No CSA-registered platform offers Tether (USDT) to Canadians any more. Under CSA Staff Notice 21-333, registered platforms had to remove stablecoins that did not meet the CSA's terms by December 31, 2024, and Tether did not go through that process. USDC is the only stablecoin registered platforms may offer Canadians, so that is the regulated alternative.
- Buy USDC instead: the stablecoin registered Canadian exchanges still carry
- Check the table below: every major Canadian platform, and why USDT is missing
I've been trading crypto in Canada since 2016 and have tested 61 exchanges, so I get asked about USDT constantly. With my YouTube channel, OCryptoCanada, and thousands of subscribers along for the ride, I know which platforms work for us. Here is the straight answer on Tether, with no workarounds.
Part of my guide to how to buy crypto in Canada.
Can Canadians Buy USDT On These Platforms?
| Platform | USDT For Canadians? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Coinbase | No | Coinbase's Canadian USDT price page shows Tether as not tradable |
| Kraken | No | USDT is on Kraken's Canada restriction list |
| Wealthsimple Crypto | No | Not offered to Canadians under CSA stablecoin rules |
| Newton | No | Not offered to Canadians under CSA stablecoin rules; USDT is not on its Canadian asset list |
| NDAX | No | NDAX announced its USDT delisting in 2023; not offered to canadians under csa stablecoin rules |
| Shakepay | No | Not offered to Canadians under CSA stablecoin rules |
| Crypto.com | No | Crypto.com ended USDT for Canadians in January 2023 |
| BloFin | Offshore only | Not CSA-registered; its terms restrict Canadian residents |
| MEXC | Offshore only | Not CSA-registered; its terms name Canada as prohibited |
| Bitunix | Offshore only | Not CSA-registered; its notice names Canada as prohibited |
Wealthsimple Crypto and Shakepay publish no Canadian USDT listing, and as CSA-registered platforms they fall under the same stablecoin rules. Bitbuy and Coinsquare are left out because new accounts are being folded into Robinhood.
Offshore BloFin, MEXC and Bitunix are not registered with the Canadian Securities Administrators, and their own terms restrict Canadian residents: BloFin's Terms of Use name Canada as a Restricted Location, and MEXC and Bitunix name Canada as a prohibited jurisdiction. No Canadian investor protection applies. I do not recommend opening an account there to get USDT, and I give no walkthrough for it.
USDT does trade on offshore platforms. That is the whole story there: they are outside Canadian regulation, their terms restrict Canadian residents, and a platform that excludes Canada can restrict or freeze an account opened with Canadian ID. I will not walk you through acquiring USDT that way, and I will not suggest converting on an offshore platform to get around the rule.
Can You Buy Tether (USDT) In Canada?
USDT is not banned in Canada, and Canadians can legally hold it. The problem is where you buy it. In October 2023 the Canadian Securities Administrators published Staff Notice 21-333 on Value-Referenced Crypto Assets, which in plain terms means stablecoins. Registered crypto trading platforms may offer one only if the issuer meets conditions on reserves held with a qualified custodian, public disclosure and ongoing reporting. Stablecoins that did not meet them had to come off registered Canadian platforms by December 31, 2024.
Coinbase and Crypto.com had already suspended USDT for Canadians in 2023, and NDAX announced its delisting the same year. Kraken's Canada restriction list includes USDT. Circle, the issuer behind USDC, was the first issuer to commit to the CSA's terms, which is why USDC stayed.
What Should You Buy Instead Of USDT?
USDC. It is a fiat-backed dollar stablecoin that registered Canadian platforms may still offer, so you can buy it with Canadian dollars on a regulated exchange and keep Canadian investor protection. See my guide to buying USDC in Canada. If you want a stablecoin to park cash between trades, it does the job. Some offshore markets quote everything in USDT, and that is the real gap, but it is not one I will help you around.
What Does Tether Say About Its Backing?
Tether's transparency page says every USDT token is backed 1-to-1 by Tether's reserves, that its assets exceed its liabilities, and that it links reserve attestations from its Reports section. Those are the issuer's own statements. Tether publishes attestations rather than a full audit, which has been a long-standing criticism, and USDC's reserve disclosures and regulatory standing in Canada are stronger.
Which USDT Network Matters If You Already Hold It?
If you already hold USDT, the network decides what you can do with it. TRC-20 on Tron is usually the cheapest to send, and ERC-20 on Ethereum costs more but has the broadest wallet support. Always confirm that the receiving wallet supports the network you send on. Sending to the wrong network can lose the funds permanently, and no support team can reverse it.
How Do You Store Tether (USDT)?
Holdings you do not plan to trade belong in your own wallet, not on an exchange, because exchanges get hacked. A hardware wallet such as Ledger is the safest route, and a software wallet works too if you confirm it supports USDT and the right network. My best wallets for Canadians guide has the picks. Copy the address from the wallet, never from a message, send a small test amount first, and keep the seed phrase written down offline.
Do You Pay Tax On Tether (USDT) In Canada?
Buying a stablecoin with Canadian dollars is not itself a taxable event. Selling it, swapping it for another coin or spending it can be, and the CRA treats crypto-to-crypto trades as dispositions. Depending on your activities you may realize business income (or loss) or a capital gain (or loss), and the two are reported differently. The CRA does not care whether an exchange is registered in Canada, so keep statements and records for every platform you touch. See my crypto taxation guide and how to report your crypto taxes.
Disclaimer: Our website uses referral links to the crypto exchanges mentioned in the article as a means of monetization. This supports our efforts to provide high-quality, independently researched content for Canadians. Please be assured that our ratings are not influenced by these referral programs and our advice is always in the best interest of our Canadian audience.
What Changed For Buying Tether (USDT) In Canada In October 2026?
- Robinhood closed its WonderFi acquisition, and Coinsquare customers are being moved in phases to the Robinhood app, so Coinsquare and Bitbuy are no longer places to open a new account.
- The CSA deadline for registered platforms to drop non-compliant stablecoins passed, and USDC remains the only stablecoin they may offer Canadians.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Still Buy USDT In Canada In 2026?
Not on a CSA-registered platform. Registered platforms had to stop offering stablecoins that did not meet the CSA's terms by December 31, 2024, and Tether did not go through that process. Owning USDT is not illegal, but no registered Canadian exchange sells it to you.
Why Is USDC Available In Canada But Not USDT?
Circle, the issuer behind USDC, committed to the CSA's reserve, custody and disclosure terms and was the first issuer to do so. Tether did not, so USDC is the only stablecoin registered platforms may offer Canadians.
Which Canadian Exchanges Offer USDT?
None of the ones on my list. Coinbase's Canadian price page shows Tether as not tradable, Kraken's Canada restriction list includes USDT, Crypto.com ended USDT for Canadians in 2023, and NDAX announced its delisting in 2023.
What Can I Buy Instead Of USDT In Canada?
USDC, on a registered exchange with Canadian dollars. See my guide to buying USDC in Canada.
Are Offshore Exchanges A Safe Way To Get USDT?
No. BloFin, MEXC and Bitunix are not CSA-registered, their own terms restrict Canadian residents, and no Canadian investor protection applies. I do not recommend them for this.
Is USDT Safe Compared To USDC?
Both are fiat-backed stablecoins. USDC has stronger regulatory standing in Canada because Circle went through the CSA process. Tether publishes reserve attestations rather than a full audit.
Do I Pay Tax On Swapping Stablecoins?
Yes. The CRA treats crypto-to-crypto trades as dispositions. The gain or loss on a stablecoin swap is usually tiny, but it still belongs in your records.