How To Trade Crypto In Canada: Platforms, Fees And Taxes

Fees are the published schedules I verified on October 1, 2026. Bull Bitcoin (5th), Bitcoin Well (7th), BTCC (9th) and MEXC (10th) are covered on my full ranking.

How Do You Trade Crypto In Canada?

1. Choose a CSA-authorized platform. Check the CSA list before you deposit. My ranking above starts with registered options.
2. Verify your identity. Registered platforms ask for government ID. FINTRAC rules require identity checks for virtual currency transfers of $1,000 or more.
3. Fund with Canadian dollars. Interac e-Transfer is free on Coinbase and Wealthsimple, and NDAX charges $1.50 up to $10,000. Match the funding method to the cheapest route for your size.
4. Pick an order type. A market order fills now at the spread. A limit order sets your price and may fill later.
5. Trade, then withdraw or hold. Move long-term coins to a wallet you control.
6. Record every trade. A swap from one coin to another is a sale for tax purposes.

What Does It Cost To Trade $1,000 Of Crypto?

My arithmetic on published fee schedules. Spreads move with the market, so the order preview is the number that counts.

Two lessons. First, the lowest headline fee is not always the lowest total cost, because spreads hide in the price. Second, if you trade often, Kraken Pro's volume tiers (0.30% / 0.60% from $2,500 of 30-day volume and 0.22% / 0.38% from $10,000) and Wealthsimple's Active Trader tiers reward volume. For a longer comparison, use the cost calculator on my exchange ranking.

Which Is The Best App For Crypto Trading In Canada?

For a phone app: Coinbase is the easiest, and Wealthsimple is the best fit if your other investments are already there. Shakepay is the simplest for Bitcoin and Ethereum only, and I cover it in my Shakepay review. Kraken has a simple app and a more advanced Pro interface. I do not recommend any offshore app for beginners.

Can You Day Trade Crypto In Canada?

Yes, with two caveats. You cannot use margin or leverage on registered platforms, and the CRA may treat frequent trading as business income, which means 100% of your profit is taxable and you report it on form T2125, not as capital gains. Factors include how often you trade, how long you hold, how much time you spend and whether you finance your trades. See how much crypto tax you pay in Canada. My page on why Canada bans retail margin and futures trading explains the leverage side.

What About Offshore Trading Platforms?

I rank BloFin second, BTCC ninth and MEXC tenth because I tested them and their fees are low, but each one is not registered with the CSA, and BloFin and MEXC name Canada as prohibited in their own terms. No Canadian investor protection applies. If your priority is not losing access to your funds, use a registered platform. Platforms that left Canada, such as Binance and Bybit, show how fast access can end.

How Are Crypto Trades Taxed In Canada?

You pay tax on gains when you sell, swap or spend. For capital gains, half of the gain is added to your income. For business income, all of it is. Keep your records for six years and export them regularly, since platforms close. The CRA's recommended record fields include units, dates and times, Canadian dollar values and wallet addresses. My reporting guide shows how, and the crypto taxation guide has more.

How Do You Keep Your Trading Account Safe?

• Turn on app-based two-factor authentication.
• Do not click links in messages claiming to be support. Coinbase disclosed a customer data breach on May 15, 2025, and attackers used stolen data for social engineering, so assume your details can be used against you.
• Withdraw long-term holdings to a wallet you control. See best crypto wallets for Canadians.
• Remember that crypto is not covered by CIPF, even at CIRO-regulated platforms.

How Do Maker And Taker Fees Work?

On an order-book platform such as Kraken Pro or NDAX, a maker order sits on the book and adds liquidity, while a taker order fills immediately against an existing order. Kraken Pro's base tier charges 0.40% for makers and 0.80% for takers. On a $2,000 trade, that is $8 as a maker and $16 as a taker, so using a limit order that waits for your price halves the fee. NDAX charges the same flat 0.20% either way, or $4 on $2,000, which is simpler and often cheaper at small volumes.

Which Order Type Should You Use?

• Market order: fills now at the best available price. On Coinbase, Wealthsimple and Newton the spread is part of the cost.
• Limit order: sets your price. It may not fill, but on platforms with maker fees it costs less.
• Recurring buy: buys a fixed amount on a schedule, which removes timing decisions for beginners.

How Do You Compare Total Cost, Not Just The Fee?

Add three things: the fee, the spread and the funding cost. Wealthsimple's schedule shows a 0.5% baseline fee plus a spread, with one example at 0.50% plus a 1.00% spread, or 1.50% in total, and a $1 surcharge on any order under $100. NDAX adds $1.50 for an Interac deposit up to $10,000. Shakepay charges no commission and targets a spread of 0.5% to 2.0%. A trader who deposits $5,000 once and trades monthly sees the funding cost vanish. A trader who deposits $200 weekly feels it every time. Match the platform to your habit.

Can You Earn While You Hold Instead Of Trade?

Yes, on some platforms. Coinbase advertises up to 10% APY on staked ETH, ADA, SOL, ATOM and XTZ with a 35% commission, Wealthsimple up to 5% a year, and Newton up to 4.5% as an estimate. Rewards are income when credited, according to the CRA. See my page on crypto loans and interest accounts in Canada for the risks, and my staking explainer.