In this comparison between KuCoin and Gate.io, we explore the key differences and similarities between these two popular cryptocurrency exchanges. Both platforms offer a wide range of altcoins and competitive features, but neither is available to Canadians. KuCoin is permanently banned from Ontario’s capital markets and appears on the CSA’s banned platform list nationwide. Gate (rebranded to Gate.com in May 2025) has listed Canada as a restricted jurisdiction since April 2022. This comparison is largely historical.
KuCoin Vs Gate.io: 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. 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.
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
700+ coins globally, not for Canadians.
2,053 base assets across 2,202 spot pairs (public API, 2026-10-02), none open to Canadians.
Depends
Price
Maker/taker from about 0.1% / 0.1%, VIP tiers, 20% off with KCS. Not for Canadians.
Spot base fee 0.2% per pair in the public API (2026-10-02). Irrelevant to Canadians.
Depends
CAD In
No longer available to Canadians
No CAD funding. Canada is a restricted location, so Canadians cannot fund an account.
Depends
CAD Out
No longer available to Canadians
No CAD withdrawal to a Canadian bank is published.
Depends
Crypto In And Out
Free crypto deposits, variable withdrawal fees. Transfers from KuCoin to regulated Canadian exchanges may be blocked.
Not applicable to Canadians. No new account can be opened from Canada.
Depends
Custody
Hacked for $275M in 2020 (about $200M recovered). Not recognized in Canada; no recourse.
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
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.
0 of 13. The restriction names all of Canada, not a single province.
Depends
Extra Products
No longer available to Canadians
Not applicable to Canadians.
Depends
Tax Tools
No longer available to Canadians
Not verified
Depends
App
Not accessible to Canadians.
Not applicable. Gate says it has no Canadian service;
What Are The Key Differences Between KuCoin And Gate.io?
KuCoin Vs Gate.io: Side By Side
KuCoin
Gate.io
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.
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
700+ coins globally, not accessible from Canada.
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
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.
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
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
Thousands of altcoins were available
Advanced trading features and tools
Not available to Canadians, so none of this is usable
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
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
$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.
that claim was not confirmed here. Gate's FINTRAC MSB registration M20329002 (Gate Technology Corp.) expired 2023-05-31.
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.
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
The app works in supported countries but is inaccessible to Canadians.
Not applicable to Canadians.
Account Limits
Not applicable for Canadians. Elsewhere limits depend on KYC tier; unverified legacy accounts can only sell or withdraw.
No longer applicable. n/a for Canadians, since accounts cannot be opened from Canada.
How Do You Fund And Cash Out KuCoin And Gate.io In Canada?
No funding for Canadians. Legacy users can only withdraw. 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 KuCoin And Gate.io Offer Beyond Buying And Selling?
KuCoin Only
Futures, lending and trading bots (historic): KuCoin offered futures, lending and bots globally. Not available to Canadians.
What Happens To Your Money If KuCoin Or Gate.io 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.
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 KuCoin And Gate.io Treated For Tax In Canada?
KuCoin: Trades on KuCoin were dispositions for CRA purposes. Export your history now. 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, KuCoin Or Gate.io?
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 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.
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 Gate.io?
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's user agreement says its restricted locations include, among others, the United States, Mainland China, Singapore, Canada, France and Germany. It is on neither the CSA authorized list nor the banned list, and its FINTRAC registration (Gate Technology Corp.) expired May 31, 2023 with no current one found.
There is no CAD funding. The public API shows a 0.2% base spot fee and 2,053 base assets across 2,202 tradable spot pairs, but because Canada is a restricted location, Canadians cannot use it under its own terms.
If you hold funds there, read its user agreement and contact its support. I do not recommend opening a new account, because its own terms bar Canadian residents and no Canadian investor protection applies.
What Should KuCoin And Gate.io 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
How Do KuCoin And Gate.io Compare On Fees, Funding, And Coins?
KuCoin Vs Gate.io, Verified Facts
Item
KuCoin
Gate.io
Status
Banned by the CSA; nothing available to Canadians
Offshore; terms restrict Canada
Trading Fees
None available
0.2% base spot fee (offshore, Canadians barred)
CAD Funding
None available
None found
Coins
None available
2,053 base assets (offshore list)
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.
Gate.io, in the past tense: Gate.io's draw is a very large altcoin list, 2,053 base assets in its public data, at a base spot fee of 0.2%. Those are figures for the offshore platform, not something you can use as a Canadian.
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.
Gate.io. Gate.io is offshore, with no CSA registration and no current FINTRAC registration. Its terms restrict Canadians, so a dispute would leave you without Canadian recourse.
Who Should Choose KuCoin, And Who Should Choose Gate.io?
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 Gate.io. Status: offshore; terms restrict canada. Existing customers should follow the withdrawal guidance above.
What Changed For KuCoin And Gate.io In October 2026?
I read Gate.io's current user agreement, and Canada is still listed as a restricted location.
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.
Kraken's Canadian entity received its CSA Restricted Dealer decision and announced free Interac e-Transfer deposits.
The OSC ordered KuCoin's operators permanently out of Ontario's capital markets, with a CAD 2,000,000 penalty.
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 Gate.io Available In Canada?
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?
Kraken is the closest fit I can verify. Beginners who want to learn, then cheaper trading on Kraken Pro.
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 Gate.io Have Limit Orders?
KuCoin: Yes globally, not for Canadians. Gate.io: Not applicable, Canadians cannot use Gate.
Which Coins Can You Buy On KuCoin And Gate.io?
KuCoin: 700+ globally, none for Canadians Gate.io: 2,053 base assets, none open to Canadians
Is The Spread The Fee On KuCoin And Gate.io?
KuCoin: No longer applicable. Gate.io: Not applicable.
Does CIPF Cover My Crypto On KuCoin Or Gate.io?
KuCoin: 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 KuCoin And Gate.io Available In Every Province?
KuCoin: Banned in Ontario and reciprocated across Canada. Gate.io: None, Canada is a Restricted Location.
Do Interac Deposits Work On Weekends On KuCoin And Gate.io?
KuCoin: No longer applicable. Gate.io: No Interac e-Transfer, CAD was never supported.
What Is The Minimum Buy On KuCoin And Gate.io?
KuCoin: No longer applicable. Gate.io: Not applicable.
Can A Business Use KuCoin Or Gate.io?
KuCoin: 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.
