Happened To Bitbuy?
Bitbuy is no longer a separate platform. Its accounts moved to Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. in May 2024, and since Robinhood closed its WonderFi purchase on June 1, 2026, the Bitbuy site tells users it is now part of Robinhood and invites customers to move to the Robinhood app.
Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. is the entity that operates the platform, and it appears on the CSA list with a decision dated October 11, 2024. Bitbuy Technologies Inc. sits under expired decisions on the CSA site, and its FINTRAC MSB registration shows as ceased on February 20, 2025. Bitbuy's help centre says the 2024 move was required because its CSA relief was time-limited and called for a move under CIRO oversight.
If you still hold coins there, watch for the migration invitation, open it only from the official Bitbuy or Robinhood channels, and read the new terms before you accept. I do not send new readers to Bitbuy, because the business is being folded into Robinhood. On the Robinhood side, a flat 0.5% on CAD trades was advertised for the first few months after launch, and the zero-fee promotion for Canada ended on September 30, 2026. Its fee schedule sets the fee at 0.5% through October 31, 2026 and 0.95% from November 1, 2026.
Bitbuy: What The Records Show
Item
Record
Status
Bitbuy accounts were moved to Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. in May 2024, and since Robinhood closed its WonderFi purchase on June 1, 2026 the Bitbuy site tells users it is now part of Robinhood and customers are being invited to move to the Robinhood app.
Key dates
2024-05-28 (accounts moved to Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd.); 2026-06-01 (Robinhood closes WonderFi, parent)
CSA record
Bitbuy Technologies Inc. is under 'Crypto Platforms Expired Decisions' on the CSA site (Decision, Expired; no date shown). The live CSA list entry is Coinsquare Capital Markets Limited, Decision (October 11, 2024)
FINTRAC record
BITBUY TECHNOLOGIES INC. M20728803 status Ceased, cessation 2025-02-20 (initial approval 2020-02-07)
What Happened To KuCoin?
KuCoin is on the CSA banned list. The Ontario Securities Commission ordered it permanently out of Ontario's markets on June 21, 2022, with a CAD 2,000,000 administrative penalty and CAD 96,550.35 in costs, and other provinces reciprocated.
The banned entities are Mek Global Limited (Seychelles) and PhoenixFin Pte. Ltd. (Singapore). No KuCoin or Mek Global entry shows up in the FINTRAC registry. KuCoin's Terms of Use, updated September 29, 2026, name Ontario and British Columbia among its Restricted Locations, but they do not list all of Canada, so the ban rather than the terms is what should settle it.
KuCoin: What The Records Show
Item
Record
Status
KuCoin is on the CSA banned list after the Ontario Securities Commission ordered it permanently out of Ontario's markets in June 2022, and other provinces reciprocated.
Neither side of this pair is a place to open a new account. Bitbuy is being folded into Robinhood, and KuCoin is not an option for Canadians. The registry points Bitbuy users to Coinbase and KuCoin users to Kraken, and both are CSA-registered.
Where Bitbuy And KuCoin Users Can Go Instead
Platform
Canadian Status
Published Fee
CAD Funding
Coins
My Ranking
Coinbase
CSA Restricted Dealer in all provinces and territories; FINTRAC MSB; not a CIRO member
Coinbase fee of up to 1.875% on simple buys (varies by payment method) plus spread; separate 1% fee on simple limit orders
Interac e-Transfer and EFT, free
200+
#1 of 10, 9.8/10
Kraken
CSA Restricted Dealer (Payward Canada Inc.); FINTRAC MSB; not a CIRO member
Kraken Pro 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker at the base tier; Instant Buy 1% plus spread
About 490 (derived from the public pair list minus assets Kraken bars in Canada)
#3 of 10, 9.2/10
Coinbase. Coinbase is the closest like-for-like for a Bitbuy user: a beginner app, free Interac e-Transfer and EFT funding, and a Restricted Dealer registration in every province and territory. It sits first in my ranking at 9.8 out of 10. Simple buys carry a Coinbase fee of up to 1.875% on top of the spread, and fiat balances are not covered by CIPF. Derivatives launched for eligible Canadian investors only, so there is no retail leverage.
Kraken. Kraken is third in my ranking at 9.2. It is a CSA Restricted Dealer, deposits by Interac e-Transfer are free, and Kraken Pro starts at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker. Instant Buy costs 1% plus a spread, an Interac e-Transfer withdrawal costs CAD 10, and Canadians cannot trade margin or derivatives. Most clients face a CAD 30,000 rolling 12-month net purchase limit on assets other than BTC, ETH, LTC and BCH.
What Changed For Bitbuy And KuCoin In October 2026?
: Ontario Securities Commission decision that put KuCoin on the CSA banned list.
: Bitbuy accounts moved to Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd..
: CSA Restricted Dealer decision for Payward Canada Inc. (Kraken), with free Interac e-Transfer deposits announced.
: Robinhood closed its WonderFi purchase, and the Bitbuy site now says it is part of Robinhood.
: Robinhood crypto trading launched in Canada with 50+ coins.
: Robinhood's zero-fee promotion for Canada ended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bitbuy Still Open In 2026?
Bitbuy accounts were moved to Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. in May 2024, and since Robinhood closed its WonderFi purchase on June 1, 2026 the Bitbuy site tells users it is now part of Robinhood and customers are being invited to move to the Robinhood app.
Should I Open A New Bitbuy Account?
I would not. Bitbuy accounts sit with Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd., and the Bitbuy site now tells users it is part of Robinhood and invites customers to move to the Robinhood app. A registered platform that is still taking new customers is the safer starting point.
What Happened To KuCoin?
KuCoin is on the CSA banned list after the Ontario Securities Commission ordered it permanently out of Ontario's markets in June 2022, and other provinces reciprocated.
What Should I Use Instead Of KuCoin?
Kraken is the registry pick: Registered Canadian dealer with wide coin choice, versus a platform Canadian regulators have banned.
Bitbuy: Yes on Pro, historically. KuCoin: Yes globally, not for Canadians.
Which Coins Can You Buy On Bitbuy And KuCoin?
Bitbuy: 60+ coins offered KuCoin: 700+ globally, none for Canadians
Is The Spread The Fee On Bitbuy And KuCoin?
Bitbuy: Express prices included a spread, which was the cost. KuCoin: No longer applicable.
Does CIPF Cover My Crypto On Bitbuy Or KuCoin?
Bitbuy: CIPF never covers crypto, and this platform no longer serves Canadians. KuCoin: CIPF never covers crypto, and this platform no longer serves Canadians.
Are Bitbuy And KuCoin Available In Every Province?
Bitbuy: Bitbuy's CSA entry expired; accounts now sit with Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. KuCoin: Banned in Ontario and reciprocated across Canada.
Do Interac Deposits Work On Weekends On Bitbuy And KuCoin?
Bitbuy: No longer applicable. KuCoin: No longer applicable.
What Is The Minimum Buy On Bitbuy And KuCoin?
Bitbuy: Not published KuCoin: No longer applicable.
Can A Business Use Bitbuy Or KuCoin?
Bitbuy: Private Wealth and OTC desks existed. KuCoin: No longer applicable.
Oleg is a Canadian citizen & crypto expert who has been trading since 2016. He started out with Coinbase, Kraken and Peer-to-Peer exchanges. After some time, centralized exchanges started charging crazy fees to their users.
He decided to review different crypto exchanges that operate in Canada and start a Youtube channel in order to educate Canadians on what kinds of things are going inside each one while giving them unbiased advice. On top of that, Oleg also has experience with NFT, airdrops, and crypto staking and he is constantly checking on new crypto assets.
His writing has been featured in popular Canadian media sources such as Toronto Sun and Ottawa Citizen.
