In this comparison, we look at two renowned cryptocurrency exchanges in Canada, Bitbuy and VirgoCX. Both platforms offer a variety of cryptocurrencies, solid security, and a user-friendly interface, but they differ meaningfully in fee structures, custody models, and compliance status, all of which have changed significantly since 2024.
Bitbuy Vs VirgoCX: 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. The OSC lists VirgoCX's restricted dealer registration as suspended effective November 24, 2025, and the CSA list shows it under terms requiring a wind-down of its registrable business. It remains a FINTRAC-registered money services business. 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 VirgoCX: Master Spec Table
Bitbuy
VirgoCX
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.
VirgoCX Inc. and VirgoCX Direct Inc. (FINTRAC names), Toronto. Founding year, founders, funding and staff: 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.
CSA restricted dealer suspended effective 2025-11-24 (OSC list); CSA list shows wind-down terms. FINTRAC MSB M19955733 expiry 2027-10-21. No CIRO, no CIPF cover of crypto.
Tie
Assets
60+ coins offered (BTC, ETH, SOL, ADA, DOGE, DOT, USDC). Order book on Pro. Current list: see the Robinhood app.
Not published.
Depends
Price
Express: spread, Pro: maker/taker, exact rates Not published. Robinhood signaled a flat 0.5% on CAD trades after migration.
Not verified; the official fee page was blocked.
Depends
CAD In
Free Interac e-Transfer, wire and bank draft were offered.
Interac e-Transfer free (2021 article, not re-confirmed).
Depends
CAD Out
Not published in the sources reviewed.
Not published.
Depends
Crypto In And Out
Crypto deposits and withdrawals to private wallets were allowed. Networks and minimums: Not published.
Non-custodial: crypto goes to your own wallet. Details Not published.
Depends
Custody
Held with BitGo, majority in insured cold storage; quarterly proof-of-reserves under CIRO rules. Crypto was never CIPF-covered.
Custodial accounts wound down from 2025-04-04; remaining assets were sold after the deadline.
Depends
Verification (KYC)
No longer available to Canadians
Not published.
Depends
Account Types
Express and Pro platforms; OTC desk and Private Wealth.
Not published.
Depends
Provinces
No longer available to Canadians
Not published.
Depends
Extra Products
Staking on nine coins including ETH, SOL, ADA and DOT, at a combined 39% fee on rewards.
Not published.
Depends
Tax Tools
No longer available to Canadians
Not published.
Depends
App
App Store rating 4.6 (Oleg's old row). Being replaced by the Robinhood app.
iOS Canada 4.43 (395 ratings), 2026-10-03.
Depends
Support
Email ticket only, no live chat or phone.
Help centre on virgocx.zendesk.com; channels Not verified.
What Are The Key Differences Between Bitbuy And VirgoCX?
Bitbuy Vs VirgoCX: Side By Side
Bitbuy
VirgoCX
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.
VirgoCX was a Toronto-based platform that served Canadians as a CSA restricted dealer. In April 2025 it ended custodial accounts and moved to a non-custodial service, where crypto goes to your own wallet. The OSC lists its dealer registration as suspended effective November 24, 2025.
Coins
60+ including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, Dogecoin, Polkadot and USDC.
It advertised 90+ coins including BTC, ETH, XRP, SOL and USDC before the change. The current list is not published.
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.
Past tense: Oleg's table cited spreads of 0.95% on BTC and ETH and 1.6% on other assets, with volume tiers. The official fee page is behind a bot check, so this was not re-confirmed and is no longer current.
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
Was registered with the CSA as a restricted dealer until suspended
Non-custodial service from April 2025
OTC desk (VirgoCX Wealth)
Still a FINTRAC registered money services business
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
Registration as a dealer suspended effective November 24, 2025
The non-custodial service is not offered under its securities registration, and no regulator has confirmed it is regulated under securities law
No securities-law investor protections for the non-custodial service
Custodial accounts ended; assets left after the deadline were sold
Fee page and coin list could not be verified
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.
Past tense: VirgoCX stopped holding crypto for customers in 2025. No protections under securities law were confirmed for the non-custodial service, and CIPF never covered crypto.
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.
Past tense: Interac e-Transfer (free, 2021 help article, not re-confirmed after the 2025 switch).
App
Bitbuy's app held a 4.6-star rating on the App Store. It is being replaced by the Robinhood app.
Apple Canada app 'Virgo: Buy Bitcoin, XRP and More' rated 4.43 from 395 ratings (2026-10-03).
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 published. Custodial accounts ended in 2025; customers must hold crypto in their own wallets.
How Do You Fund And Cash Out Bitbuy And VirgoCX In Canada?
Bitbuy: CAD Deposits (When It Operated)
Method
Fee
Minimum
Maximum
Speed
Interac e-Transfer
Free
Not published
Not published
Not published
VirgoCX: CAD Deposits (When It Operated)
Method
Fee
Minimum
Maximum
Speed
Interac e-Transfer
Free, no funding minimum (2021 article, not re-confirmed)
None stated
Not published
Not published
Funding for the live platform is now on Robinhood. Bitbuy-specific limits are Not published. VirgoCX is no longer a registered dealer in Canada; do not treat these methods as current.
What Do Bitbuy And VirgoCX 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.
What Happens To Your Money If Bitbuy Or VirgoCX 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.
VirgoCX: The OSC lists VirgoCX's restricted dealer registration as suspended since November 24, 2025, and the CSA list shows terms requiring a wind-down of its registrable business. It stopped holding customer crypto in 2025, so the remaining service is non-custodial and sits outside securities-law investor protections. A FINTRAC MSB registration covers anti-money-laundering rules only. CIPF never covered crypto. Use this platform only if you accept those gaps, or move to a registered dealer.
How Are Bitbuy And VirgoCX 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.
VirgoCX: Past activity on VirgoCX followed the usual rules: selling, swapping or spending crypto are dispositions reportable to the CRA. Check your old statements for cost basis; export tools are 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 VirgoCX?
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 VirgoCX If
You already hold a VirgoCX history and need to check records
You are looking only for registered Canadian dealers: pick another platform
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 Should Bitbuy Users Use Instead?
VirgoCX is on the CSA list, but under terms requiring wind-down of its registrable business. It stopped holding crypto for customers in 2025 and now offers only a non-custodial buy-and-sell service that it says is not offered under its securities dealer registration. Customers had to hold crypto in their own wallets, and assets left after the June 16, 2025 deadline were force-sold. No securities-law investor protections are confirmed for the non-custodial service.
Its trading fee and coin count could not be verified, because the official fee page blocked retrieval. I would not treat VirgoCX as a like-for-like Bitbuy replacement. The registry points Bitbuy users to Coinbase, and for a wallet-delivery model similar to VirgoCX's new one, the registry suggests Bitcoin Well.
Where Bitbuy 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
Bitcoin Well
FINTRAC MSB (Bitcoin Well Canada Ltd.); not a CSA platform; not a CIRO member
Spread only: 1.5% to buy and 2.0% to sell on the online portal; Lite Accounts 4.0%
Interac e-Transfer on the portal, cash at 160+ Bitcoin ATMs
Bitcoin only
#10 of 10, 6.4/10
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.
Choose VirgoCX only if you already understand self-custody and accept that the service no longer sits under a securities dealer registration. For a first purchase, a registered dealer such as Coinbase is the gentler start.
Bitbuy, in contrast, is a platform in transition. Its coin list, fees and funding now belong to Robinhood, and there is no point comparing a menu that is being replaced. Read the Bitbuy review for the history, and see the ranked list for current picks.
What Changed For Bitbuy And VirgoCX In October 2026?
: Bitbuy accounts moved to Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd..
: VirgoCX began winding down custodial accounts and went non-custodial.
: 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.
Is VirgoCX A Good Replacement For Bitbuy?
VirgoCX is on the CSA list but under terms requiring wind-down of its registrable business: it stopped holding crypto for customers in 2025 and now offers only a non-custodial buy-and-sell service that it says is not offered under its securities dealer registration.
What Happened To Bitbuy's Registration?
Bitbuy Technologies Inc. sits under expired decisions on the CSA site, and its FINTRAC MSB registration shows as ceased on February 20, 2025. Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd., which operates the platform, appears on the CSA list with a decision dated October 11, 2024.
Which Exchange Is First In Your Ranking?
Coinbase is first at 9.8 out of 10, followed by BloFin, Kraken, Wealthsimple Crypto, Bull Bitcoin, Newton, Bitcoin Well, NDAX, BTCC and MEXC. BloFin, BTCC and MEXC are offshore and carry restrictions for Canadians. The full list is on my best crypto exchanges page.
Do Bitbuy And VirgoCX Have Limit Orders?
Bitbuy: Yes on Pro, historically. VirgoCX: Not published.
Which Coins Can You Buy On Bitbuy And VirgoCX?
Bitbuy: 60+ coins offered VirgoCX: Not published (90+ advertised before 2025)
Is The Spread The Fee On Bitbuy And VirgoCX?
Bitbuy: Express prices included a spread, which was the cost. VirgoCX: Not verified; spreads of 0.95% to 1.6% were reported historically.
Does CIPF Cover My Crypto On Bitbuy Or VirgoCX?
Bitbuy: CIPF never covers crypto, and this platform no longer serves Canadians. VirgoCX: CIPF never covers crypto.
Are Bitbuy And VirgoCX Available In Every Province?
Bitbuy: Bitbuy's CSA entry expired; accounts now sit with Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. VirgoCX: Not published.
Do Interac Deposits Work On Weekends On Bitbuy And VirgoCX?
Bitbuy: No longer applicable. VirgoCX: Not published.
What Is The Minimum Buy On Bitbuy And VirgoCX?
Bitbuy: Not published VirgoCX: Not published.
Can A Business Use Bitbuy Or VirgoCX?
Bitbuy: Private Wealth and OTC desks existed. VirgoCX: VirgoCX Wealth OTC existed; current status Not verified.
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.