Note: ByBit is not available to Canadians. ByBit exited the Canadian market on September 30, 2023, paid a roughly $2.5 million OSC penalty, and Canada remains on its restricted jurisdictions list with no return announced. Netcoins is the only active platform here.
This comparison looks at ByBit and Netcoins, two significant players in the cryptocurrency exchange market. ByBit offers a global reach with advanced trading features, and is completely off-limits to Canadians since September 2023. Netcoins specifically caters to Canadians, with a flat 0.5% fee, 60+ coins, seven-day phone support and a Visa card with 3% bitcoin cashback. This comparison is preserved for historical reference only.
Bybit Vs Netcoins: Which Is Better For Canadians?
Netcoins wins by default for Canadians. Bybit left Canada in 2023: it stopped opening Canadian accounts on May 31, 2023, ended new deposits and contracts on July 31, and set September 30, 2023 as the date remaining positions would be liquidated. Since Bybit no longer operates for Canadians, I recommend Coinbase (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.
Bybit Vs Netcoins: Master Spec Table
Bybit
Netcoins
Winner
Company
Bybit, HQ Dubai. Canadian FINTRAC entity: Bybit Fintech (Canada) Limited. OSC settled with Bybit Fintech Limited on 2022-06-22. Founder and funding: Not published.
Netcoins Inc., Vancouver; founded 2014; owned by Surge Digital Inc (TSXV: SRGE, formerly BIGG Digital Assets). Founders and staff: Not published.
Depends
Regulation
FINTRAC MSB M20624645 (Bybit Fintech (Canada) Limited) Expired 2025-03-08. Not on the CSA authorized or banned list. OSC settlement 2022-06-22, USD 2,468,910 disgorged.
CSA restricted dealer (BCSC principal regulator; amended decision Sept 16, 2026). FINTRAC MSB M15560893, expiry 2027-10-15. Not CIRO. CIPF: no crypto cover.
Netcoins
Assets
1,800+ coins globally, not for new Canadian accounts.
65 coins on the fee page (60+ advertised), one trade-only. Solana added to the permitted list 2026-09-16. Broker model, no public order book.
Netcoins
Price
Low fees on derivatives, roughly 3% on third-party card payments; schedule Not published. Not applicable.
No separate trading fee; price includes a spread, percentage Not published. Flat crypto withdrawal fees per coin. VIP/Prime discount Not published.
Netcoins
CAD In
No longer available to Canadians
Interac e-Transfer free, about 15 to 30 minutes. Bank wire free over CAD 3,000. Crypto deposits free.
Netcoins
CAD Out
No longer available to Canadians
Interac e-Transfer free; wire CAD 50 under CAD 25,000.
Netcoins
Crypto In And Out
No longer available to Canadians
On-chain withdrawals with flat per-coin fees (0.00014 BTC, 0.003 ETH) and minimums of 2x the fee. Lightning and Liquid: Not verified.
Netcoins
Custody
Cold storage and 2FA; proof of reserves published after the 2025 hack. No Canadian entity holds assets.
Custodial. Majority in BitGo cold storage, Fireblocks hot wallets, multi-sig, insured (amount Not published). No proof of reserves found.
Netcoins
Verification (KYC)
No longer available to Canadians
Government ID verification and appropriateness checks; selfie, address and SIN not stated on the security page. Old table said automated verification in about 2 minutes.
Depends
Account Types
No longer available to Canadians
Personal, private wealth, corporate and institutional, OTC, API and enterprise offered. TFSA/RRSP: Not verified.
Netcoins
Provinces
No longer available to Canadians
Registered in all provinces, Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. French and Quebec product limits Not verified.
Netcoins
Extra Products
No longer available to Canadians
Not verified
Netcoins
Tax Tools
No longer available to Canadians
Not verified.
Netcoins
App
Not available to Canadians.
iOS Canada 4.53 (753 ratings); Google Play Not verified. Web app yes.
Netcoins
Support
No longer available to Canadians
Phone +1 844 515 2646 (7 days, 8 am to 2 pm PST), email and contact form (7 days, 6 am to 8 pm PST). French Not verified.
What Are The Key Differences Between Bybit And Netcoins?
Bybit Vs Netcoins: Side By Side
Bybit
Netcoins
Description
Bybit is a global exchange headquartered in Dubai, with over 1,800 cryptocurrencies. It exited the Canadian market in 2023 and has stayed unavailable to Canadians, with Canada on its restricted jurisdictions list. Its own Canada notice said it acted in light of recent regulatory development.
Netcoins is a Vancouver-based Canadian crypto exchange founded in 2014 and now owned by Surge Digital Inc (TSXV: SRGE), formerly BIGG Digital Assets. One of the first platforms registered with Canadian securities regulators, it focuses on making crypto simple for beginners, with all-in pricing and free Interac funding.
Coins
1,800+ crypto coins globally, none open to new Canadian accounts.
60+ cryptocurrencies (65 listed on the fee page, one, Bittensor, trade-only), including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Cardano, DOGE, SHIB, USDC, Avalanche and Polkadot.
Fees
Low trading fees, especially on derivatives; roughly 3% card payment fees via third-party providers; no P2P fees; crypto withdrawal fees varied by coin. Not applicable to Canadians.
No separate trading fee: the price you see includes Netcoins' spread, and the spread percentage is not published. The old flat 0.5% trading fee is no longer on the fee page. Interac e-Transfer deposits and cash withdrawals are free. Wire deposits are free over CAD 3,000. Wire withdrawals under CAD 25,000 cost CAD 50. Crypto withdrawal fees are flat per coin (for example 0.00014 BTC).
Pros
Huge coin selection
Staking, lending and Earn products
OTC desk
Copy trading and trading bots
Low trading fees
Covered 100% of user losses after its 2025 hack, restoring reserves within 72 hours
Restricted dealer registered with the BCSC and regulators in all provinces and territories, plus FINTRAC MSB registration
Free Interac funding and withdrawals
All-in pricing with no separate trading fee line
Staking on ETH, SOL and ATOM
Phone, email and chat support 7 days a week
Owned by a publicly traded company
OTC desk for large trades
Cons
Not available in Canada since 2023, with no return in sight
Suffered the largest crypto hack in history in February 2025 (about $1.5 billion in ETH stolen)
Mandatory KYC since 2023, so the old no-verification signup no longer exists
Advanced platform can be confusing for beginners
No CAD support, only card payments or third-party on-ramps for fiat
Spread percentage is not published, so the real cost is hidden in the price
Fewer coins than the biggest platforms
No advanced charting or pro order types (Oleg's original note, not re-tested)
Wire fees under the free thresholds
Netcoins app rated 4.5 on Apple Canada but few ratings
Security
Cold storage for assets and 2FA. Proof of Reserves published after the 2025 incident.
Majority of funds in BitGo cold storage with Fireblocks for hot wallets, multi-signature wallets and mandatory 2FA, per Netcoins' security page. It also states an insurance policy without naming the amount or insurer. CIPF never covers crypto.
Methods To Buy
Canadians cannot buy crypto on Bybit. Account creation requires full identity verification tied to your ID country, so VPN workarounds do not work and risk frozen funds. Elsewhere funding was via third-party card providers such as Banxa or MoonPay, crypto deposits and a P2P marketplace.
Interac e-Transfer, bank wire, crypto deposits.
App
A well-rated app exists in supported countries but is inaccessible to Canadians.
Netcoins app on Apple Canada rated 4.53 from 753 ratings (2026-10-03). Google Play rating Not verified.
Account Limits
Not applicable. Legacy Canadian accounts were set to withdrawal-only; elsewhere withdrawal limits depend on KYC level, starting around 20,000 USDT per day for basic accounts.
Restricted dealer purchase limits apply on a rolling 12 months for certain investors on restricted assets; dollar amounts are not stated in the CSA variation order.
How Do You Fund And Cash Out Bybit And Netcoins In Canada?
Netcoins: CAD Deposits
Method
Fee
Minimum
Maximum
Speed
Interac e-Transfer
Free
Not verified
Not published
typically 15 to 30 minutes
Bank wire
Free over CAD 3,000; under that Not published
Not verified
Not published
Not published
Crypto deposit
Free
Not published
Not published
Network speed
Netcoins: CAD Withdrawals
Method
Fee
Minimum
Maximum
Speed
Interac e-Transfer
Free
Not published
Not published
Not published
Bank wire
CAD 50 processing fee under CAD 25,000
Not published
Not published
Not published
Legacy Canadian accounts are withdrawal-only. No current funding methods. Not verified
What Does It Actually Cost To Buy On Netcoins?
Worked Cost, Buy Only And Buy Plus Sell (Round Trip)
Amount
Netcoins Buy
Netcoins Round Trip
CAD 100
Not published
Not published
CAD 500
Not published
Not published
CAD 1,000
Not published
Not published
CAD 10,000
Not published
Not published
Netcoins:Netcoins states no separate trading fee and an all-in price; the spread percentage is not published (2026-10-03). The old 0.5% flat fee is gone. 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 Bybit And Netcoins Offer Beyond Buying And Selling?
Bybit Only
Derivatives, copy trading, Earn (historic): Bybit offered derivatives, copy trading bots, staking, lending and an OTC desk globally. Canadian retail access ended in 2023.
Netcoins Only
Staking: Staking on ETH, SOL and ATOM while the crypto stays held by Netcoins.
Crypto lending: Borrow CAD against crypto with same-day funding; rates and LTV Not verified.
OTC desk: Large trades with dedicated account managers and same-day settlement.
Referral program: Invite a friend and both earn a cash reward after they sign up and trade; the amount is Not verified.
What Happens To Your Money If Bybit Or Netcoins Fails?
Bybit: Bybit has no Canadian registration or recognition, so no Canadian regulator stands behind a balance there. If you still hold funds, withdraw them to a wallet you control; Canadian accounts were set to withdrawal-only. Bybit's February 2025 hack, which it covered in full, shows the platform risk even outside Canada. VPN use breaks its terms and can freeze funds.
Netcoins: Netcoins is a CSA restricted dealer under the BCSC, so it must follow custody, disclosure and limit conditions, but CIPF never covers crypto. Customer crypto sits mostly in BitGo cold storage and Fireblocks hot wallets, and Netcoins says it carries insurance without giving the amount or insurer. No proof of reserves was found. If Netcoins failed or was hacked, you would rely on those custodians and any insurer paying out, and you would be an unsecured creditor for the rest. The parent company changed its name to Surge Digital Inc in 2026.
How Are Bybit And Netcoins Treated For Tax In Canada?
Bybit: Trades on Bybit were dispositions for CRA purposes. Export your history while withdrawal access lasts. Export formats: Not published.
Netcoins: Buying with CAD is not a disposition. Selling, swapping and spending crypto are dispositions you report to the CRA, and staking rewards are income. Export formats were not verified.
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, Bybit Or Netcoins?
Choose Bybit 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 Netcoins If
You want a broker app with 60+ coins, free Interac funding and phone support
You value a long-registered Canadian dealer owned by a public company
You can accept an unpublished spread in exchange for simple all-in prices
What Happened To Bybit?
Bybit left Canada in 2023. It stopped opening Canadian accounts on May 31, 2023, ended new deposits and contracts on July 31, and set September 30, 2023 as the date remaining positions would be liquidated. Bybit's own notice cited "recent regulatory development" under Canadian CSA rules.
The Ontario Securities Commission had already settled with Bybit Fintech Limited on June 22, 2022, with USD 2,468,910 disgorged. Its Canadian money services business registration (Bybit Fintech (Canada) Limited) shows as expired on March 8, 2025, and Bybit sits on neither the CSA authorized list nor the banned list.
Bybit Status Record
Item
Detail
Status
Left Canada in 2023
Last dates
May 31, July 31 and September 30, 2023
Regulatory record
OSC settlement of June 22, 2022; FINTRAC registration expired March 8, 2025
Return announced
No
What Should Bybit Users Use Instead?
Netcoins is the platform in this matchup that Canadians can actually use, so it wins by default. That is not the same as saying it is right for everyone, so here is how it stacks up.
For Bybit users, the closest replacement is Kraken. Kraken is a registered Canadian dealer with a wide altcoin list. Bybit-style derivatives are not available to Canadian retail anywhere.
Registered Options Compared
Platform
Status
Fees
CAD Funding
Coins
Netcoins
CSA-registered restricted dealer
No separate fee; spread not published
Free Interac e-Transfer
65 listed
Kraken
CSA-registered Restricted Dealer
Kraken Pro 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker; Instant Buy 1%
Free Interac e-Transfer deposits
About 490 (derived)
Netcoins: Fees, Funding And Safety
Netcoins charges no separate trading fee: the quoted price includes its spread, and the spread percentage is not published on its fee page. Because you cannot see the spread in advance, compare a quote against another platform before a large buy.
Interac e-Transfer is free for deposits and cash withdrawals. Wire deposits are free over CAD 3,000, and wire withdrawals carry a CAD 50 processing fee under CAD 25,000. Netcoins' official fee page lists 65 coins, one of which (Bittensor) is trade-only.
Netcoins Inc. is a restricted dealer with the BC Securities Commission as principal regulator, and a FINTRAC-registered money services business. Certain investors in specific jurisdictions face an investment limit on purchases and sales over a rolling 12 months, except for listed assets.
It suits a Canadian-run buy-sell-hold app with a long list of coins.
Kraken Pro starts at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker at the entry tier and drops to 0.30% and 0.60% from CAD 2,500 of 30-day volume. Instant Buy and recurring buys cost 1% plus a spread, and custom orders cost 1.5%.
Interac e-Transfer deposits are free (minimum CAD 5, up to CAD 10,000 per transaction). Withdrawing by Interac costs CAD 10. Wire deposits are free, with an intermediary bank fee noted at 13.74. Kraken publishes no Canadian coin count. Taking its public pair list and removing the tickers its own Canada restrictions page bars gives roughly 490, which is a derived figure, not an official one.
Payward Canada Inc. (Kraken) is a CSA Restricted Dealer (decision of April 1, 2025) and a FINTRAC-registered money services business. It is not a CIRO member. Its Proof of Reserves snapshot of June 30, 2026 showed reserve ratios of 102.9% for BTC and 100.5% for ETH. Canadians cannot use margin or derivatives on Kraken.
It suits someone who wants a wide coin list and cheaper trading on Kraken Pro once past the first purchase.
Netcoins: a Canadian-run buy-sell-hold app with a long list of coins.
Kraken: someone who wants a wide coin list and cheaper trading on Kraken Pro once past the first purchase.
If you are still deciding, my 60-second quiz narrows it down, and my full ranking shows all ten picks with scores.
How Can You Check Whether An Exchange Is Allowed In Canada?
Do it before you deposit a dollar, because the status of a platform can change in months. Four checks take about ten minutes.
Look for the platform on the CSA list of crypto platforms authorized to do business with Canadians.
Search the CSA banned crypto platforms list, which includes entities ordered out by the Ontario Securities Commission and reciprocated by other provinces.
Search the FINTRAC money services business registry for the legal entity, and read the status column, because "Expired", "Ceased" and "Revoked" all mean the registration is gone.
Read the platform's own terms for a list of restricted locations. If Canada, or your province, is named, you are not allowed to use it, and a registered regulator cannot help you if something goes wrong.
Registration is also not the same as insurance. Crypto held at any Canadian platform is not covered by CIPF, so a registered dealer lowers the risk but does not remove it.
What Changed For Bybit Vs Netcoins In October 2026?
: The CSA issued an amended decision for Netcoins, and Solana was added to the assets exempt from its investment limit.
: The date Bybit set for liquidating remaining Canadian positions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Canadians Still Use Bybit In 2026?
No. Bybit stopped opening Canadian accounts on May 31, 2023 and ended new deposits and contracts on July 31, 2023. It is not on the CSA authorized list, so there is nothing to sign up for.
Which Is Better For Canadians, Bybit Or Netcoins?
Netcoins, because Bybit is not a usable option for Canadians. Its status: CSA-registered restricted dealer.
What Does Netcoins Cost?
Netcoins charges no separate trading fee: the quoted price includes its spread, and the spread percentage is not published on its fee page. Because you cannot see the spread in advance, compare a quote against another platform before a large buy.
How Do I Check If A Crypto Exchange Is Registered In Canada?
Check the CSA authorized list and the CSA banned list, search the FINTRAC money services business registry for the legal entity, and read the platform's own terms for restricted locations. Treat "Expired", "Ceased" and "Revoked" as meaning the registration is gone.
Do Bybit And Netcoins Have Limit Orders?
Bybit: Yes globally, not for Canadians. Netcoins: No; Netcoins is a buy-and-sell broker with instant prices (not re-tested).
Which Coins Can You Buy On Bybit And Netcoins?
Bybit: 1,800+ globally, none for new Canadians Netcoins: 60+ coins incl. BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, USDC
Is The Spread The Fee On Bybit And Netcoins?
Bybit: No longer applicable. Netcoins: The price includes Netcoins' spread and no separate trading fee is shown, so the spread is the fee.
Does CIPF Cover My Crypto On Bybit Or Netcoins?
Bybit: CIPF never covers crypto, and this platform no longer serves Canadians. Netcoins: CIPF never covers crypto.
Are Bybit And Netcoins Available In Every Province?
Bybit: No longer available in any province. Netcoins: Registered in all provinces and territories.
Do Interac Deposits Work On Weekends On Bybit And Netcoins?
Bybit: No longer applicable. Netcoins: Not verified; Interac deposits usually take 15 to 30 minutes.
What Is The Minimum Buy On Bybit And Netcoins?
Bybit: No longer applicable. Netcoins: Not published; Interac deposit minimum was CAD 10.
Can A Business Use Bybit Or Netcoins?
Bybit: No longer applicable. Netcoins: Yes, corporate and institutional accounts and OTC are offered.
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.