Kucoin vs Shakepay: What Works Better For Canadians in 2024

Security Compliance

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

Keep in mind, $275 million worth of crypto was stolen from Kucoin by North Korean hackers in 2020. Later, $200 million of the stolen funds was recovered. Still, it doesn’t bode well for Kucoin. If you have funds on the exchange, it’s best to move them to a private crypto wallet. 

Shakepay hold users’ funds in cold storage, though they do not publicize the percentage. Shakepay has existed since 2015, and so far, never has been hacked.

Shakepay states on its website that digital assets are backed by an insurance policy, though it does not mention any details. 

Shakepay also offers two-factor authentication (2FA) for their customers, so you can be sure no one else is accessing your account. With Shakepay, you will also need to confirm via email when withdrawing funds. If you set up 2FA for your email account, you can be pretty sure no unauthorized person is withdrawing funds from your account.

Each of these exchanges gives high importance to safeguarding their users' holdings. Kucoin utilizes a variety of security measures including dynamic multifactor authentication to ensure asset safety. Similarly, Shakepay incorporates stringent security mechanisms such as two-factor authentication (2FA), FaceID, and biometrics. Yet, it's worth noting that Shakepay remains somewhat vague about the exact proportion of assets they store offline in cold storage.

Regulatory Compliance

In June, 2021, the Ontario Securities Commission stated that Kucoin was illegally offering its residents securities and derivatives trading, but Kucoin did not respond to this. As a result, Kucoin is still available in Ontario as well as the rest of Canada. You can use Kucoin at full capacity whether it’s a simple buy order at market price or a more advanced order type. Bear in mind, Kucoin does not allow Interac e-Transfer to deposit Canadian dollars to your account. Instead, you will have to use a debit or credit card or a SWIFT transfer with USD.

Shakepay is regulated as a Money Service Business (MSB) by FINTRAC. Shakepay is based in Montreal and is allowed to operate in every Canadian province. 

Kucoin has previously encountered regulatory compliance difficulties, especially in Canada where it incurred a penalty from the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC). In contrast, Shakepay operates under complete regulation, possessing a Money Service Business (MSB) license granted by FINTRAC. This makes Shakepay a more secure alternative for users based in Canada.

Customer support

Kucoin offers helpful FAQs and online ticketing service for their customers as well as 24/7 support and a live chat option.

Shakepay offers chat support, helpful FAQs and access to customer support via their website.

Shakepay claims it has “customer service that cares.” It offers a useful support section on its website that can answer some of the most common questions and you can contact support via email at help@shakepay.com. Shakepay claims that support tickets can be answered within hours, even on weekends. We reached out to the support team via email to see how quickly they would respond. We received a reply the next day, less than 24 hours later. 

Kucoin offers 24/7 customer support via live chat, email, and social media.

Conversely, Shakepay provides support via email, and their support tickets are usually responded to within hours, even on weekends. Despite this, Shakepay has received some negative feedback regarding their customer support on Trustpilot.

Conclusion

Both exchanges have their strengths, but considering the needs of Canadian users, Shakepay appears to be a safer and more user-friendly option. However, for users interested in a wide variety of cryptocurrencies and advanced trading features, Kucoin remains a strong contender.

We recommend choosing Kucoin over Shakepay for your cryptocurrency trading needs. By opting for Kucoin through our referral link, you support us in conducting comprehensive independent analyses of crypto trading options for Canadians.

If you find that neither Kucoin nor Shakepay meets your requirements, we encourage you to explore our monthly-updated list of the best exchanges for Canadians to trade crypto. This list provides a range of alternative options that may better suit your specific needs and preferences.