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Bull Bitcoin vs Binance: What Works Better For Canadians in 2024?

Oleg Galeev

Last updated March 12, 2024

Comparing Bull Bitcoin and Binance offers a glimpse into two contrasting approaches within the cryptocurrency exchange landscape in Canada. While Bull Bitcoin provides a focused, secure platform specifically for Bitcoin transactions and services tailored to Canadian users, Binance is recognized for its global reach, offering a wide array of cryptocurrencies and advanced trading features, despite its recent decision to exit the Canadian market.

Binance has announced its exit from the Canadian market on 30 September 2023, citing regulatory uncertainties. As a result, we can't recommend Binance over Bull Bitcoin.

Description

Bull Bitcoin is a unique Canadian Bitcoin trading platform with ability to pay bills with bitcoin (cellphone, electricity even taxes to CRA) and that allows you to take self-custody immediately. 

Binance was founded in 2017 and is based in Malta. It averages $2 billion in daily volume and executes 1.4 million transactions per second. Canadians can purchase and trade hundreds of different coins with advanced order types. Binance stopped operating in Canada in July 2022.

Coins

BTC only

400+ including BTC, ETH, XRP, DOGE, USDT

Fees

Bull Bitcoin sends the BTC directly to your wallet so you avoid typical withdrawal and network fees that exchanges often have which is a money saver. Bull Bitcoin does not charge fees for buying bitcoin either. Instead, you’ll get exactly what their “We sell” price is. When paying via debit or cash at Canada Post, you’ll pay a 2% fee. 

Low
0.1% to 0.02% buy fee depending on VIP level

Pros

  • Immediate self-custody of assets
  • Send funds via e-Transfer or wire
  • Pay anonymously with cash
  • No withdrawal fees or wait times
  • Recurring buys directly from your bank account
  • Pay bills with bitcoin
  • Good for Canadians looking to buy and trade altcoins
  • DEX/P2P trading
  • Advanced order types
  • Margin trading
  • Derivatives and futures trading
  • Stock token trading
  • 400+ coins
  • Low fees
  • Simple or advanced interface

Cons

Only bitcoin available 

  • No Interac e-Transfer
  • Not available in Ontario at the moment

Account Limits

  • $10,000,000.00 CAD deposit / day via wire trasnfer
  • $10,000.00 CAD deposit / day via Interac E-transfer
  •  $1,000.00 CAD deposit / day via Cash or Debit at Canada Post
  • Buy & Sell transfer are almost unlimited ( $1,000,000.00 CAD a day)

N/A

Methods to buy

When buying cryptocurrency with Bull Bitcoin, you can deposit Canadian dollars via an Interac e-Transfer, wire transfer or cash or debit at Canada Post. With the first two options, you will have to KYC and verify your Bull Bitcoin account. 

Credit/debit, SWIFT bank transfer with USD

Security

  • Full custody of your bitcoin.

2FA, coins held in cold storage with multi-signature wallets, KYC verification process

Mobile and Desktop Trading

Bull Bitcoin does not emphasize mobile app trading, focusing instead on a straightforward web-based platform designed for ease of use in buying, selling, and using Bitcoin for payments, catering primarily to desktop users.

Binance, before its exit, boasted highly-rated mobile applications on both iOS (4.6-star rating with 41,000 reviews) and Android (4.7 star rating with 1,790,000 reviews), alongside a complex web and desktop platform offering a wide range of trading tools and features, catering to both beginners and advanced traders.

Bull Bitcoin

Bull Bitcoin has a simple website since all of the transactions happen via your bank. There aren’t many features to get you confused, however, we think their website could be designed a little better.

UI of Bull Bitcoin platform

Major Screen

Buying bitcoin with interac e-transfer on Bull Bitcoin platform

Buying Bitcoin via Bull Bitcoin

Transaction screen on the mobile app

Transaction screen on the mobile app

Bull Bitcoin app screenshot

Binance Canada

Binance has a rating of 4.6 stars on the Apple App Store with 22,000 ratings. On Google Play, it has 4.5 stars with 271,000 ratings.

Binance’s app allows its users to switch between the Lite and Pro interfaces making it suitable for both beginners and experienced traders.

Binance’s app interface also closely resembles its desktop counterpart, though, at first glance, it does not seem as user-friendly and intuitive as Coinbase. Binance offers its users multiple ways to purchase crypto depending on the type of trade you want. On its desktop platform, you can select “Convert” for a quick debit or credit purchase, or “Classic” or “Advanced” for more trading types.

Binance desktop platform (Convert)

Binance Convert

Binance desktop platform for advanced users

Binance Advanced

Binance Lite App for beginner users view

Binance Lite App for beginner users

Binance Advanced mobile view for Canadians

Binance App for advanced users

Security Compliance

Bull Bitcoin is completely safe since you always take full custody of your bitcoin, you do not need to worry about hackers stealing your funds on the platform. However, there is still a level of trust needed because you do not buy the bitcoin yourself and must wait for it to be sent to your crypto wallet

Binance offers world-class security meaning your coins are in relatively safe hands. It offers two-factor authentication, so you can prevent unauthorized access to your account.

Keep in mind, Binance has been hacked before. Back in 2019, hackers stole 7,000 Bitcoin along with customers’ 2FA codes and API tokens. The hackers used phishing and viruses to gain access to the exchange. However, because Binance holds most of its digital assets in cold storage, the hackers only got away with what was in the hot wallet – about 2% of Binance’s Bitcoin holdings at the time.

As long as you take precautions, and transfer your crypto off the exchange to an external cryptocurrency wallet, you should be safe.

Bull Bitcoin prioritizes user security through immediate self-custody of Bitcoin, significantly reducing the risk of exchange hacks. It's compliant with Canadian financial regulations, adding an extra layer of security and trust for Canadian users.

Binance has implemented robust security measures, including two-factor authentication and cold storage for assets. However, it has been a target for hackers, experiencing a significant breach in 2019. Despite this, Binance has taken steps to enhance its security, including the use of an emergency insurance fund to cover potential losses.

Regulatory Compliance

Bull Bitcoin is registered with FINTRAC as a Money Services Business and there is a full KYC procedure meaning Bull Bitcoin is fully compliant with Canadian regulations. 

Binance has no restrictions for Canadians, except for Ontario residents. You can use it at full capacity whether it’s a simple buy order at market price or a more advanced order type. 

Bull Bitcoin is fully compliant with Canadian regulations, registered with FINTRAC, and adheres strictly to KYC procedures, making it a reliable choice for Canadians seeking a platform that aligns with local laws.

Binance operated in Canada until its recent decision to withdraw from the market, complicating its compliance status. While it did serve Canadian users, its global operations and eventual exit reflect challenges in aligning with specific Canadian regulatory requirements.

Customer support

Since it is a small company, it may take some time for them to get back to you. Their opening hours are from 9 AM to 8 PM Mon-Fri with sporadic ability on weekends.The platform has a 4.9-star rating on Trustpilot with almost 200 reviews, so it’s clear that customers are extremely satisfied with the service. 

Binance offers 24/7 support and a live chat option. In addition, Binance also has helpful FAQs and online ticketing service for their customers. Binance replied to our concern within a day.

Bull Bitcoin offers personalized customer support with high satisfaction ratings, providing direct email contacts for assistance, reflecting its commitment to user-friendly service for Canadians.

Binance provided 24/7 online support but often relied on automated bots and self-help articles, which could be less satisfying for users seeking direct human assistance.

Conclusion

Considering the needs of Canadian cryptocurrency users, Bull Bitcoin is the winner. Its dedication to providing a secure, straightforward platform for Bitcoin transactions, coupled with compliance with Canadian regulations and personalized customer support, makes it especially appealing for Canadians. While Binance offers a broader range of services and cryptocurrencies, its decision to exit the Canadian market and the complexities associated with its global operations highlight the advantages of choosing a platform like Bull Bitcoin, focused on serving the specific needs of the Canadian market.

Bull Bitcoin is the most cost-effective platform for trading Bitcoin in Canada, offering a unique feature that allows users to pay bills, including phone, electricity, and even taxes to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

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.