In this comparison, we examine two prominent cryptocurrency platforms, Uphold and Crypto.com. From a Canadian perspective, the comparison is largely one-sided: Uphold exited Canada on June 11, 2025, and is no longer available to new or existing Canadian users. Crypto.com, on the other hand, received restricted dealer registration across all Canadian provinces and territories in May 2025, making it one of the most regulated global exchanges operating in Canada today.
Uphold Vs Crypto.com: Which Is Better For Canadians?
Crypto.com wins by default for Canadians. Uphold stopped supporting accounts for Canadian residents on June 11, 2025 and says it hopes to return. Since Uphold no longer operates for Canadians, I recommend Coinbase (9.8/10, #1 on my list): open a Coinbase account.
How Do Uphold And Crypto.com Compare, Fact By Fact?
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.
Uphold Vs Crypto.com: Master Spec Table
Uphold
Crypto.com
Winner
Company
Uphold Operating Canada Ltd. (FINTRAC). Uphold Worldwide Ltd. filed a pre-registration undertaking 2023-03-27 and withdrew it 2025-05-29. HQ, founder, funding: Not published.
Foris DAX CAN ULC, an Alberta unlimited liability corporation (Crypto.com Canada). Global brand says trusted since 2016. HQ city, founders, funding, staff: Not published for the Canadian entity.
Depends
Regulation
FINTRAC MSB M21639172 Expired 2026-01-27. CSA undertaking withdrawn 2025-05-29. Not on the CSA authorized or banned list.
CSA restricted dealer (CSA decision May 8, 2025). FINTRAC MSB C100000094, expiry 2027-06-30. Not a CIRO member. AMF: Not verified. CIPF: none for crypto.
Crypto.com
Assets
200+ coins plus metals and national currencies, not accessible from Canada.
417 spot base assets on the global Exchange; the Canadian app list is narrower and not published. USDT not available to Canadians.
Crypto.com
Price
Spread, historically about 1.8% on crypto for Canadian users, more on metals.
Canadian app fee schedule Not published. Canada marketing: maker/taker from 0.08%/0.18%. App buys include a spread. Global Exchange L1 0.25%/0.50%.
Crypto.com
CAD In
No longer available to Canadians. Deposits ended.
Interac e-Transfer, free from Crypto.com (CAD 20 to 25,000 per deposit). Other CAD methods Not verified.
Crypto.com
CAD Out
Interac only, CAD 10,000 per transaction, CAD 100,000 per day, for balances left after the deadline.
Sell to the CAD Account, then Interac Standard Transfer back. Needs one prior CAD deposit; internal review up to 1-3 business days. Fee Not verified.
Crypto.com
Crypto In And Out
No longer available to Canadians
On-chain deposits and withdrawals supported; networks, minimums and fees Not verified for Canada.
Crypto.com
Custody
Roughly 90% in cold storage with reserve information published, per old row. Remaining Canadian crypto was converted to CAD after 2025-09-08.
Custodial. Cold storage share, insurance and proof of reserves Not verified on a Canadian page.
Crypto.com
Verification (KYC)
No longer available to Canadians
Government ID and identity verification required before CAD deposits; selfie, address, SIN and clearing time Not verified.
Depends
Account Types
No longer available to Canadians
Personal account confirmed; a business offering exists globally. Joint, TFSA and RRSP Not verified.
Crypto.com
Provinces
No longer available to Canadians
Serves Canada via the restricted dealer decision; per-province list and French support Not verified.
Crypto.com
Extra Products
No longer available to Canadians
Visa prepaid card, staking, Earn, tokenized stocks, prediction markets and perpetuals are advertised globally; Canadian availability Not verified.
Crypto.com
Tax Tools
No longer available to Canadians
Not verified for Canada.
Crypto.com
App
iOS about 4.6; Google Play Not verified. Login and CAD withdrawal only for Canadians.
iOS Canada 4.63 (66,198 ratings); Google Play 4.4 (692K reviews, global total). Web app yes.
Crypto.com
Support
No longer available to Canadians
In-app chat and help centre. Phone, hours and French support Not verified.
What Are The Key Differences Between Uphold And Crypto.com?
Uphold Vs Crypto.com: Side By Side
Uphold
Crypto.com
Description
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.
Crypto.com is one of the world's largest crypto platforms and one of the few global exchanges registered to operate in Canada, through Foris DAX CAN ULC as a restricted dealer. It offers its own coin (CRO), staking, a Visa prepaid crypto card with cashback, and an all-in-one app.
Coins
200+ cryptocurrencies, not accessible from Canada.
400+ on its global exchange, though the list for Canadians is smaller because registered platforms must restrict certain assets. USDT has not been available to Canadians since 2023-01-31. The exact Canadian app list is not published.
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.
The Canadian app fee schedule is not published. Canada marketing says maker and taker fees from 0.08% and 0.18%; the global Exchange starts at 0.25% maker and 0.50% taker (Level 1). App purchases carry a spread. CAD deposits by Interac e-Transfer are free.
Pros
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
One of only two major global exchanges registered as a restricted dealer in Canada
Wide range of coins
Suitable for beginners and pro traders
Interac e-Transfer with free deposits
Staking available (assets and rates not verified)
Cons
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
Only CAD is accepted for the Canadian CAD Account, no credit or debit card for CAD funding verified
Coin selection in Canada is smaller than the global exchange
App pricing includes a spread on top of quoted fees
USDT delisted for Canadians, and no margin or leverage under restricted dealer conditions
Some altcoins carry annual purchase limits outside BC, AB, MB and QC (see Account Limits)
Customer service is a common complaint, chat-based and often slow (Oleg's original note, not re-tested)
Security
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.
Crypto.com describes cold storage and security certifications, but a Canadian page with cold storage share, insurance amount or proof of reserves was not found. Treat those claims as unverified. Crypto.com's own FAQ says nothing about CIPF covering crypto, and CIPF never covers crypto.
Methods To Buy
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.
Interac e-Transfer (CAD Account), crypto deposits. Cards and other methods were not verified for Canada.
App
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.
Apple Canada 4.63 (66,198 ratings), Google Play 4.4 (692K reviews, global store total), checked 2026-10-01.
Account Limits
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.
CAD Account deposits CAD 20 to 25,000 each, balance cap CAD 100,000. As a restricted dealer, Crypto.com applies regulator-set net purchase limits on non-major assets;
How Do You Fund And Cash Out Uphold And Crypto.com 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
Crypto.com: CAD Deposits
Method
Fee
Minimum
Maximum
Speed
Interac e-Transfer (Standard Transfer or Request Money)
Free by Standard Transfer (bank may charge); Request Money was reported at 1% capped at CAD 10, not
CAD 20
CAD 25,000 per deposit
Not published on the help page
Crypto.com: CAD Withdrawals
Method
Fee
Minimum
Maximum
Speed
Interac Standard Transfer
Not published
Not published
Not published
Internal review up to 1-3 business days, then usually instant, up to 30 minutes
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. Bank-side Interac limits also apply. Per-method fees for withdrawals and card or wire funding were not retrievable.
What Does It Actually Cost To Buy On Crypto.com?
Worked Cost, Buy Only And Buy Plus Sell (Round Trip)
Amount
Crypto.com Buy
Crypto.com 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
Crypto.com: Canadian app fee schedule and spread not published on a fetched page (2026-10-03). Do not compute an all-in cost. 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 Uphold And Crypto.com Offer Beyond Buying And Selling?
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.
Crypto.com Only
CAD Account: Hold CAD, deposit by Interac, balance cap CAD 100,000 (higher for Prime). Sell crypto to CAD and withdraw to your bank.
Welcome Bonus: Canada keeps the legacy milestone-based Welcome Bonus after KYC; the amount was not verified.
What Happens To Your Money If Uphold Or Crypto.com Fails?
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.
Crypto.com:Crypto.com in Canada is a restricted dealer under the CSA, so it must hold client assets with conditions set by regulators, but CIPF never covers crypto. A third-party insurance figure, cold storage share and proof of reserves were not found on a Canadian page, so none can be relied on here. Coins are held by the company until you withdraw. If the company failed or was hacked, you would be an unsecured claimant for anything not recovered, and withdrawals could be paused.
How Are Uphold And Crypto.com Treated For Tax In Canada?
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.
Crypto.com: Buying with CAD is not a disposition. Selling for CAD, swapping one coin for another and spending crypto are dispositions you report to the CRA. Export formats and any CRA-ready report 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, Uphold Or Crypto.com?
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.
Choose Crypto.com If
You want a mainstream app with a wide coin list and are fine with spread-based pricing
You want a CAD Account funded free by Interac e-Transfer
You are not buying on fee transparency alone, since the Canadian fee schedule is not published
What Happened To Uphold?
Left Canada
Uphold stopped supporting accounts for Canadian residents on June 11, 2025, and it says it hopes to return. It never appeared on the CSA's list of authorized platforms. It had filed a Pre-Registration Undertaking with the CSA on March 27, 2023, and delivered a notice of withdrawal on May 29, 2025, a couple of weeks before it pulled the plug.
Its FINTRAC registration for the Canadian entity, UPHOLD OPERATING CANADA LTD., is listed as expired on January 27, 2026. So there is no regulated Uphold service for Canadians today, whatever the website says about a comeback.
What Should Uphold Users Do Now?
If you still have a balance, the clock has already run. The withdrawal deadline for Canadian users was September 8, 2025, and after that date any crypto still in an account was converted to CAD. Accounts with balances can now only withdraw CAD by Interac, with limits of CAD 10,000 per transaction and CAD 100,000 per day.
Log in, withdraw the CAD, and move on. Do not wait for a relaunch before acting on money that is already yours.
What Should Uphold Users Use Instead?
Crypto.com: An Available Option
Crypto.com is the available side of this pairing, and it is best for a broad app with a crypto card.
Crypto.com: key facts
Item
Crypto.com
Trading Cost
Canadian fee schedule not published on the pages checked. Marketing says maker and taker fees as low as 0.08% and 0.18%.
CAD Funding
Zero-fee deposits advertised by bank transfer, card or crypto wallet; other fees and spread may apply
Coins
400+ on the global Exchange; Canadian app list narrower and unpublished
Registration
CSA Restricted Dealer (decision May 8, 2025); FINTRAC MSB; not a CIRO member
Sign-Up Offer
Legacy welcome bonus, milestone-based; amount not verified
Crypto.com advertises instant, zero-fee deposits by bank transfer, debit or credit card, or an existing crypto wallet, with other fees and spread possibly applying. Per-method CAD limits and withdrawal fees were not published on the pages checked.
Foris DAX CAN ULC (Crypto.com) is a CSA Restricted Dealer under a decision dated May 8, 2025, and holds FINTRAC MSB registrations. It is not a CIRO member. Custody and insurance details for the Canadian app could not be verified on the official pages.
Crypto.com's iOS app is rated 4.63 across 66,198 Canadian ratings, and Google Play shows 4.4 from 692K global reviews. It is a broad app with a crypto card, which means more to learn than a plain buy-and-sell screen.
Registered mainstream Canadian platform with simple CAD funding for a casual multi-asset buyer. That is the nearest fit for Uphold users.
Wealthsimple Crypto: key facts
Item
Wealthsimple Crypto
Trading Cost
Flat 0.5% fee plus a spread on market orders (limit orders carry no spread); the fee schedule's example is 0.50% plus 1.00% spread, or 1.50%. With Active Trader status the spread is 0% and the fee runs 0.5% under CAD 10,000 of 30-day volume, down to 0.05% at the top tiers. CAD 1 surcharge on orders under CAD 100.
CAD Funding
Free Interac e-Transfer, up to CAD 10,000 each
Coins
170+
Registration
CIRO investment dealer member; CSA decision December 18, 2023 (amended December 22, 2025)
Sign-Up Offer
None confirmed
Wealthsimple takes free Interac e-Transfer deposits of up to CAD 10,000 each, or whatever your bank allows. Crypto withdrawal limits are up to CAD 10,000 a day and CAD 25,000 a week across all coins, according to a summary of the help centre. A CAD withdrawal fee was not found.
Wealthsimple Investments Inc. is a CIRO investment dealer member and sits on the CSA list (decision December 18, 2023, amended December 22, 2025). Wealthsimple says crypto is held in trust and that its custodial partners each carry over $75M of cold storage coverage. Cash is covered by CIPF, crypto is not.
Wealthsimple's iOS app is rated 4.62 across 129,832 Canadian ratings, a very large base, and Google Play shows 4.1 from 81K reviews.
Wealthsimple Crypto: Pros And Cons
Pros
With Active Trader status the spread drops to 0% and the fee can fall to 0.05%
Free Interac e-Transfer
CIRO investment dealer member
170+ coins
Sits next to your other Wealthsimple accounts
Cons
Without Active Trader status you pay 0.5% plus a spread on market orders
CAD 1 surcharge on orders under CAD 100
Crypto is not covered by CIPF
30% of staking rewards go to Wealthsimple on Core and Premium
On the verified facts, Crypto.com is a workable replacement for most Canadians who used Uphold, within the limits laid out above. It does not copy everything Uphold offered, so check your own use case before you move money. The comparison table at the top of this page lays out status, fees and coins side by side.
What Changed For Uphold And Crypto.com In October 2026?
: Wealthsimple updated its crypto fee schedule: 0.5% flat plus spread, Active Trader tiers down to 0%, and a CAD 1 surcharge on small orders.
: The CSA issued an amended decision for Wealthsimple Investments Inc.
: Withdrawal deadline for Canadian Uphold users; remaining crypto was converted to CAD afterwards.
: Uphold stopped supporting accounts for Canadian residents.
: Uphold delivered its notice of withdrawal from the CSA undertaking process.
: The CSA issued its Restricted Dealer decision for Foris DAX CAN ULC (Crypto.com).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Uphold Available In Canada In 2026?
No. Uphold stopped supporting Canadian residents on June 11, 2025, and says it hopes to return. It is not on the CSA's list of authorized platforms.
Can I Still Get My Money Out Of Uphold?
Accounts with balances can withdraw CAD by Interac, with limits of CAD 10,000 per transaction and CAD 100,000 per day. The deadline to move crypto was September 8, 2025, and anything left after that was converted to CAD.
What Should I Use Instead Of Uphold?
Registered mainstream Canadian platform with simple CAD funding for a casual multi-asset buyer. The registered options with verified data on this page are Crypto.com, Wealthsimple Crypto.
Is Crypto.com Available To Canadians?
Yes. Crypto.com: CSA Restricted Dealer (decision May 8, 2025); FINTRAC MSB; not a CIRO member.
Do Uphold And Crypto.com Have Limit Orders?
Uphold: Not applicable. Crypto.com: Not verified for the Canadian app; the global Exchange has an order book.
Which Coins Can You Buy On Uphold And Crypto.com?
Uphold: 200+ globally, none for Canadians Crypto.com: Several hundred globally; Canadian list not published
Is The Spread The Fee On Uphold And Crypto.com?
Uphold: No longer applicable. Crypto.com: App purchases carry a spread on top of any stated fee, so the quoted price is the real cost.
Does CIPF Cover My Crypto On Uphold Or Crypto.com?
Uphold: CIPF never covers crypto, and this platform no longer serves Canadians. Crypto.com: CIPF never covers crypto, and Crypto.com is not a CIRO member.
Are Uphold And Crypto.com Available In Every Province?
Uphold: No longer available in any province. Crypto.com: Served under a CSA restricted dealer decision; province list not verified.
Do Interac Deposits Work On Weekends On Uphold And Crypto.com?
Uphold: No longer applicable. Crypto.com: Not verified; Interac runs 24/7 but Crypto.com's internal review for withdrawals takes business days.
What Is The Minimum Buy On Uphold And Crypto.com?
Uphold: No longer applicable. Crypto.com: Deposit minimum CAD 20; minimum buy Not published.
Can A Business Use Uphold Or Crypto.com?
Uphold: No longer applicable. Crypto.com: A business offering exists globally; Canadian business onboarding Not verified.
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.
