Note: Neither platform is available to Canadians. Bitvo wound down in November 2023 with client accounts migrated to Bitbuy, which is now owned by Robinhood following the June 2026 WonderFi acquisition. Gate (formerly Gate.io, rebranded to Gate.com in May 2025) has restricted all Canadian accounts since April 2022. This comparison is preserved for historical reference. Our current recommendations for Canadians follow at the end.
Bitvo and Gate.io are two cryptocurrency exchanges that offered unique trading experiences. Bitvo was known for its simplicity and user-friendly platform; Gate is known for its vast altcoin range and advanced trading features. Neither is available to Canadians in 2026, though for different reasons.
Bitvo Vs Gate.io: Which Is Better For Canadians?
Neither is an option for Canadians today. Bitvo stopped operating on its own in November 2023 when Bitbuy bought all of its client accounts and the Bitvo.com domain. Gate.io is an offshore exchange that is not registered in Canada and lists Canada as a restricted location in its user agreement. 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.
Bitvo Vs Gate.io: Master Spec Table
Bitvo
Gate.io
Winner
Company
Bitvo Inc., Calgary, founded 2018. Bitbuy bought all client accounts (17,000+ per WonderFi) and the domain in November 2023. Founders and funding: Not published.
Launched 2013, rebranded from Gate.io to Gate.com in May 2025. Legal entity for Canada: none. Founder, HQ and funding not verified on a primary page.
Depends
Regulation
FINTRAC MSB M20580992 Ceased 2024-10-08. Bitvo Inc. is under CSA Expired Decisions.
Not on CSA authorized or banned list (2026-10-02). FINTRAC M20329002 (Gate Technology Corp.) expired 2023-05-31. No CIRO. No CIPF for crypto.
Tie
Assets
Small list: BTC, ETH, XRP, LTC, ADA, QCAD.
2,053 base assets across 2,202 spot pairs (public API, 2026-10-02), none open to Canadians.
Depends
Price
Zero trading commission, revenue from the spread (rate Not published). 1% withdrawal fee, $15 minimum.
Spot base fee 0.2% per pair in the public API (2026-10-02). Irrelevant to Canadians.
Depends
CAD In
Free deposits; Interac e-Transfer about 30 minutes, no minimum deposit.
No CAD funding. Canada is a restricted location, so Canadians cannot fund an account.
Depends
CAD Out
1% withdrawal fee with a $15 minimum.
No CAD withdrawal to a Canadian bank is published.
Depends
Crypto In And Out
No longer available to Canadians
Not applicable to Canadians. No new account can be opened from Canada.
Depends
Custody
Full reserve, never lent customer funds. BitGo custody, over 80% in cold storage.
Custodial exchange. Whatever Canadian-held balances remain are not covered by CIPF or any Canadian regulator.
Depends
Verification (KYC)
No longer available to Canadians
Not applicable to Canadians. Account creation is barred for Canada under the terms.
Depends
Account Types
No longer available to Canadians
Not published
Depends
Provinces
No longer available to Canadians
0 of 13. The restriction names all of Canada, not a single province.
Depends
Extra Products
Bitvo Cash Card and the Same Day Guarantee.
Not applicable to Canadians.
Depends
Tax Tools
No longer available to Canadians
Not verified
Depends
App
No longer available to Canadians
Not applicable. Gate says it has no Canadian service;
What Are The Key Differences Between Bitvo And Gate.io?
Bitvo Vs Gate.io: Side By Side
Bitvo
Gate.io
Description
Bitvo was a Calgary-based cryptocurrency exchange, founded in 2018, known for its Same Day Guarantee, zero trading fees and 24/7 phone support. In November 2023 its client accounts were acquired by Bitbuy and the Bitvo platform was wound down. It is also remembered as the exchange FTX almost bought, a deal terminated days after FTX's collapse in November 2022.
Launched in 2013, Gate (formerly Gate.io, rebranded and moved to Gate.com in May 2025) is one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. However, Canada is on the list of restricted locations in the Gate user agreement, alongside 30+ other jurisdictions. Gate has not served Canadians since earlier reports of Canadian accounts moving to withdrawal-only around April 2022, so we would not recommend trying to use it.
Coins
A small selection including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Litecoin, Cardano and QCAD, Canada's first mass-market stablecoin.
Past tense: 2,053 base assets across 2,202 tradable spot pairs (public API, 2026-10-02), none of them open to Canadians. USDT was never part of a Canadian offer.
Fees
Free deposits, zero trading fees (revenue came from the spread), and a 1% withdrawal fee with a $15 minimum.
Past tense: spot base fee 0.2% per pair per the public API (2026-10-02), lower with volume. Free crypto deposits. CAD was never supported.
Pros
No trading fees
The Same Day Guarantee
The Bitvo Cash Card
Rare 24/7 phone support
Thousands of altcoins were available
Advanced trading features and tools
Not available to Canadians, so none of this is usable
Cons
Platform wound down in November 2023 with client accounts sold to Bitbuy
High spreads masked the "zero fee" pitch
The 1% withdrawal fee was a sore point
Small coin selection even at its peak
Not allowed in Canada, and no Canadian entity
Mandatory KYC means Canadians cannot sign up, and VPN workarounds risk frozen funds
CAD was never supported
Not beginner-friendly
Security
Bitvo operated on a full reserve basis, meaning it never lent customer funds, and held client assets with third-party custodian BitGo, with over 80% in cold storage. No customer funds were reported lost in the wind-down.
that claim was not confirmed here. Gate's FINTRAC MSB registration M20329002 (Gate Technology Corp.) expired 2023-05-31.
Methods To Buy
There was no way to buy through Bitvo after the migration. Former clients were moved to Bitbuy. A site claiming to be Bitvo and taking deposits is an impostor.
Canadians cannot buy crypto on Gate. Account creation requires KYC, and restrictions are enforced based on the country on your ID, so even a VPN won't get you a working account, just one that can be frozen with your funds inside.
App
Not published. The website and apps are no longer operational.
Not applicable to Canadians.
Account Limits
No minimum deposit. Free 30-minute Interac e-Transfer deposits.
No longer applicable. n/a for Canadians, since accounts cannot be opened from Canada.
How Do You Fund And Cash Out Bitvo And Gate.io In Canada?
Bitvo: CAD Deposits (When It Operated)
Method
Fee
Minimum
Maximum
Speed
Interac e-Transfer
Free
No minimum
Not published
about 30 minutes
Bitvo: CAD Withdrawals (When It Operated)
Method
Fee
Minimum
Maximum
Speed
Fiat withdrawal
1%
CAD 15 fee minimum
Not published
Not published
All funding now ended. Accounts moved to Bitbuy. No CAD funding exists. Canada is a Restricted Location in user agreement clause 2.5. Whether any legacy Canadian account can still withdraw crypto is not stated on an official Gate page, so contact Gate support.
What Do Bitvo And Gate.io Offer Beyond Buying And Selling?
Bitvo Only
Bitvo Cash Card: A prepaid card product listed among Bitvo's strengths.
Same Day Guarantee: A funding-speed promise Bitvo marketed.
What Happens To Your Money If Bitvo Or Gate.io Fails?
Bitvo: This was a merger, not a collapse: Bitvo's client accounts moved to Bitbuy, which has since moved to Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. and now Robinhood, per the registry. Check that you are logged into your account with the current owner and withdraw to a wallet if you prefer. Do not send crypto to an old Bitvo address or trust a site using the Bitvo name.
Gate.io: Gate does not serve Canada, is not on the CSA list, holds no current FINTRAC registration and is not a CIRO member. CIPF never covers crypto. A Canadian with a balance left on Gate has no regulator to appeal to, and the user agreement tells users in restricted locations to stop using the services and lets Gate restrict or close accounts at its discretion. Opening an account through a VPN risks a freeze.
How Are Bitvo And Gate.io Treated For Tax In Canada?
Bitvo: Trades on Bitvo were dispositions for CRA purposes. Ask for or export your Bitvo history from your migrated Bitbuy account. Export formats: Not published.
Gate.io: Any earlier trades or sales on Gate are dispositions for CRA purposes. Keep or export your full trade and transfer history while you still have access, because a restricted account may be closed.
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, Bitvo Or Gate.io?
Choose Bitvo 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.
Choose Gate.io If
You want an altcoin-heavy exchange: Gate does not serve Canadians, so pick a registered Canadian platform with a deep coin list, such as Kraken.
I have been trading crypto in Canada since 2016 and have tested 61 exchanges on my YouTube channel, so this comparison sticks to what each platform publishes and what Canadian regulators list. Neither platform in this comparison is a live choice for a Canadian opening a new account today. The useful part is why, and where to go instead.
What Happened To Bitvo?
Merged, not operating
Status: Bitvo stopped operating on its own in November 2023 when Bitbuy bought all of its client accounts and the Bitvo.com domain.
This was a merger, not Bitvo leaving Canada. Bitvo was an Alberta-origin exchange, and WonderFi said more than 17,000 client accounts moved to Bitbuy in November 2023. The bitvo.com domain no longer resolves in DNS (checked October 2, 2026).
The chain did not stop there. Bitbuy moved its accounts 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. Bitvo Inc.'s CSA decision now sits under Expired Decisions, and its FINTRAC registration shows as Ceased on October 8, 2024.
If you still have questions about an old Bitvo account, the successor chain is Bitbuy, so that is where the history sits. If anyone contacts you offering to recover Bitvo funds for a fee, treat it as a recovery scam.
What Is The Status Of Gate.io For Canadians?
Offshore
Status: Gate.io is an offshore exchange that is not registered in Canada and lists Canada as a restricted location in its user agreement.
Gate.io is an offshore exchange that is not registered in Canada. Its user agreement lists Canada among its Restricted Locations, alongside the United States, Mainland China, Singapore, France and Germany. It is on neither the CSA authorized nor the CSA banned list, and its former FINTRAC registration (Gate Technology Corp.) expired on May 31, 2023.
Gate.io shows a spot base fee of 0.2% per pair and 2,053 base assets in its public API (October 2, 2026), and no CAD funding. Those numbers describe a menu that Canadians cannot use under Gate.io's own terms.
Using it from Canada would breach its own terms of service, and no Canadian investor protection would apply. Registered Canadian platforms are the safer home for an altcoin menu.
What Should Bitvo And Gate.io Users Use Instead?
For Bitvo Users: NDAX
NDAX: Alberta-based registered Canadian platform with CAD funding, the nearest like-for-like for an Alberta-origin exchange.
NDAX at a glance
NDAX
Trading Cost
Flat 0.20% on every buy and sell, no tiers
CAD Funding
Interac e-Transfer and wire free
Coins
77 base assets (public API, not an official Canadian count)
Registration
CSA decision December 19, 2024; CIRO investment dealer member
: Robinhood closed its WonderFi purchase; Bitbuy now tells users it is part of Robinhood.
: The CSA issued its Restricted Dealer decision for Payward Canada Inc. (Kraken), and Kraken announced free Interac e-Transfer deposits.
: NDAX Canada Inc. received its CSA decision and CIRO membership terms as an investment dealer.
: Bitbuy announced it had acquired Bitvo's client accounts and the Bitvo.com domain.
: Gate Technology Corp.'s FINTRAC MSB registration expired, and no current registration has been found.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bitvo Still Available To Canadians?
Bitvo stopped operating on its own in November 2023 when Bitbuy bought all of its client accounts and the Bitvo.com domain.
What Should I Use Instead Of Bitvo?
Alberta-based registered Canadian platform with CAD funding, the nearest like-for-like for an Alberta-origin exchange.
NDAX: Flat 0.20% on every buy and sell, no tiers. Coins: 77 base assets (public API, not an official Canadian count).
Can I Still Recover My Funds From Bitvo?
If you still have questions about an old Bitvo account, the successor chain is Bitbuy, so that is where the history sits. If anyone contacts you offering to recover Bitvo funds for a fee, treat it as a recovery scam.
Is Gate.io Still Available To Canadians?
Gate.io is an offshore exchange that is not registered in Canada and lists Canada as a restricted location in its user agreement.
What Should I Use Instead Of Gate.io?
Registered in Canada with a deep altcoin list, the practical replacement for a Gate-style altcoin menu.
Kraken: Kraken Pro 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker at the base tier; Instant Buy 1% plus spread. Coins: About 490 (derived estimate).
Can Canadians Use Gate.io?
Using it from Canada would breach its own terms of service, and no Canadian investor protection would apply. Registered Canadian platforms are the safer home for an altcoin menu.
Do Bitvo And Gate.io Have Limit Orders?
Bitvo: Not published Gate.io: Not applicable, Canadians cannot use Gate.
Which Coins Can You Buy On Bitvo And Gate.io?
Bitvo: Small list, closed Gate.io: 2,053 base assets, none open to Canadians
Is The Spread The Fee On Bitvo And Gate.io?
Bitvo: No longer applicable. Gate.io: Not applicable.
Does CIPF Cover My Crypto On Bitvo Or Gate.io?
Bitvo: CIPF never covers crypto, and this platform no longer serves Canadians. Gate.io: CIPF never covers crypto, and Gate is not a CIPF member.
Are Bitvo And Gate.io Available In Every Province?
Bitvo: No longer available in any province. Gate.io: None, Canada is a Restricted Location.
Do Interac Deposits Work On Weekends On Bitvo And Gate.io?
Bitvo: No longer applicable. Gate.io: No Interac e-Transfer, CAD was never supported.
What Is The Minimum Buy On Bitvo And Gate.io?
Bitvo: No longer applicable. Gate.io: Not applicable.
Can A Business Use Bitvo Or Gate.io?
Bitvo: No longer applicable. Gate.io: Not applicable, Canada is a Restricted Location.
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.
