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

Oleg Galeev

Last updated October 10, 2024

Cryptocurrency trading in Canada has seen a surge with platforms like Bitget and VirgoCX leading the charge. While Bitget is known for its diverse altcoin offerings and advanced trading features, VirgoCX prides itself on being a Canadian-rooted platform with user-friendly tools suitable for beginners.

Description

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

VirgoCX is based in Ontario, and offers Canadians an easy way to trade crypto. They have an NFT marketplace, OTC services to trade large amounts of crypto, and a foreign currency exchange should you wish to convert your fiat. 

Coins

Over 1000 major coins and altcoins

VirgoCX offers Canadians the ability to trade over 50 cryptocurrencies.

Fees

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

  • Free CAD deposits and withdrawals
  • Free crypto deposits
  • High spreads

Pros

  • Low trading fees
  • Hundreds of altcoins
  • Advanced features
  • Simple KYC process
  • Free deposits and withdrawals
  • Interac e-Transfer available
  • OTC Desk
  • NFT marketplace
  • Insurance for crypto assets
  • Fully regulated in Canada
  • USD and CAD accepted
  • Crypto education portal
  • Advanced trading features
  • Quick Trade available

Cons

  • No Interac e-Transfer
  • Confusing for beginners
  • No CAD deposits and withdrawals
  • Advanced trading platforms can be confusing for beginners
  • Relatively higher spreads than other exchanges

Account Limits

No major limits

  • Interac e-Transfer deposit maximum is $10000/day (same for withdrawals)

Methods to buy

  • Credit or debit card
  • P2P platform
  • Interac e-Transfer
  • Wire Transfer
  • Bill Payment
  • Credit & Debit card

Security

  • 2FA
  • Anti-phishing code
  • $300 million insurance for lost assets
  • $1 Million in crime insurance coverage
  • Cold storage
  • All fiat assets are held with their Canadian banking partner
  • FINTRAC and PIPEDA compliant

Mobile and Desktop Trading

In terms of digital interfaces, both exchanges deliver commendably. Bitget boasts a mobile app that holds a 4.5-star rating on the Apple App Store and an impressive 4.2 on Google Play, catering to advanced traders even on the go. On the desktop side, Bitget’s platform can be intricate due to its advanced charting, particularly for novice traders. VirgoCX, on the other hand, maintains a 3.8-star rating on iOS with positive reviews on Google Play. Their platform, be it on mobile or desktop, is designed for straightforward navigation, making it particularly appealing to those new to crypto trading.

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)

VirgoCX

VirgoCX has a mobile app for both iPhone and Android users. On iOS, the VirgoCX app has a 3.6-star rating with over 50 reviews. On Google Play it does not currently have a rating but has many positive reviews. Some reviewers say the verification process takes a long time, but others say the app is easy to use and reliable. 

Advanced trading with VirgoCX

Advanced trading with VirgoCX

Main dashboard on VirgoCX

Main dashboard on VirgoCX

Quick trade and Advanced trade on VirgoCX mobile app

Quick trade on VirgoCX app

VirgoCX mobile app

VirgoCX mobile app view

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.

VirgoCX offers $1 Million in crime insurance coverage with Coinbase Custody. Should the exchange be compromised, VirgoCX could potentially refund any customers’ stolen coins. 

VirgoCX’s crypto assets are held in cold storage with Coinbase Custody and only a small amount are kept on the platform for trading. All fiat assets are held with their Canadian banking partner, though it is not mentioned who the partner is. However, we always recommend transferring all the funds to your own Canadian crypto wallet.

Safety is paramount in crypto trading. Bitget institutes two-factor authentication, email alerts for significant account actions, and offers an emergency insurance coverage of $300 million to shield customer funds. VirgoCX, being rooted in Canadian operations, promises $1 Million in crime insurance coverage and stores its crypto assets in cold storage with Coinbase Custody, ensuring added layers of protection.

Regulatory Compliance

Not regulated by Canadian financial institutions. 

VirgoCX is registered with FINTRAC and PIPEDA. Therefore, it is fully compliant in Canada. VirgoCX also has regular audits which prove that its reserves exist. 

Regulation and compliance stand as pillars in the financial world. VirgoCX is registered with FINTRAC and PIPEDA, ensuring it adheres to Canadian standards. While Bitget is globally recognized, there is an emphasis on its utility for Canadians, especially as some larger exchanges move away from the Canadian market. However, one must always ensure personal due diligence with regards to regulatory compliance.

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. 

If you need help, you can contact VirgoCX’s support team via email or live chat 24/7. They also offer multi-language support. Not many exchanges offer live chat.

Bitget, despite its advanced features, faces criticism for its customer support, as reflected in its 2.8-star rating on Trustpilot. Many users have expressed concerns about its copy trading feature. In contrast, VirgoCX shines in this department by offering 24/7 support through email or live chat, accompanied by multi-language support – a rare feature in the crypto world.

Conclusion

Both Bitget and VirgoCX come with their unique set of strengths, catering to different segments of the crypto trading community. While VirgoCX excels in user-friendliness and dedicated support, Bitget's rich feature set, diverse altcoin offering, and adaptability for the Canadian market make it slightly more appealing for those seeking a comprehensive trading experience. Hence, in this comparative analysis, Bitget emerges as the winner, but only by a slight margin.

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 VirgoCX, offering both advanced features and financial advantages that are especially beneficial for traders focused on minimizing costs while maximizing efficiency.

VirgoCX now boasts support for over 60 cryptocurrencies, giving Canadian traders a wider variety of options. The exchange has also introduced a tiered rewards program, allowing users to enjoy up to 90% off on spreads, making trading more affordable. Furthermore, VirgoCX enhances security by utilizing Coinbase Custody for safeguarding assets and offering insurance coverage. These updates make it a strong contender in the Canadian market, appealing to both novice and experienced traders when compared to other exchanges.

We recommend choosing Bitget over VirgoCX 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 VirgoCX 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.