Status Notice: Catalyx has ceased operations and is on the CSA banned list. The registry record on file notes an Alberta Securities Commission order of December 21, 2023 against CatalX CTS Ltd., reciprocated by other provinces, and my earlier review recorded a security breach and receivership in early 2024. The platform cannot be used, and no new accounts are possible. This review is kept for reference only. The best registered alternative is NDAX: open an NDAX account.
Catalyx was a Canadian crypto exchange with a flat 0.75% trading fee, free Interac e-Transfer deposits and a 1% CAD withdrawal fee. It is gone. The Alberta Securities Commission's December 2023 order against CatalX CTS Ltd. put it on the CSA banned list, and the exchange stopped operating after a security breach and receivership in early 2024. I scored it 4.2 out of 10 when it was running.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Status | Ceased operations in early 2024 after a security breach, regulatory action and receivership |
| CSA | On the CSA banned list. Alberta Securities Commission order of December 21, 2023 against CatalX CTS Ltd., reciprocated by other provinces |
| What It Offered | Flat 0.75% trading fee, free CAD deposits by Interac e-Transfer, 1% CAD withdrawal fee, about 40 coins |
| Liquidity Partner | Bittrex Global, which itself ended all trading on December 4, 2023 |
| New Accounts | Not possible |
What Happened To Catalyx?
Catalyx ceased operations after a security breach, regulatory actions and a receivership in early 2024. The Alberta Securities Commission issued an order against CatalX CTS Ltd. on December 21, 2023, and other provinces reciprocated, which is why Catalyx now appears on the CSA's banned list.
It also had a tie to a bigger collapse. Bittrex Global was Catalyx's main liquidity provider. Bittrex Global moved Canadian users off its platform in 2022 and ended all trading on December 4, 2023, and it had offered Canadian users an opt-in transfer to Catalyx. That transfer path now leads nowhere.
What Should Catalyx Users Do?
Check your emails and records for any notice from the receiver, and keep your deposit and trade history for tax reporting. Treat any message offering to recover your balance for a fee as a scam. Our guide to common crypto scams in Canada covers how those work.
What Should Catalyx Users Use Instead?
Catalyx charged more than most registered platforms. NDAX asks for a flat 0.20% and Kraken Pro starts at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker. All three below are registered and are in my ranking.
| Exchange | Score | Fees | CAD Funding | Coins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDAX | 7.8 | Flat 0.20% | Free Interac e-Transfer and wire | 77 assets |
| Kraken | 9.2 | Kraken Pro 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker | Free Interac e-Transfer deposits | About 490 |
| Coinbase | 9.8 | Up to 1.875% on simple buys, plus spread | Free Interac e-Transfer and EFT | 200+ |
See the full best crypto exchanges for Canadians ranking, or take the exchange quiz.
What Was Catalyx Like When It Operated?
Catalyx was a Canadian cryptocurrency exchange, and after testing over 50 exchanges since 2016, I decided to put it to the test. What follows is what I found, kept as a record.
Catalyx Features And Fees
The platform offered charts, order book data and advanced order types, with both fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-crypto pairs. A referral program paid up to 20% of a referee's trading fees. The fee was a flat 0.75% with no spread, free Interac and crypto deposits, and a 1% fee on Interac withdrawals. Newton, by comparison, charged no trading fee but a spread of roughly 0.9%.
With the $100 we deposited, we bought Bitcoin. As advertised, the fixed 0.75% fee was applied accurately, costing us $0.75, and we received $99.25 worth of Bitcoin. Our Interac deposit took five minutes, and the Bitcoin withdrawal to a Trezor Model T hardware wallet arrived within five minutes.
Catalyx Verification
Signing up was fast and less invasive than some other exchanges. You needed to be 18 or older, with a government ID, a selfie video where you read out three digits, and answers to employment questions. Verification was instant.
Catalyx Platform, Support And Safety
The trading platform was not for beginners, and the order form only accepted the amount of crypto, not the amount in CAD. There was no mobile app. Support meant a chat bot, with no visible email address, ticketing system or weekend help. Trustpilot showed 87% excellent reviews, but none of the positive ones were recent, and some users complained about slow support and long withdrawals.
Catalyx claimed insurance for its digital assets but gave no detail, and it did not say how much was kept in cold storage. It was registered with FINTRAC as a money services business, and I confirmed at the time that it was not a scam exchange. Later events show why unclear security disclosures matter.
What Catalyx Did Well
- Free deposits
- Advanced trading platform
- Interac e-Transfer
- Simple dashboard
Where Catalyx Fell Short
- 1% CAD withdrawal fee and high trading fee
- Few altcoins
- No mobile app and weak support
- Vague security and insurance details
- Closed after a breach and receivership
What Changed For Catalyx In October 2026?
- Catalyx ceased operations after a security breach, regulatory action and receivership, per my earlier review.
- The Alberta Securities Commission ordered action against CatalX CTS Ltd., later reciprocated across Canada and added to the CSA banned list.
- Bittrex Global, Catalyx's liquidity partner, ended all trading.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happened To Catalyx?
Catalyx ceased operations in early 2024 after a security breach, regulatory action and receivership. CatalX CTS Ltd. is on the CSA banned list following an Alberta Securities Commission order of December 21, 2023.
Is Catalyx Still Available To Canadians?
No. The platform is closed and no new accounts are possible.
Is Catalyx Safe?
No. It is banned by Canadian regulators and has stopped operating. Even while it ran, it gave no detail about its insurance or cold storage share.
How Much Did Catalyx Charge?
A flat 0.75% trading fee with no spread, free Interac e-Transfer deposits and a 1% CAD withdrawal fee. On our $100 test buy the fee was $0.75.
What Is The Best Alternative To Catalyx?
NDAX is a registered Canadian exchange with a flat 0.20% fee, free Interac e-Transfer and 77 assets. Kraken and Coinbase are the other two I would check first.