Bull Bitcoin Vs Uphold: Which Can Canadians Actually Use In 2026?

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Oleg Galeev, founder of OCryptoCanada

Oleg Galeev

Last updated October 2, 2026

In the landscape of cryptocurrency exchanges accessible to Canadians, Bull Bitcoin and Uphold offer distinct services tailored to diverse investor needs. From a Canadian perspective, however, this comparison is largely one-sided: Uphold exited Canada on June 11, 2025, and is no longer available. Bull Bitcoin, on the other hand, continues to grow, launching its open-source BULL Wallet in October 2025 and obtaining a MiCA licence through France’s AMF in June 2026.

Bull Bitcoin Vs Uphold: Which Is Better For Canadians?

Bull Bitcoin wins by default for Canadians. Uphold stopped supporting accounts for Canadian residents on June 11, 2025 and says it hopes to return. Since Uphold no longer operates for Canadians, I recommend Coinbase (9.8/10, #1 on my list): open a Coinbase account.

Bull Bitcoin logo8.0/10
FINTRAC MSB, not a CSA platform

Bitcoin only, sent straight to your own wallet

Uphold logo
Left Canada
Head To Head, Checked October 2026
Bull BitcoinUpholdWinner
Canadian statusFINTRAC MSB, not a CSA platformLeft CanadaBull Bitcoin
My ranking#5 of 10, 8.0/10Not in my top 10Bull Bitcoin

Not sure which fits you? Take my 60-second quiz or see my full ranking.

How Do Bull Bitcoin And Uphold Compare, Fact By Fact?

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.

Bull Bitcoin Vs Uphold: Master Spec Table
Bull BitcoinUpholdWinner
CompanySatoshi Portal Inc. (Alberta; Calgary registry address), operating as Bull Bitcoin. Started 2013 in Montreal. Founder and CEO Francis Pouliot. Funding and staff: Not published.Uphold Operating Canada Ltd. (FINTRAC). Uphold Worldwide Ltd. filed a pre-registration undertaking 2023-03-27 and withdrew it 2025-05-29. HQ, founder, funding: Not published.Depends
RegulationFINTRAC MSB M16730720, expires 2027-11-03. Not on the CSA list, no CIRO membership, no CIPF. EU arm Leonod SARL holds AMF PSAN E21-014.FINTRAC MSB M21639172 Expired 2026-01-27. CSA undertaking withdrawn 2025-05-29. Not on the CSA authorized or banned list.Bull Bitcoin
AssetsBitcoin only (on-chain, Lightning, Liquid BTC). No order book, no altcoins by policy, no staking or leverage.200+ coins plus metals and national currencies, not accessible from Canada.Bull Bitcoin
PriceNo processing fee. Spread quote 2026-10-03: buy US$86,676.96 / sell US$83,273.82, about 2.0% each side of mid. Prime over $100,000 volume gets discounted rates.Spread, historically about 1.8% on crypto for Canadian users, more on metals.Bull Bitcoin
CAD InFree: Interac e-Transfer (no min or max), CAD bill payment (to 100,000), wire. Canada Post cash or debit CAD 3.95, CAD 100 to 7,500.No longer available to Canadians. Deposits ended.Bull Bitcoin
CAD OutFree: e-Transfer CAD 10 to 10,000 (instant), CAD bill payment from CAD 25, wire from CAD 25 (same or next business day).Interac only, CAD 10,000 per transaction, CAD 100,000 per day, for balances left after the deadline.Bull Bitcoin
Crypto In And OutOn-chain out free, min 0.001 BTC, about 1 hour (express: network fee). Lightning out free, max 0.15 BTC. Liquid out free, min 0.00001 BTC. Same three rails in.No longer available to CanadiansBull Bitcoin
CustodyNon-custodial: coins go to your wallet, none are held. Fiat balances are not insured. Terms ban leaving cash in the account longer than needed.Roughly 90% in cold storage with reserve information published, per old row. Remaining Canadian crypto was converted to CAD after 2025-09-08.Bull Bitcoin
Verification (KYC)KYC before use (ID and proof of residence on request). Account verification takes minutes. Stated maximums assume full verification. SIN: Not verified.No longer available to CanadiansDepends
Account TypesPersonal; corporate with segregated accounting; Prime for individuals over $25,000, businesses, institutions and MSBs (OTC).No longer available to CanadiansBull Bitcoin
ProvincesTerms do not exclude any province. Aimed at Canadian, French and Mexican residents. Province list and Quebec specifics: Not verified.No longer available to CanadiansBull Bitcoin
Extra ProductsRecurring buys, Autobuy on deposit, buy limit orders, bill payment with bitcoin (Bylls), BULL Wallet, Prime OTC. No card, loan, staking or referral found.No longer available to CanadiansBull Bitcoin
Tax ToolsTransaction export as CSV under My account, Transactions. Koinly accepts it by file import. No CRA report or tax slip.No longer available to CanadiansBull Bitcoin
AppApple Canada 4.97 (29 ratings), Google Play 4.7 (109 reviews), 2026-10-01. Web app yes. French UI and price alerts: Not verified.iOS about 4.6; Google Play Not verified. Login and CAD withdrawal only for Canadians.Bull Bitcoin
SupportOnline chat (confidential). Phone support is a Prime perk. Registry phone 844-505-2855. Hours and French support: Not published.No longer available to CanadiansBull Bitcoin
Sources For This Table

What Are The Key Differences Between Bull Bitcoin And Uphold?

Bull Bitcoin Vs Uphold: Side By Side
Bull BitcoinUphold
DescriptionBull Bitcoin is a Canadian Bitcoin-only platform that sends every purchase straight to your own wallet and never holds your coins. You can also sell bitcoin to pay a Canadian bill invoice. Founded in 2013 at the Bitcoin Embassy in Montreal, it also serves Europe, Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina and Colombia.Uphold is a multi-asset platform offering 200+ cryptocurrencies, precious metals and national currencies, with its signature Anything to Anything trading. As of 2025-06-11 it stopped supporting Canadian accounts due to changes in its operating environment, and says it is working on plans to return in the future.
CoinsBitcoin only (on-chain, Lightning and Liquid). No altcoins by policy.200+ cryptocurrencies, not accessible from Canada.
FeesNo processing fee on buys and sells, the cost is a displayed spread. The live quote on 2026-10-03 sat about 2.0% either side of mid (round trip about 4%). Canada Post cash or debit funding costs a flat CAD 3.95. On-chain, Lightning and Liquid payouts are free (express on-chain pays a network fee). Discounted rates for Prime users above $100,000 in volume.Uphold priced trades with spreads, historically around 1.8% on crypto for Canadian users and higher on metals, and its fees always ran high compared with dedicated crypto exchanges.
Pros
  • Bitcoin goes straight to your own wallet, nothing is held for you
  • Free Interac e-Transfer, bill payment and wire funding
  • Lightning and Liquid payouts at no fee, plus on-chain
  • Recurring buys and an Autobuy that fires on every deposit
  • Sell bitcoin to a bill invoice, free CAD bill payment payout
  • Prime desk with phone support and unlimited volumes
  • Open-source BULL Wallet
  • Wide range of cryptocurrencies, including lesser-known assets
  • Multi-asset trading across crypto, metals and currencies
  • Anything to Anything swaps in seconds
  • Recurring buy and sell orders
Cons
  • Bitcoin only
  • Spread of about 2% each side is higher than low-fee exchanges
  • No order book: you trade against Bull Bitcoin at its quoted price
  • Not on the CSA list, no CIRO membership, no CIPF
  • e-Transfer withdrawals capped at CAD 10,000
  • Full identity verification needed for every funding method, including Canada Post
  • BULL Wallet Lightning and Liquid swaps are down while Boltz is suspended (Aug 2026)
  • Not available in Canada since 2025-06-11
  • High spreads compared to dedicated exchanges
  • Canadians who missed the 2025-09-08 withdrawal deadline had remaining crypto converted to CAD
SecurityNon-custodial by design: terms say Bull Bitcoin does not hold, secure or manage users' bitcoin. Fiat account balances are not insured and are not a bank or trust account. FINTRAC-registered MSB. 2FA available.2FA required before transferring funds, roughly 90% of digital assets in cold storage, compliance with OFAC and Bank Secrecy Act requirements, published reserve information and regular audits.
Methods To BuyInterac e-Transfer, CAD bill payment, wire transfer, or cash or debit at Canada Post (CAD 3.95 fee, CAD 100 to 7,500). All require a verified account.Canadians cannot buy on Uphold. The withdrawal deadline was 2025-09-08 and remaining crypto was converted to CAD, which accounts with balances can withdraw by Interac. Do not leave it sitting there, since unclaimed funds may eventually be surrendered under unclaimed property laws. Vault users can withdraw through the Vault Recovery Site while they hold their private keys; Uphold keeps its Vault key for only 12 months after account closure.
AppBULL Wallet (open source, iOS and Android, Liquid, Lightning and Payjoin) plus a web platform. Apple Canada 4.97 (29 ratings), Google Play 4.7 (109 reviews) on 2026-10-01.iOS app rated about 4.6. Google Play rating Not verified (our old rows disagree). For Canadians the app only serves to log in and withdraw CAD.
Account LimitsInterac e-Transfer in: no minimum or maximum (your bank limit still applies). Bill payment in: up to CAD 100,000. Wire: no maximum. Canada Post: CAD 100 to 7,500. e-Transfer out: CAD 10 to 10,000. Limits assume full verification.New Canadian accounts cannot be opened. Existing accounts are CAD-withdrawal-only via Interac, with limits of CAD 10,000 per transaction and CAD 100,000 per day.

How Do You Fund And Cash Out Bull Bitcoin And Uphold In Canada?

Bull Bitcoin: CAD Deposits
MethodFeeMinimumMaximumSpeed
Interac e-TransferFreeNo minimumNo maximumabout 1 hour in business hours
Bill payment (CAD)FreeNo minimumCAD 100,0003 to 4 business days
Wire transfer (CAD)FreeNo minimumNo maximumsame or next day
Cash or debit at Canada PostCAD 3.95CAD 100CAD 7,500instant
Bull Bitcoin: CAD Withdrawals
MethodFeeMinimumMaximumSpeed
Interac e-TransferFreeCAD 10CAD 10,000instant
Bill payment (CAD)FreeCAD 25No maximum3 to 4 business days
Wire transfer (CAD)FreeCAD 25No maximumsame or next business day
Uphold: CAD Withdrawals (When It Operated)
MethodFeeMinimumMaximumSpeed
Interac e-TransferNot publishedNot publishedCAD 10,000 per transaction, CAD 100,000 per dayNot published

Maximums assume full verification. Your bank's own Interac sending limit still applies. Processing times are estimates, not a guarantee (terms 22.9). Euro, Costa Rica and Mexico rails exist but are not Canadian. Canadian crypto remaining after 2025-09-08 was converted to CAD. Withdraw by logging in. Unclaimed funds may eventually be surrendered under unclaimed property laws.

What Does It Actually Cost To Buy On Bull Bitcoin?

Worked Cost, Buy Only And Buy Plus Sell (Round Trip)
AmountBull Bitcoin BuyBull Bitcoin Round Trip
CAD 100$2.00$4.00
CAD 500$10.00$20.00
CAD 1,000$20.00$40.00
CAD 10,000$200.00$400.00

Bull Bitcoin: Derived from the live rates-page quote on 2026-10-03: buy US$86,676.96, sell US$83,273.82, mid about US$84,975, so about 2.0% each side. Not a published rate. Canada Post funding adds CAD 3.95. Neither publishes a maker and taker schedule because there is no order book: the spread is the fee. If cost matters most, NDAX (flat 0.20%) or Kraken Pro are cheaper places to buy in Canada. Ranges reflect each platform’s published band, not a single quote. Bank and network fees are not included.

What Do Bull Bitcoin And Uphold Offer Beyond Buying And Selling?

Bull Bitcoin Only

  • Bill payment with bitcoin (Bylls): Sell bitcoin to pay Canadian bill invoices. The CAD bill-payment payout is free from CAD 25 and takes 3 to 4 business days. Biller count and Bylls history: Not verified.
  • BULL Wallet: Open-source wallet with on-chain, Liquid and Lightning, Payjoin support. Lightning and Liquid-to-Bitcoin swaps run through Boltz, which suspended its service in August 2026, so those two functions fail until further notice. On-chain and Liquid send and receive still work. Bull Bitcoin says no funds are at risk.
  • Recurring buys and Autobuy: Scheduled DCA buys from your balance (hourly over Lightning and Liquid was announced). Autobuy turns every incoming fiat deposit into a buy and pays out to a default address or xpub you save.
  • Bull Bitcoin Prime: Advisory and OTC desk for individuals trading over $25,000, businesses and institutions: unlimited volumes, same-day wires, phone support. Discounted rates above $100,000 in volume.

Uphold Only

  • Anything to Anything: One-step swaps between crypto, metals and currencies. Not available to Canadians.
  • Vault: Self-held Vault accounts can be recovered through the Vault Recovery Site while you hold your private keys; Uphold keeps its Vault key 12 months after closure.

What Happens To Your Money If Bull Bitcoin Or Uphold Fails?

Bull Bitcoin: Bull Bitcoin holds no bitcoin for you, so a failure of the company cannot freeze your coins once they are paid out, but any CAD sitting in your account balance is uninsured and is not a bank, trust or payment account. There is no CSA registration, no CIRO membership and no CIPF, so there is no investor-protection fund behind that balance. A mistaken address, a scam or an unauthorised login is the user's loss under the terms. Lightning and Liquid features inside BULL Wallet depend on a third party, Boltz, which is suspended, so they can be down without any loss of funds.

Uphold: Uphold's pre-registration undertaking was withdrawn and its Canadian MSB registration expired, so no Canadian regulator covers a leftover balance. Crypto left after 2025-09-08 was converted to CAD and can still be withdrawn by Interac; do not leave it there, because unclaimed funds may be surrendered under unclaimed property laws. Vault users must act within the 12-month key window. Uphold says it hopes to return, but no date exists.

How Are Bull Bitcoin And Uphold Treated For Tax In Canada?

Bull Bitcoin: Every sell, bill payment made with bitcoin and bitcoin-to-CAD conversion is a disposition for CRA purposes, and a buy sets your cost base. Export your history as CSV from My account, Transactions and load it into a tax tool such as Koinly; there is no CRA-ready report or slip.

Uphold: The forced conversion to CAD after 2025-09-08 was a disposition, and trades on Uphold were dispositions for CRA purposes. Export your full history while you can still log in. Export formats: 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, Bull Bitcoin Or Uphold?

Choose Bull Bitcoin If

  • You want bitcoin delivered straight to your own wallet, with Interac, bill pay or wire funding at no fee.
  • You want to pay Canadian bills or credit cards with bitcoin.
  • You trade above $25,000 and want an OTC desk or a corporate account.
  • You do not need altcoins, a card or regulator-backed protection on your cash.

Choose Uphold 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.

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. One side of this comparison, Uphold, is not an option for Canadians any more. That changes the question from which one wins to what you should use instead.

What Happened To Uphold In Canada?

Left Canada

Status: Uphold stopped supporting accounts for Canadian residents on June 11, 2025 and says it hopes to return.

Uphold stopped supporting accounts for Canadian residents on June 11, 2025, saying "due to recent changes in our operating environment", and says it hopes to return. It had filed a pre-registration undertaking with the CSA on March 27, 2023 and delivered a notice of withdrawal on May 29, 2025.

After the September 8, 2025 withdrawal deadline, remaining crypto was converted to CAD. Accounts with balances are withdrawal-only by Interac e-Transfer, with limits of CAD 10,000 per transaction and CAD 100,000 per day. Its FINTRAC registration shows Expired on January 27, 2026.

If you still have a balance, Uphold's support page says it converts to CAD and can be withdrawn by Interac e-Transfer. Do not expect to buy anything new there.

What Should Uphold Users Use Instead?

If you only wanted Bitcoin, the other half of this comparison is the closest match: Bull Bitcoin sends every purchase to your own wallet, takes free Interac e-Transfer, bill payment and wire deposits, and is a FINTRAC-registered MSB. If you want other coins, the better fit is below.

Wealthsimple Crypto: Registered mainstream Canadian platform with simple CAD funding for a casual multi-asset buyer.

Wealthsimple Crypto at a glance
Wealthsimple Crypto
Trading CostFlat 0.5% fee plus a spread on market orders (example: 0.5% + 1.0% = 1.5%); Active Trader tiers from 0.5% down to 0% with no spread; CAD 1 on orders under CAD 100
CAD FundingInterac e-Transfer free (up to CAD 10,000 each); other methods not confirmed
CoinsBitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and 170+ other coins
RegistrationCSA-registered; CIRO investment dealer member (Wealthsimple Investments Inc.)

How Does Bull Bitcoin Work For Canadians Today?

Bull Bitcoin fees, funding and safety
Bull Bitcoin
Trading CostNo processing fee; the cost is a spread, about 2.0% each side of mid-price on a live quote (derived, not a published rate)
CAD DepositInterac e-Transfer, bill payment and wire are free; Canada Post cash or debit is a flat CAD 3.95
CAD WithdrawalCAD e-Transfer, bill payment and wire out are free (e-Transfer max CAD 10,000)
Crypto WithdrawalNo fee on-chain (min 0.001 BTC), none on Lightning or Liquid
CoinsBitcoin only (on-chain, Lightning, Liquid)
RegistrationFINTRAC-registered MSB (M16730720, registered, expires 2027-11-03); not on the CSA list
CustodyNon-custodial: coins go straight to your own wallet

Bull Bitcoin charges no processing fee. The cost sits inside the price as a spread, and a live quote on October 1, 2026 put each side about 2.0% from the mid-price. That number is derived from the quote, not a published rate, so treat it as a snapshot. Prime users over CAD 100,000 in volume get discounted rates.

Deposits are where Bull Bitcoin is flexible: Interac e-Transfer is free with no minimum or maximum and lands in about an hour during business hours, bill payment is free up to CAD 100,000 (3 to 4 business days), and a wire is free and settles same or next day. Cash or debit at Canada Post costs a flat CAD 3.95 (CAD 100 minimum, CAD 7,500 maximum). Selling out to your bank by e-Transfer, bill payment or wire costs nothing, with e-Transfer capped at CAD 10,000.

Bull Bitcoin sells Bitcoin and nothing else. You can take delivery on-chain, over Lightning or as Liquid BTC, and the site says plainly that it never touched altcoins.

Bull Bitcoin is a non-custodial service run by Satoshi Portal Inc., an Alberta corporation. Every purchase is sent to your own wallet, so there is no exchange balance for a hacker to drain. The trade-off is regulatory: it is a FINTRAC-registered money services business, not on the CSA list of authorized crypto platforms and not on the banned list. Boltz also suspended its swap services around August 2026, which affected Lightning and Liquid swaps inside BULL Wallet, with funds said to be safe.

Bull Bitcoin Pros And Cons

Pros

  • Every purchase goes straight to your own wallet
  • Free Interac e-Transfer, bill payment and wire deposits
  • Free on-chain, Lightning and Liquid payouts
  • FINTRAC-registered, Alberta-based operator
  • Canada Post cash and debit funding

Cons

  • Bitcoin only, no altcoins
  • Spread of about 2.0% each side costs more than the cheapest exchanges
  • Not a CSA-registered platform, so no securities-regulator oversight
  • CAD e-Transfer sell-outs capped at CAD 10,000

Which One Should You Choose Instead Of Uphold?

Bull Bitcoin suits anyone who wants Bitcoin sent straight to their own wallet, with flexible CAD funding and no exchange balance to manage.

Wealthsimple Crypto suits people who already invest with Wealthsimple and want crypto in the same registered app.

Key Dates For Bull Bitcoin And Uphold

  • : Uphold's deadline for Canadians to withdraw before remaining crypto was converted to CAD.
  • : Uphold stopped supporting accounts for Canadian residents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Uphold Still Available To Canadians?

Uphold stopped supporting accounts for Canadian residents on June 11, 2025 and says it hopes to return.

What Should I Use Instead Of Uphold?

Registered mainstream Canadian platform with simple CAD funding for a casual multi-asset buyer.

Wealthsimple Crypto: Flat 0.5% fee plus a spread on market orders (example: 0.5% + 1.0% = 1.5%); Active Trader tiers from 0.5% down to 0% with no spread; CAD 1 on orders under CAD 100. Coins: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and 170+ other coins.

Can I Still Recover My Funds From Uphold?

If you still have a balance, Uphold's support page says it converts to CAD and can be withdrawn by Interac e-Transfer. Do not expect to buy anything new there.

Is Bull Bitcoin Registered In Canada?

FINTRAC-registered MSB (M16730720, registered, expires 2027-11-03); not on the CSA list.

Is Bull Bitcoin A Good Choice In 2026?

Bull Bitcoin suits anyone who wants Bitcoin sent straight to their own wallet, with flexible CAD funding and no exchange balance to manage.

Do Bull Bitcoin And Uphold Have Limit Orders?

Bull Bitcoin: Retail buy limit orders exist, but there is no order book, you trade against Bull Bitcoin at its quoted price. Uphold: Not applicable.

Which Coins Can You Buy On Bull Bitcoin And Uphold?

Bull Bitcoin: Bitcoin only Uphold: 200+ globally, none for Canadians

Is The Spread The Fee On Bull Bitcoin And Uphold?

Bull Bitcoin: The spread is the fee: about 2.0% each side of mid on 2026-10-03 with no separate processing fee. Uphold: No longer applicable.

Does CIPF Cover My Crypto On Bull Bitcoin Or Uphold?

Bull Bitcoin: Bull Bitcoin is not a CIPF member; CIPF never covers crypto and this account balance is uninsured. Uphold: CIPF never covers crypto, and this platform no longer serves Canadians.

Are Bull Bitcoin And Uphold Available In Every Province?

Bull Bitcoin: Terms exclude no province but a full list is not published. Uphold: No longer available in any province.

Do Interac Deposits Work On Weekends On Bull Bitcoin And Uphold?

Bull Bitcoin: Not published; the page says about 1 hour during business hours. Uphold: No longer applicable.

What Is The Minimum Buy On Bull Bitcoin And Uphold?

Bull Bitcoin: Interac e-Transfer has no minimum; an on-chain payout needs at least 0.001 BTC. Uphold: No longer applicable.

Can A Business Use Bull Bitcoin Or Uphold?

Bull Bitcoin: Yes, corporate accounts and a Prime desk for businesses and institutions. Uphold: No longer applicable.

Author

Oleg Galeev, founder of OCryptoCanada

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. 

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