Wealthsimple does not give away free crypto. Its current offer is a cash referral bonus: $25 for you and $25 for the friend you invite, paid into a chequing account once the new client deposits at least $100 within 30 days. The terms say the 2026 promotion took effect on September 11, 2026, and the bonus can be recovered if you withdraw it within 180 days. Crypto is one of the account types that qualifies.
I could not read the terms of a separate Crypto Fixed Fee Offer on Wealthsimple's promotions site, so I do not quote anything from it. Check the offer page in your account before you trade.
- The offer: $25 each, referrer and new client, on a $100 or larger deposit within 30 days
- Where it lands: your Wealthsimple chequing account, within 24 hours of the qualifying deposit
- Sign up here: Wealthsimple Crypto (9.5/10 in my ranking)
| Term | What Wealthsimple Says |
|---|---|
| Effective | September 11, 2026 at 12:01am Eastern Time |
| Bonus | $25 cash for the referrer and $25 cash for the new client |
| Qualifying deposit | $100 CAD or more of external funding, within 30 days of opening the account |
| What counts as funding | Deposits, crypto transfers or qualified institutional transfers. Transfers inside the Wealthsimple ecosystem, peer-to-peer transfers and promotional credits do not count |
| Eligible account types | Wealthsimple Trade, Crypto, Managed Investing or Chequing |
| Who can refer | An existing client in good standing, a legal resident of Canada, of the age of majority, with at least $100 CAD in net deposits across their accounts |
| Payout | Applied to the Chequing Account within 24 hours after the qualifying funding is processed |
| Holding period | Keep the bonus in your Wealthsimple account for 180 days, or it may be deducted from a final withdrawal or recovered |
| Limit | No cap on how many friends you can refer or how many bonuses you can earn |
Part of my guide to crypto sign-up bonuses for Canadians.
Does Wealthsimple Crypto Have A Referral Code Or Free Crypto Offer?
It has a referral link, not a code you type in. You share your unique link, the invitee opens an account through it and funds it, and both of you get the bonus. The bonus is cash in a chequing account, not crypto, so "free crypto" is the wrong frame. You would still have to buy crypto with that cash.
My own link is the sign-up button on this page, and it goes through my site. I cannot promise that it triggers the $25 referral bonus, because that depends on how Wealthsimple tracks the referral. Wealthsimple has a "Confirm your referral" help page, so if you want the bonus, check your account after signing up and use that route if it did not register. If the bonus matters more to you than supporting my work, ask a friend who already has Wealthsimple for their personal link.
How Do You Claim The Wealthsimple Referral Bonus?
- Open the account through a referral link. Use the link before you start the sign-up, not afterwards.
- Verify your identity. Wealthsimple is a CIRO investment dealer, so it must collect your details.
- Fund with at least $100 CAD from outside Wealthsimple within 30 days. Interac e-Transfer is free and takes you up to CAD 10,000 per transfer or your bank's sending limit.
- Wait for the bonus. It should land in your Chequing Account within 24 hours of the funding being processed.
- Leave it there for 180 days. Pulling it out sooner can mean it is taken back from a withdrawal.
How Does Wealthsimple Compare With Other Sign-Up Offers?
| Platform | Score | Offer Confirmed On The Official Page | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coinbase | 9.9 | Banner says up to CA$200 for getting started | I could not read the terms, so I cannot confirm the qualifying action or the real payout |
| Kraken | 9.6 | None found | Not applicable |
| Wealthsimple Crypto | 9.5 | $25 each, referrer and new client | $100 or more external deposit within 30 days |
| Bull Bitcoin | 9.4 | None found | Not applicable |
| Newton | 9.3 | Friend gets a CAD 20 welcome bonus; referrer earns up to CAD 100 | Sign up and trade CAD 100 within 90 days |
| NDAX | 8.8 | None found | Not applicable |
| Shakepay | Not ranked | $20 each | Invest $100 in crypto within 30 days |
The offers are small, and the platform fee decides more of your outcome than a $25 bonus. On a $5,000 purchase, the gap between a 0.5% fee and a 0.20% fee is $15. So pick the platform first, and treat the bonus as a tiebreaker. My best crypto exchanges in Canada page compares costs.
What Does Wealthsimple Crypto Cost After The Bonus?
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard trading | 0.5% baseline fee on every order, plus a price spread on market orders. Limit orders carry no spread |
| Example in the schedule | 0.50% fee plus 1.00% spread equals 1.50% |
| Active Trader status | 0.5% under CAD 10,000 of 30-day volume, then 0.35%, 0.25%, 0.15%, 0.10%, 0.05% and 0% above CAD 15 million, with a 0% spread |
| Small orders | CAD 1 extra on any order under CAD 100 |
| Staking | Wealthsimple keeps 30% of rewards on Core and Premium and 15% on Generation, plus validator fees |
| Coins | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and 170+ other coins |
| Protection | Cash covered by CIPF. Crypto is not. Partners cite over $75M in cold storage coverage each |
The $100 qualifying deposit is the point to watch. If you fund $100 and buy $100 of crypto in one order, the small-order CAD 1 surcharge does not apply at exactly $100, since it covers orders under $100, but the spread still will. Read my Wealthsimple Crypto review for the full picture, and compare it head to head in Bull Bitcoin Vs Wealthsimple Crypto and Newton Vs Wealthsimple Crypto if you are undecided.
Is The Wealthsimple Bonus Taxable?
I have not found official CRA guidance on referral bonuses, so I will not state a rule. If your bonus becomes crypto that you later sell, the sale is a disposition and half of any capital gain is included in income under the CRA's current rules. Keep a record of the bonus date and amount. My crypto taxation guide covers the crypto side.
What Changed For Wealthsimple Crypto Offers In October 2026?
- The CSA issued an amended decision for Wealthsimple Investments Inc., the entity behind Wealthsimple Crypto.
- Wealthsimple's Referral Bonus Promotion 2026 took effect: $25 for the referrer and $25 for the new client.
- Wealthsimple updated its crypto fee schedule, with Active Trader tiers down to 0% and a CAD 1 charge under CAD 100.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wealthsimple Give Free Crypto To New Users?
Not on its crypto product page. The current offer is a $25 cash referral bonus for you and $25 for the new client, paid into a chequing account after a $100 or larger deposit within 30 days.
What Is The Wealthsimple Referral Bonus In 2026?
$25 for each of you, effective September 11, 2026, with no limit on how many friends you refer, subject to Wealthsimple's terms.
Does Crypto Qualify For The Wealthsimple Referral?
Yes. The new client can fund a Crypto account, a Trade account, Managed Investing or Chequing, and each counts toward the $100 deposit requirement.
Do I Have To Keep The Bonus In My Account?
Yes, for 180 days from the day it is applied. Otherwise it may be deducted from your final withdrawal or recovered.
What Is The Wealthsimple Crypto Fee?
A flat 0.5% plus a price spread on market orders, with Active Trader tiers down to 0% and a CAD 1 charge on orders under CAD 100.