How To Buy NFTs In Canada In 2026

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Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) exploded in popularity in 2021, when a large number of NFT projects appeared and more and more Canadians invested. If you want to buy an NFT, you first need crypto, and that is the part this guide helps with.

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Part of my guide to how to buy crypto in Canada.

What Are NFTs?

NFT stands for non-fungible token. Non-fungible means something unique that cannot be swapped one for one with another. Cryptocurrency is fungible: Person A's bitcoin is exactly the same as Person B's bitcoin. An NFT does not simply have the same value as another NFT. Each one is unique. You can create multiple copies of a single NFT, but that is like an artist releasing limited edition prints of a painting.

NFTs exist on the blockchain, which means the owner can be publicly verified. If the blockchain shows an NFT belongs to you, no one can dispute or falsify that. Think of an NFT as a certificate of authenticity that cannot be doctored or destroyed, which also hints at wider uses such as diplomas, tickets or real estate.

Are Crypto And NFTs The Same?

No. Cryptocurrency is what you use to buy NFTs in Canada. Think of the NFT as the painting and cryptocurrency as the money you pay for it. On Ethereum, an ordinary token is known as an ERC-20 token, while NFTs are ERC-721 tokens.

What Makes NFTs Valuable?

Rarity. As with any collectible, the rarer your NFT, the more it can be worth, and an NFT is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. CryptoPunks is a set of 10,000 NFTs generated by computer code on the Ethereum blockchain in 2017. Each has traits, and some traits are rarer than others: some have hats, some earrings, and no two are alike. CryptoPunk #7523 was the third rarest of the collection and sold for $11.75 million in 2021. Beeple's "Everydays" collage was auctioned at Christie's for $69.3 million, and Canadian artist Micah Dowbak's self-replicating NFT sold at Phillips for $4.1 million. Those were record-setting 2021 sales, not a guide to what a typical NFT is worth today.

Where Can You Buy Ethereum In Canada?

To buy an NFT you first need crypto, and the most common choice is Ethereum. This table is the where-to-buy list for ETH, not for an NFT itself.

Coinbase and Crypto.com publish one global coin list, not a Canadian one. Check the coin in their Canadian app before you fund an account.

Here is how each platform in that table differs for this coin, in my ranking order.

Coinbase: CSA-Registered

Coinbase is CSA-registered as a Restricted Dealer. A simple buy carries a spread plus a Coinbase fee of up to 1.875%, depending on how you pay, and Interac e-Transfer and EFT are free for adding cash. It is the easiest first stop if you want a big, familiar app. Visit Coinbase or read my Coinbase review.

BloFin: Offshore, Read The Risk

BloFin is offshore. It is not registered with the CSA and its Terms of Use name Canada as a Restricted Location, so there is no Canadian investor protection. Spot fees are 0.1% each way at the base tier, and there is no CAD funding, so you would arrive with crypto already in hand. Visit BloFin or read my BloFin review.

Kraken: CSA-Registered

Kraken is CSA-registered as a Restricted Dealer, run in Canada by Payward Canada Inc. Kraken Pro starts at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker, Instant Buy costs 1% plus a spread, and Interac e-Transfer deposits are free (CAD 5 minimum). Its CAD 30,000 rolling 12-month net purchase limit applies to every asset except BTC, ETH, LTC and BCH, so it covers this coin. Visit Kraken or read my Kraken review.

Newton: CSA-Registered

Newton is a CIRO investment dealer member (since March 18, 2026) and is on the CSA list. It charges no trading fee but earns a spread: 1.00% to 1.15% on BTC, ETH and USDC and up to 1.60% on other assets. Interac e-Transfer, wire and pre-authorized debit deposits are free. Visit Newton or read my Newton review.

NDAX: CSA-Registered

NDAX is a CIRO investment dealer member and is on the CSA list. It charges a flat 0.20% on every buy and sell, with no tiers, though its spread is not published. Interac e-Transfer and wire deposits are free; Interac withdrawals cost CAD 1.50. Visit NDAX or read my NDAX review.

BTCC: Offshore, Read The Risk

BTCC is offshore and not on the CSA list. Its own guidance lists Ontario and Quebec as restricted, although its Terms of Use page does not name Canada. Spot fees are 0.3% taker and 0.2% maker at the base tier, and CAD funding could not be verified. Visit BTCC or read my BTCC review.

MEXC: Offshore, Read The Risk

MEXC is offshore, and its User Agreement (updated May 29, 2025) lists Canada as a prohibited jurisdiction. Fees are low on paper, 0% maker and 0.05% taker at the base tier, but there is no CAD funding and no Canadian recourse if something goes wrong. Visit MEXC or read my MEXC review.

Bitunix: Offshore, Read The Risk

Bitunix is a derivatives-focused offshore exchange. Its restricted regions notice names Canada, including Alberta, and one of its FINTRAC registrations expired on August 31, 2026. A Canadian opening an account there would be doing so against its own notice. Visit Bitunix or read my Bitunix review.

Crypto.com: CSA-Registered

Crypto.com is CSA-registered as a Restricted Dealer (Foris DAX CAN ULC, decision of May 8, 2025). It advertises fees as low as 0.08% maker and 0.18% taker, but the Canadian app schedule is not published, and spread and card fees can apply. Visit Crypto.com or read my Crypto.com review.

Shakepay: CSA-Registered

Shakepay is CSA-registered and a CIRO dealer member. It carries only BTC and ETH, charges no fee but earns a 0.5% to 2.0% spread, and Interac e-Transfer in and out is free. Visit Shakepay or read my Shakepay review.

How Much Does It Cost To Buy $500 Of Ethereum?

These are each platform's published base-tier or headline fees, not a quote for this specific coin. The order screen shows the final price including the spread, so read the preview before you confirm. Offshore platforms show lower headline fees, but they cannot take Canadian dollars and Canada is restricted in their terms.

How Do You Buy Ethereum Step By Step?

These steps use Coinbase, the highest-ranked registered exchange in the table.

1. Open an account. Sign up through the Coinbase link and upload a government-issued ID and a selfie. Verification can take up to 24 hours.
2. Deposit Canadian dollars. Interac e-Transfer and EFT free. Interac e-Transfer usually avoids the extra cost of paying by card.
3. Search for ETH. Type the ticker into the search bar and confirm the full name matches Ethereum before you go further, since similar names exist.
4. Place the order. A market order is fastest. A limit order lets you name your price. Read the fee preview before you confirm.
5. Decide where it lives. For anything you plan to hold, move it to your own wallet after a small test transfer. My best crypto wallets for Canadians list covers the options.

How Do You Buy An NFT After You Have Ethereum?

1. Install a wallet. Get a browser wallet such as MetaMask. If you are spending a large amount, use a hardware wallet and connect it to MetaMask, so every transaction must be signed on the physical device.
2. Send crypto to the wallet. Copy your wallet address, then withdraw ETH from the exchange to it. Use the right network: for OpenSea, you need ETH on the Ethereum network, which MetaMask uses by default.
3. Connect the wallet to a marketplace. OpenSea is the best known. Others include Rarible, NBA Top Shot and Nifty Gateway. Check whether each is open to Canadians and what it accepts before you deposit anything.
4. Mind the fees. Transacting on Ethereum costs a network (gas) fee that changes with congestion, so look at it before you confirm. Some NFTs sit on Polygon, where you need to bridge your ETH first, which you can do from MetaMask on OpenSea.

Binance NFT is not an option for Canadians, so I have dropped it from this guide.

How Do You Move Ethereum From An Exchange To A Wallet?

Leaving coins on an exchange is convenient, but you are trusting the platform with your keys. Moving ETH to a wallet you control takes a few minutes if you do it in this order.

1. Pick a wallet that supports ETH. Open the wallet vendor's own supported-assets page and confirm ETH is there, on the network you will use. Do not rely on a third-party list.
2. Create the wallet and write down the recovery phrase. Paper, offline, two copies in separate places. Never photograph it or paste it into a notes app, and never give it to anyone, including "support".
3. Copy the receiving address for the right network. The same coin can exist on more than one network, and an address that works on one may lose funds if used on another.
4. Send a small test amount first. Withdraw a few dollars worth, wait for it to arrive, and check it shows up under the right token name.
5. Send the rest. Re-check the first and last characters of the address before you confirm, then keep a record of the date, amount and CAD value for tax.

What Should You Check Before You Send Ethereum?

• The network. The withdrawal screen asks which network to use. Pick the one your wallet shows for ETH, not the cheapest one.
• The token name and ticker. Lookalike tokens with similar names exist. Match the name against the project's official site.
• Memo or tag fields. Some networks need one. If your wallet shows a memo field, copy it too.
• Minimums and fees. Exchanges set a withdrawal minimum and a network fee that varies by coin. Read the fee line before you confirm.
• Where the link came from. Only use wallet and exchange links from the vendor's official site. Search-engine ads and direct messages are the usual route for fake wallets.

What Are The Main Risks Of Buying Ethereum In Canada?

• Price risk. ETH can fall quickly, and smaller coins usually move more than Bitcoin or Ethereum. Never size a position you cannot afford to lose.
• Thin choice of venues. Only 10 of the exchanges I rank list ETH, and 6 of those are CSA-registered. If a platform delists it you may have to move it or sell it on short notice.
• Custody risk. Crypto held on an exchange is not covered by CIPF, and Canadian fiat balances on Coinbase are not covered by CIPF or CDIC. A wallet you control removes counterparty risk but adds your own security risk.
• Regulatory risk. Offshore platforms are not registered with the CSA and restrict Canadian residents in whole or in part. If something goes wrong you would have no Canadian regulator to turn to.
• Record-keeping risk. Every sale or swap can be taxable. Missing records are a bigger problem at filing time than most people expect.

What Is The Future Of NFTs?

I think investing in NFTs is risky, but all crypto carries risk. Some people believe the NFT art they buy today will be worth much more later, and others believe the hype is already over. The future of NFTs probably lies less in digital art and more in practical uses such as contracts, identity documents, ticketing and receipts. Proof of ownership on the blockchain is the real idea. Digital art and collectibles are still popular on the marketplaces and do not seem to be going anywhere.

How Do You Store Ethereum?

NFTs and the crypto you use to buy them are best kept in a wallet you control. A hardware wallet keeps your keys offline so no one can steal them remotely.

Keep the seed phrase on paper somewhere safe, never in a screenshot or a notes app. Check that the wallet supports ETH on the right network before you send anything, and send a small test amount first. My crypto wallet reviews cover hardware and software options.

How Do You Sell Ethereum In Canada?

Sell where you bought it. If the coins are in a wallet, send them back to the exchange, choose sell, then withdraw the Canadian dollars to your bank account. If the platform has no CAD pair for ETH, swap to a coin that does, then sell that. Withdrawal fees and limits differ by platform (Kraken charges CAD 10 for an Interac withdrawal, NDAX CAD 1.50), and each swap is a separate taxable event. My guide on how to sell or cash out crypto in Canada has the full steps.

Do You Pay Tax When You Buy Ethereum In Canada?

Buying ETH with Canadian dollars is not itself a taxable event. Selling it, swapping it for another coin or spending it can be. The CRA says that, depending on your activities, you may realize business income (or loss) or a capital gain (or loss), and the two are reported differently. Record the date and CAD value of every buy, sale and swap. See my crypto taxation guide and how to report your crypto taxes.