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Bitget vs. Uphold: What Works Better For Canadians in 2024

Oleg Galeev

Last updated October 9, 2024

In the ever-evolving landscape of cryptocurrency, Bitget and Uphold stand out as two platforms vying for the attention of Canadian traders. While Bitget tailors its platform more to skilled users with an emphasis on altcoins, Uphold offers a broader asset spectrum, including stocks and precious metals.

Description

Bitget is a cryptocurrency exchange for skilled users that offers thousand of altcoins for Canadians (and people all over the world) to trade.

Uphold is a multi-asset platform that allows you to trade more than 66 cryptocurrencies, 50 US stocks and four precious metals. You can trade crypto for stocks or stocks for crypto, instantly.

Coins

Over 1000 major coins and altcoins

70+

Fees

Trading fees on Bitget are low at just 0.1%, but can be lower if you pay fees with their token BGB.

  • 1.8% spread on crypto for Canadians
  • 3% spread for precious metals
  • 1% spread for US equities
  • 3.99% credit card fee
  • $3.99 withdrawal fee to US/EU/UK banks
  • Free deposits from US/EU/UK banks
  • Free debit card purchases

Pros

  • Low trading fees
  • Hundreds of altcoins
  • Advanced features
  • Simple KYC process
  • Wide range of cryptocurrencies
  • Trade stocks and precious metals 
  • Swap crypto for stocks or metal in seconds
  • Recurring buy/sell orders
  • 50 simultaneous Limit orders allowed
  • Free debit card purchases

Cons

  • No Interac e-Transfer
  • Confusing for beginners
  • No CAD deposits and withdrawals
  • High spreads
  • Uphold debit card not available to Canadians
  • Bank deposits/withdrawals not available for Canadians 
  • 3.99% credit card processing fee
  • Lack of search filters for equities

Account Limits

No major limits

Low

Methods to buy

  • Credit or debit card
  • P2P platform

Debit card

Security

  • 2FA
  • Anti-phishing code
  • $300 million insurance for lost assets

Mobile and Desktop Trading

Bitget's desktop platform is primarily geared towards advanced traders, with tools like advanced charting and order book data. Their mobile app, with a 4.4-star rating on the Apple App Store and 4.1 on Google Play, mimics these advanced features, which can be both an advantage for seasoned traders and a challenge for newcomers. Uphold, on the other hand, features an intuitive desktop platform that streamlines trades between various asset classes. Despite its ease of use, its mobile app has received somewhat mixed feedback, holding a 4,6-star rating on the Apple App Store and 4,5 on Google Play, with users often mentioning its occasional clunkiness.

Bitget

The Bitget platform can be confusing for beginners since there is advanced charting and order book data. Bitget’s mobile app has a 4.4-star rating on the Apple App Store and a 4.6-star rating on Google Play

Trading crypto on Bitget from Canada

Bitget desktop view (trading screen)

Depositing money to Bitget

Bitget depositing screen

Bitget mobile app main screenshot

Bitget mobile app main screen

Bitget mobile app screenshot

Bitget mobile app (coins)

Uphold

Uphold’s app has a 3.5-star rating from 5,000 reviews on the Apple App store and a 3.2-star rating from 18,000 reviews on Google Play. Some reviewers have said the app is slow and buggy, with the verification process being particularly slow.

Uphold is easy to use for beginners. There is a quick trade option called “Anything to Anything”. All you need to do is enter the asset you want to trade, the amount, and the asset you wish to swap it for. You can trade crypto to stocks, stocks to metal etc. in just a few clicks. 

Uphold desktop trading app screenshot

Uphold desktop app

Uphold mobile app screenshot

Uphold mobile app while trading

Reviewing Uphold crypto exchange app and asset types for trading

Uphold main screen app

Security Compliance

Bitget uses two-factor authentication for security and emails you about logins or withdrawals. They offer an anti-phishing code for genuine emails and have a $300 million insurance for lost assets, which you can claim if not at fault.

To secure your Uphold account, you can enable two-factor authentication.

Uphold trading platform utilizes cold storage for your safety.

Safety is paramount in the crypto space. Bitget has bolstered its platform's security with features like two-factor authentication, anti-phishing codes, and an emergency insurance coverage of $300 million. Uphold, meanwhile, emphasizes its compliance with various regulations but is relatively less vocal about specific technological security measures. While both platforms have taken steps towards security, Bitget seems to offer a more comprehensive security net, particularly with its substantial insurance coverage.

Regulatory Compliance

Not regulated by Canadian financial institutions. 

Uphold is fully regulated in the USA. They are compliant with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and record keeping regulations with the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). It's Canadian-friendly as well.

Ensuring compliance with Canadian federal regulations is crucial for crypto exchanges operating in the country. While the exact details of Bitget's compliance within Canada are not explicitly mentioned in the provided data, Uphold is known to be compliant with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and maintains records in line with the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). It's crucial for potential users to check with Canadian federal organizations monitoring crypto compliance to ascertain the exact standing of each platform.

Customer support

Reviewers say customer support is unhelpful but most of them are beginners. Bitget is not a crypto exchange for beginners and if you do not know how copy trading or futures trading works, then it is not a good idea to use them, as this customer points out. 

Uphold has good reviews about their customer service teams. They offer help centres on their website and within the app. 

You can contact Uphold’s customer support via their online ticketing system on their website. 

Customer support often plays a pivotal role in shaping user experiences. Bitget's customer support seems to have garnered mixed reviews, with a 2.2-star rating on Trustpilot. While some complaints revolve around their copy trading feature, others praise the platform. Uphold's customer service appears to fare better in comparison, with many users finding their support team helpful and responsive, primarily through their online ticketing system.

Conclusion

Both Bitget and Uphold present strong cases as top-tier crypto exchanges for Canadians. Uphold's diverse asset offerings and integrated trading platform are undoubtedly impressive. However, when weighing the advanced tools, comprehensive security measures, and the positive migration trend following other platforms' exit from Canada, Bitget emerges as the winner in this comparison, especially for skilled traders.

Bitget has recently launched the Bitget Card, enabling users to spend cryptocurrency globally, enhancing accessibility and convenience. Furthermore, the platform now features zero transaction fees for USDC/USDT spot trading, positioning itself as a cost-effective option for Canadian users aiming to optimize their trading strategies. These updates further distinguish Bitget from Uphold, offering both advanced features and financial advantages that are especially beneficial for traders focused on minimizing costs while maximizing efficiency.

Uphold sets itself apart by offering an international debit card with cashback rewards and no foreign transaction fees, which is a big advantage for global traders. However, for Canadians, it's important to note that direct bank deposits and withdrawals aren't currently supported. Instead, Canadians can use credit or debit cards for trading, though credit card transactions come with a 3.99% fee. This limitation may make other exchanges more appealing for users who prefer traditional banking methods.

We recommend choosing Bitget over Uphold for your cryptocurrency trading needs. By opting for Bitget through our referral link, you support us in conducting comprehensive independent analyses of crypto trading options for Canadians.

If you find that neither Bitget nor Uphold meets your requirements, we encourage you to explore our monthly-updated list of the best exchanges for Canadians to trade crypto. This list provides a range of alternative options that may better suit your specific needs and preferences.

Author

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.