Status Notice: Bitvo no longer operates on its own. In November 2023 Bitbuy bought all Bitvo client accounts and the Bitvo.com domain, and Bitvo stopped taking new sign-ups. Bitbuy accounts were later moved to Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd., and since Robinhood closed its purchase of WonderFi on June 1, 2026 customers are being invited to the Robinhood app. This review is kept for reference only. The closest like-for-like replacement is NDAX, an Alberta-based, CSA-registered platform with free CAD funding: open an NDAX account.
Bitvo was a Canadian crypto exchange that charged no trading or deposit fees and took a 1% withdrawal fee. It did not shut down or leave Canada: Bitbuy took over its client accounts in November 2023, and the Bitvo.com domain no longer resolves. You cannot open a Bitvo account today, so the review below is written in the past tense as a record of what it offered.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Status | Merged into Bitbuy. Client accounts and the Bitvo.com domain were acquired by Bitbuy, announced November 15, 2023 |
| Current Owner Chain | Bitbuy, then Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. (May 2024), now part of Robinhood after the June 1, 2026 WonderFi closing |
| CSA | Bitvo Inc. is listed under the CSA's expired decisions. Not on the banned list |
| FINTRAC | Bitvo Inc. is listed as ceased on 2024-10-08 |
| What It Offered | Free trading and deposits, 1% withdrawal fee, Interac e-Transfer, wire and Canada Post deposits, a small coin list and a cash card |
| New Accounts | Not possible |
What Happened To Bitvo?
Bitvo was not hacked and it did not collapse. WonderFi, the parent company of Bitbuy, bought the Bitvo client accounts and the Bitvo.com domain, and the deal closed in mid-November 2023. WonderFi said more than 17,000 client accounts moved across. Bitvo Inc. now appears among the CSA's expired decisions, and FINTRAC lists it as ceased from October 8, 2024.
The chain did not stop there. Bitbuy accounts moved to Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. in May 2024, and Robinhood closed its WonderFi acquisition on June 1, 2026. If you held a Bitvo account, it sits inside that chain today.
What Should Former Bitvo Users Do?
Follow the instructions in your Bitbuy or Robinhood account, because that is where your balances are. Download your transaction history and tax records while you still can. If you would rather leave, withdraw to a wallet you control or to another regulated platform. Our guide to the best crypto wallets for Canadians covers the self-custody options.
What Should Bitvo Users Use Instead?
Bitvo was an Alberta-born exchange with low fees and simple Canadian deposits, and NDAX, which is also Alberta-based, is the nearest match. All three platforms below are CSA-registered and from my ranking.
| Exchange | Score | Fees | CAD Funding | Coins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDAX | 7.8 | Flat 0.20% | Free Interac e-Transfer and wire | 77 assets |
| Coinbase | 9.8 | Up to 1.875% on simple buys, plus spread | Free Interac e-Transfer and EFT | 200+ |
| Kraken | 9.2 | Kraken Pro 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker | Free Interac e-Transfer deposits | About 490 |
NDAX: Closest Replacement For Bitvo
7.8/10Best for: low flat fees and cheap cash-outs to your bank
- FeesFlat 0.20%
- CAD FundingFree Interac e-Transfer and wire
- Coins77 assets
Not sure which fits you? The exchange quiz picks one in a minute, and the full best crypto exchanges for Canadians ranking compares fees side by side.
What Was Bitvo Like When It Operated?
Bitvo was a Canadian cryptocurrency exchange. As someone who has tested over 50 crypto exchanges since 2016, I signed up for a Bitvo account to evaluate its value for Canadians while it was still taking customers. What follows is that review, kept as a historical record. None of it describes a service you can use today.
Bitvo Features
You could buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, QCAD and DASH with no trading fee and no deposit fee, and Bitvo charged a 1% withdrawal fee. Its customer satisfaction guarantee promised same-day processing for registration, deposits and withdrawals, and if Bitvo missed it, the platform credited the cost of your withdrawal fee. It also promised 24/7 support.
Bitvo was one of the first Canadian exchanges to offer its own cash card. It was free with no monthly cost and let you spend the cash in your Bitvo account. Technically a crypto Visa card, it behaved more like a debit card, because you could only spend funds already in your account. We found that convenient for reaching balances without withdrawing to a bank first.
Bitvo Registration And Verification
You entered an email and password, then your address and occupation, verified your email and landed on the dashboard. There was no KYC process involved when I opened my account.
Bitvo Fees And Deposit Methods
Deposits and trading were free and the only fee was the 1% withdrawal fee. Bitvo accepted Canadian dollars only, by Interac e-Transfer, wire transfer, in person at Canada Post, or by sending crypto from another wallet or exchange. Interac e-Transfers processed within 24 hours, while wire and Canada Post deposits completed immediately.
Bitvo Security And Safety
Bitvo said it kept 95% to 100% of digital assets in third-party cold storage, held fiat in segregated bank accounts and ran a multi-layered firewall setup. It also screened coins through a third party before listing them. At the time it was a registered money services business with FINTRAC, a registration FINTRAC now lists as ceased.
Bitvo Apps, Design And Support
The dashboard was one of the cleanest I had seen: deposit and withdrawal options at the top, buy and sell buttons next to each coin, and a link to an Advanced Trading Platform with limit orders and charting that beginners could still handle. The website felt corporate and a little too formal, almost like buying insurance.
The mobile apps were rated 3 stars on iOS from 21 reviews and 3.1 stars on Android from 19 reviews, and some users called them buggy. The desktop platform was the smoother experience. Support ran 24/7 through live chat, email and phone, and Bitvo was the first exchange I reviewed that offered phone support.
Was Bitvo A Scam?
No. It was a legitimate, FINTRAC-registered Canadian platform that was absorbed into a larger one. Its weaknesses were a small coin list and high spreads, not safety.
What Bitvo Did Well
- No deposit fees and no trading fees
- Low 1% withdrawal fee
- Beginner and advanced trading
- A free cash card
- 24/7 support including phone
Where Bitvo Fell Short
- Limited number of coins
- Canada only
- Compliance details were hard to find on its site
- High spreads
What Changed For Bitvo In October 2026?
- Robinhood completed its acquisition of WonderFi, the parent of Bitbuy, which holds the former Bitvo accounts.
- FINTRAC listed Bitvo Inc. as ceased.
- Bitbuy accounts, including migrated Bitvo accounts, moved to Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd.
- Bitbuy announced it had acquired the Bitvo client accounts and the Bitvo.com domain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happened To Bitvo?
Bitbuy bought all Bitvo client accounts and the Bitvo.com domain in November 2023. Bitvo did not leave Canada: its customers were moved to a larger platform. Bitbuy has since moved to Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. and is now part of Robinhood.
Is Bitvo Still Operating?
No. Bitvo no longer operates as a separate exchange and does not take new sign-ups. The Bitvo.com domain no longer resolves, and FINTRAC lists Bitvo Inc. as ceased on October 8, 2024.
Was Bitvo A Scam?
No. It was a FINTRAC-registered Canadian platform that was absorbed by Bitbuy. I never saw anything that made me doubt it was legitimate.
Where Did My Bitvo Account Go?
It moved to Bitbuy in November 2023. Bitbuy accounts then moved to Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. in May 2024, and Robinhood now owns the parent company, so check your Bitbuy or Robinhood login.
What Is The Best Alternative To Bitvo?
Is Bitvo Registered In Canada?
Not any more. Bitvo Inc. is listed under the CSA's expired decisions and is not on the banned list, and FINTRAC shows Bitvo Inc. as ceased on October 8, 2024. It stopped operating on its own in November 2023 when Bitbuy took over its client accounts.