KuCoin and Uphold are both popular cryptocurrency exchanges, but from a Canadian perspective neither is available. KuCoin is permanently banned in Canada following an OSC ruling and appears on the CSA’s banned platform list nationwide. Uphold exited Canada on June 11, 2025, with any remaining crypto automatically converted to CAD on September 8, 2025. This article covers both exits and points Canadians toward regulated alternatives.
KuCoin Vs Uphold: 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. Uphold stopped supporting accounts for Canadian residents on June 11, 2025 and says it hopes to return. I recommend Coinbase instead (9.8/10, #1 on my list): open a Coinbase account.
FINTRAC MSB M21639172 Expired 2026-01-27. CSA undertaking withdrawn 2025-05-29. Not on the CSA authorized or banned list.
Tie
Assets
700+ coins globally, not for Canadians.
200+ coins plus metals and national currencies, not accessible from Canada.
Depends
Price
Maker/taker from about 0.1% / 0.1%, VIP tiers, 20% off with KCS. Not for Canadians.
Spread, historically about 1.8% on crypto for Canadian users, more on metals.
Depends
CAD In
No longer available to Canadians
No longer available to Canadians. Deposits ended.
Depends
CAD Out
No longer available to Canadians
Interac only, CAD 10,000 per transaction, CAD 100,000 per day, for balances left after the deadline.
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.
Roughly 90% in cold storage with reserve information published, per old row. Remaining Canadian crypto was converted to CAD after 2025-09-08.
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.
No longer available to Canadians
Depends
Extra Products
No longer available to Canadians
No longer available to Canadians
Depends
Tax Tools
No longer available to Canadians
No longer available to Canadians
Depends
App
Not accessible to Canadians.
iOS about 4.6; Google Play Not verified. Login and CAD withdrawal only for Canadians.
What Are The Key Differences Between KuCoin And Uphold?
KuCoin Vs Uphold: Side By Side
KuCoin
Uphold
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.
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.
Coins
700+ coins globally, not accessible from Canada.
200+ cryptocurrencies, not accessible from Canada.
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.
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
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
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
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 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
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.
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 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 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.
App
The app works in supported countries but is inaccessible to Canadians.
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 Limits
Not applicable for Canadians. Elsewhere limits depend on KYC tier; unverified legacy accounts can only sell or withdraw.
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 KuCoin And Uphold In Canada?
Uphold: CAD Withdrawals (When It Operated)
Method
Fee
Minimum
Maximum
Speed
Interac e-Transfer
Not published
Not published
CAD 10,000 per transaction, CAD 100,000 per day
Not published
No funding for Canadians. Legacy users can only withdraw. 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 Do KuCoin And Uphold Offer Beyond Buying And Selling?
KuCoin Only
Futures, lending and trading bots (historic): KuCoin offered futures, lending and bots globally. Not available to Canadians.
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 KuCoin Or Uphold 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.
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 KuCoin And Uphold Treated For Tax In Canada?
KuCoin: Trades on KuCoin were dispositions for CRA purposes. Export your history now. Export formats: Not published.
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, KuCoin Or Uphold?
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 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.
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 Uphold?
Uphold stopped supporting accounts for Canadian residents on June 11, 2025 and says it hopes to return.
Uphold gave a withdrawal deadline of September 8, 2025 and gave only 'recent changes in our operating environment' as the reason. It filed a Pre-Registration Undertaking with the CSA on March 27, 2023, and delivered notice of withdrawal on May 29, 2025. Its FINTRAC registration (Uphold Operating Canada Ltd.) expired January 27, 2026.
After the deadline, remaining crypto was converted to CAD. Accounts with balances are now CAD-withdrawal-only through Interac, with limits of CAD 10,000 per transaction and CAD 100,000 per day.
If a balance remains, Uphold's Canadian services page says it can only be withdrawn in CAD through Interac. Follow that route and then use a registered platform for any new buying.
What Should KuCoin And Uphold 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
Wealthsimple Crypto: People who already invest with Wealthsimple. It is a registered mainstream Canadian platform with simple CAD funding for a casual buyer.
Wealthsimple Crypto At A Glance
Item
Detail
Regulator
Registered investment dealer and CIRO Dealer Member (CSA amended decision December 22, 2025), FINTRAC MSB M23997457.
Trading Cost
Without Active Trader status the fee is a flat 0.5% on every order plus a spread on market orders.
How Do KuCoin And Uphold Compare On Fees, Funding, And Coins?
KuCoin Vs Uphold, Verified Facts
Item
KuCoin
Uphold
Status
Banned by the CSA; nothing available to Canadians
Left Canada in 2025
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.
Uphold, in the past tense: Uphold was a multi-asset app, and none of that is on offer to Canadians now.
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.
Uphold. With the Canadian service ended, safety now means getting any remaining CAD balance out through Interac.
Who Should Choose KuCoin, And Who Should Choose Uphold?
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 Uphold. Status: left canada in 2025. Existing customers should follow the withdrawal guidance above.
What Changed For KuCoin And Uphold 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.
Wealthsimple updated its crypto fee schedule: 0.5% flat plus spread, Active Trader tiers down to 0%, and a CAD 1 charge on small orders.
The CSA published an amended decision for Wealthsimple Investments Inc.
Uphold's deadline for Canadian customers to withdraw passed, and the remainder was converted to CAD.
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 Uphold Available In Canada?
Uphold stopped supporting accounts for Canadian residents on June 11, 2025 and says it hopes to return.
What Should I Use Instead Of Uphold?
Wealthsimple Crypto is the closest fit I can verify. People who already invest with Wealthsimple.
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 Uphold Have Limit Orders?
KuCoin: Yes globally, not for Canadians. Uphold: Not applicable.
Which Coins Can You Buy On KuCoin And Uphold?
KuCoin: 700+ globally, none for Canadians Uphold: 200+ globally, none for Canadians
Is The Spread The Fee On KuCoin And Uphold?
KuCoin: No longer applicable. Uphold: No longer applicable.
Does CIPF Cover My Crypto On KuCoin Or Uphold?
KuCoin: CIPF never covers crypto, and this platform no longer serves Canadians. Uphold: CIPF never covers crypto, and this platform no longer serves Canadians.
Are KuCoin And Uphold Available In Every Province?
KuCoin: Banned in Ontario and reciprocated across Canada. Uphold: No longer available in any province.
Do Interac Deposits Work On Weekends On KuCoin And Uphold?
KuCoin: No longer applicable. Uphold: No longer applicable.
What Is The Minimum Buy On KuCoin And Uphold?
KuCoin: No longer applicable. Uphold: No longer applicable.
Can A Business Use KuCoin Or Uphold?
KuCoin: No longer applicable. Uphold: 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.
