Note: Neither platform is available to Canadians. KuCoin is permanently banned from Ontario's capital markets and listed as a banned platform nationwide by the CSA. Bitvo wound down in November 2023 with client accounts migrated to Bitbuy, which is now owned by Robinhood following the June 2026 WonderFi acquisition. This comparison is preserved for historical reference only.
We’re comparing KuCoin and Bitvo, two significant players in the cryptocurrency exchange arena that once served Canadians. KuCoin is a globally recognized platform known for its extensive altcoin selection, permanently banned from Canada’s capital markets since June 2022. Bitvo was a Calgary-based exchange with a customer-centric approach and same-day guarantee, before its orderly wind-down in November 2023. Neither is available to Canadians in 2026.
KuCoin Vs Bitvo: Which Is Better For Canadians?
Neither is an option for Canadians today. KuCoin is on the CSA banned list after the Ontario Securities Commission ordered it permanently out of Ontario's markets in June 2022, and other provinces reciprocated. Bitvo stopped operating on its own in November 2023 when Bitbuy bought all of its client accounts and the Bitvo.com domain. 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.
KuCoin Vs Bitvo: Master Spec Table
KuCoin
Bitvo
Winner
Company
Banned entities: Mek Global Limited (Seychelles) and PhoenixFin Pte. Ltd. (Singapore). No Canadian entity. Founders and funding: Not published.
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.
FINTRAC MSB M20580992 Ceased 2024-10-08. Bitvo Inc. is under CSA Expired Decisions.
Tie
Assets
700+ coins globally, not for Canadians.
Small list: BTC, ETH, XRP, LTC, ADA, QCAD.
Depends
Price
Maker/taker from about 0.1% / 0.1%, VIP tiers, 20% off with KCS. Not for Canadians.
Zero trading commission, revenue from the spread (rate Not published). 1% withdrawal fee, $15 minimum.
Depends
CAD In
No longer available to Canadians
Free deposits; Interac e-Transfer about 30 minutes, no minimum deposit.
Depends
CAD Out
No longer available to Canadians
1% withdrawal fee with a $15 minimum.
Depends
Crypto In And Out
Free crypto deposits, variable withdrawal fees. Transfers from KuCoin to regulated Canadian exchanges may be blocked.
No longer available to Canadians
Depends
Custody
Hacked for $275M in 2020 (about $200M recovered). Not recognized in Canada; no recourse.
Full reserve, never lent customer funds. BitGo custody, over 80% in cold storage.
Depends
Verification (KYC)
No longer available to Canadians
No longer available to Canadians
Depends
Account Types
No longer available to Canadians
No longer available to Canadians
Depends
Provinces
Banned in Ontario and reciprocated elsewhere. KuCoin's terms (updated 2026-09-29) name Ontario and British Columbia as Restricted Locations, not all of Canada.
What Are The Key Differences Between KuCoin And Bitvo?
KuCoin Vs Bitvo: Side By Side
KuCoin
Bitvo
Description
KuCoin is a Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange known for its huge altcoin selection, futures trading and trading bots, serving tens of millions of users worldwide. It is not available to Canadians: it is permanently banned from Ontario's capital markets, appears on the CSA's banned platform list, and its mandatory identity verification blocks Canadian sign-ups.
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.
Coins
700+ coins globally, not accessible from Canada.
A small selection including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Litecoin, Cardano and QCAD, Canada's first mass-market stablecoin.
Fees
Low maker/taker trading fees starting around 0.1% and 0.1%, decreasing with VIP level. Free crypto deposits, variable withdrawal fees. KCS holders got a 20% discount on trading fees.
Free deposits, zero trading fees (revenue came from the spread), and a 1% withdrawal fee with a $15 minimum.
Pros
Huge range of altcoins
Advanced order types, futures, lending and trading bots
Low fees
Licensed in some regions (MiCA in the EU via Austria, AUSTRAC in Australia)
None of this is available to Canadians
No trading fees
The Same Day Guarantee
The Bitvo Cash Card
Rare 24/7 phone support
Cons
Permanently banned from Ontario's capital markets with about CAD 2 million in penalties, a ruling reciprocated across Canada
Mandatory KYC since July 2023 ended anonymous trading
Warning: using a VPN to get around the block violates KuCoin's terms, and KuCoin can freeze accounts and withhold funds from users dodging geo-blocks
Hacked for $275 million in 2020
Guilty plea in the US with about $297 million in penalties
Regulated Canadian exchanges have blocked incoming transfers from KuCoin
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
Security
$275 million was stolen in the 2020 hack attributed to North Korean hackers, with around $200 million later recovered. 2FA available, mandatory KYC and tightened compliance since 2023.
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.
Methods To Buy
Canadians cannot buy crypto on KuCoin. Verification requires ID from a supported country, and Canada is not one. Legacy users should withdraw, but transfers arriving directly at regulated Canadian exchanges from KuCoin may be blocked, so route through your own wallet first.
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.
App
The app works in supported countries but is inaccessible to Canadians.
Not published. The website and apps are no longer operational.
Account Limits
Not applicable for Canadians. Elsewhere limits depend on KYC tier; unverified legacy accounts can only sell or withdraw.
No minimum deposit. Free 30-minute Interac e-Transfer deposits.
How Do You Fund And Cash Out KuCoin And Bitvo 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
No funding for Canadians. Legacy users can only withdraw. All funding now ended. Accounts moved to Bitbuy.
What Do KuCoin And Bitvo Offer Beyond Buying And Selling?
KuCoin Only
Futures, lending and trading bots (historic): KuCoin offered futures, lending and bots globally. Not available to Canadians.
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 KuCoin Or Bitvo Fails?
KuCoin: KuCoin is banned by Canadian regulators, so there is no registered Canadian entity, no CIPF cover and no complaint route that gets your money back. If you hold funds, withdraw to a wallet you control before sending anywhere else, because transfers straight to Canadian exchanges may be blocked. Warning: using a VPN violates its terms and can freeze your account. It was also hacked for $275 million in 2020.
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.
How Are KuCoin And Bitvo Treated For Tax In Canada?
KuCoin: Trades on KuCoin were dispositions for CRA purposes. Export your history now. Export formats: Not published.
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.
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, KuCoin Or Bitvo?
Choose KuCoin 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 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.
What Happened To KuCoin?
KuCoin is on the CSA banned list after the Ontario Securities Commission ordered it permanently out of Ontario's markets in June 2022, and other provinces reciprocated.
The OSC decision of June 21, 2022 named Mek Global Limited (Seychelles) and PhoenixFin Pte. Ltd. (Singapore). It imposed a permanent ban on market participation, a CAD 2,000,000 administrative penalty and CAD 96,550.35 in costs, and other provinces and territories reciprocated.
I found no KuCoin or Mek Global entry in the FINTRAC registry when I checked on October 2, 2026. KuCoin's own Terms of Use, updated September 29, 2026, list Ontario and British Columbia among restricted locations, though they do not name all of Canada.
The registry has no official instruction for people who still hold funds there. I would not deposit more, and I would not try to get around the ban: any workaround breaches KuCoin's own rules and leaves you with no Canadian regulator to complain to. Contact KuCoin support directly about getting your balance out.
What Happened To Bitvo?
Bitvo stopped operating on its own in November 2023 when Bitbuy bought all of its client accounts and the Bitvo.com domain.
The acquisition closed on November 14 and 15, 2023. This was a merger and not a departure from Canada: more than 17,000 client accounts, per WonderFi, were moved to Bitbuy. Bitvo Inc. now appears under Expired Decisions on the CSA site, its FINTRAC registration ceased October 8, 2024, and bitvo.com no longer resolves in DNS.
The story did not stop there. Bitbuy accounts moved to Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. in May 2024, and after Robinhood closed its WonderFi purchase on June 1, 2026, the Bitbuy site tells users it is part of Robinhood.
If your account was migrated, you are a Bitbuy customer and therefore dealing with the Robinhood-owned platform now, so use Bitbuy's migration support article to find your account. I do not point new users there, because Bitbuy is being folded into Robinhood.
What Should KuCoin And Bitvo Users Use Instead?
Neither platform is an option, so here are the registered alternatives I point people to, with what I can verify about each.
Kraken: Beginners who want to learn, then cheaper trading on Kraken Pro. It is a registered Canadian dealer with a wide coin choice, which is the sensible replacement here.
Kraken At A Glance
Item
Detail
Regulator
Restricted Dealer with the OSC and every provincial and territorial regulator (Payward Canada Inc., CSA decision April 1, 2025), FINTRAC MSB M19343731. Not a CIRO member.
Trading Cost
Kraken Pro starts at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker for the first tier, dropping to 0.30% and 0.60% from USD 2,500 of 30-day volume and 0.22% and 0.38% from USD 10,000.
CAD Funding
Free Interac e-Transfer deposits
Coins
About 498 tickers (derived)
Best For
Beginners who want to learn, then cheaper trading on Kraken Pro
NDAX: Low flat fees and cheap cash-outs to your bank. It is a registered Canadian platform with CAD funding, a fit for the people this platform used to serve.
NDAX At A Glance
Item
Detail
Regulator
Investment dealer and marketplace, CIRO Dealer Member terms imposed December 19, 2024, FINTRAC MSB M18632135.
Trading Cost
NDAX charges a flat 0.20% on every buy and sell, with no volume tiers and no maker or taker split.
How Do KuCoin And Bitvo Compare On Fees, Funding, And Coins?
KuCoin Vs Bitvo, Verified Facts
Item
KuCoin
Bitvo
Status
Banned by the CSA; nothing available to Canadians
Merged into Bitbuy in 2023
Trading Fees
None available
None available
CAD Funding
None available
None available
Coins
None available
None available
KuCoin, in the past tense: Nothing KuCoin offered has been available to Canadians under Canadian law since the ban, and I do not publish old fee or coin numbers for it.
Bitvo, in the past tense: Bitvo was an Alberta-origin exchange. Its fees and coin lists went with the platform, and I do not publish old numbers for it.
Which Is Safer?
KuCoin. KuCoin is on the CSA banned list. That is the whole safety story for a Canadian, because there is no registered Canadian entity, no CIRO oversight, and no FINTRAC MSB entry that I could find.
Bitvo. Bitvo no longer exists as a platform, so there is nothing to assess for new users. Its former clients sit with the platform that absorbed them.
Who Should Choose KuCoin, And Who Should Choose Bitvo?
Nobody opening a new account in Canada should choose KuCoin. Status: banned by the csa; nothing available to canadians. Existing customers should follow the withdrawal guidance above.
Nobody opening a new account in Canada should choose Bitvo. Status: merged into bitbuy in 2023. Existing customers should follow the withdrawal guidance above.
What Changed For KuCoin And Bitvo In October 2026?
KuCoin updated its Terms of Use, which still list Ontario and British Columbia among restricted locations.
Kraken republished its fee schedule page, which shows the Pro spot entry tier at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker.
Robinhood closed its WonderFi purchase, and the Bitbuy site now says it is part of Robinhood.
Kraken's Canadian entity received its CSA Restricted Dealer decision and announced free Interac e-Transfer deposits.
NDAX Canada Inc. received its CSA decision and CIRO membership as an investment dealer.
Bitvo Inc.'s FINTRAC registration was marked ceased.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is KuCoin Available In Canada?
KuCoin is on the CSA banned list after the Ontario Securities Commission ordered it permanently out of Ontario's markets in June 2022, and other provinces reciprocated.
What Should I Use Instead Of KuCoin?
Kraken is the closest fit I can verify. Beginners who want to learn, then cheaper trading on Kraken Pro.
Is Bitvo Available In Canada?
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?
NDAX is the closest fit I can verify. Low flat fees and cheap cash-outs to your bank.
Can I Still Get My Money Out Of KuCoin?
The registry has no official instruction for people who still hold funds there. I would not deposit more, and I would not try to get around the ban: any workaround breaches KuCoin's own rules and leaves you with no Canadian regulator to complain to. Contact KuCoin support directly about getting your balance out.
Do KuCoin And Bitvo Have Limit Orders?
KuCoin: Yes globally, not for Canadians. Bitvo: Not published
Which Coins Can You Buy On KuCoin And Bitvo?
KuCoin: 700+ globally, none for Canadians Bitvo: Small list, closed
Is The Spread The Fee On KuCoin And Bitvo?
KuCoin: No longer applicable. Bitvo: No longer applicable.
Does CIPF Cover My Crypto On KuCoin Or Bitvo?
KuCoin: CIPF never covers crypto, and this platform no longer serves Canadians. Bitvo: CIPF never covers crypto, and this platform no longer serves Canadians.
Are KuCoin And Bitvo Available In Every Province?
KuCoin: Banned in Ontario and reciprocated across Canada. Bitvo: No longer available in any province.
Do Interac Deposits Work On Weekends On KuCoin And Bitvo?
KuCoin: No longer applicable. Bitvo: No longer applicable.
What Is The Minimum Buy On KuCoin And Bitvo?
KuCoin: No longer applicable. Bitvo: No longer applicable.
Can A Business Use KuCoin Or Bitvo?
KuCoin: No longer applicable. Bitvo: No longer applicable.
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.
