How to Buy Cryptocurrency in Canada: 2026 Guide

Gone are the days when crypto investing was limited to a niche group of enthusiasts. Today, buying and selling cryptocurrencies—whether directly or via exchange-traded funds (ETFs)—is as accessible as trading stocks for many investors.

Bitcoin and other major coins are increasingly treated as mainstream assets and are offered by large investment firms. High-profile asset managers now list or promote crypto products, and growing institutional interest reflects a broader acceptance of digital assets in modern portfolios.

But how do you buy and sell bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in Canada? Do crypto ETFs actually hold the underlying coins? Can you hold crypto in registered accounts such as RRSPs and TFSAs? The sections below explain the main ways Canadian investors gain crypto exposure and the pros and cons of each approach.

Option 1: Buying crypto directly from a crypto exchange or platform

The most direct way to own cryptocurrencies is to purchase them on a crypto exchange or trading app. These platforms operate similarly to stock exchanges: you deposit funds, place buy or sell orders, and hold the coins in your account or transfer them elsewhere.

Orders generally come in two basic types:

• Market orders: Executed immediately at the prevailing market price for liquid cryptocurrencies.
• Limit orders: Executed only when the market reaches a price you specify, which can mean waiting for the right counterparty.

Choose an exchange that is registered and authorized to operate in Canada under provincial securities regulators. Below are some of the platforms commonly ranked highly for Canadian users. Scores and offerings vary over time, so compare fees, available coins and customer support when deciding.

Platform	Score	Coins	Advanced tools	Trading fees	Support
Coinbase	21	248+	Yes	0%–0.6%	Phone, email
Kraken	20.5	240+	Yes	0%–0.4%	Chat, email
NDAX	20	46+	Yes	0.20%	Phone, chat
Netcoins	20	40+	No	0.50%	Phone, email
Wealthsimple	19	66+	No	0.5%–2%	Email, chat, phone

After purchasing crypto on an exchange, you have two main custody choices:

• Keep assets on the exchange, meaning the platform holds custody on your behalf.
• Transfer assets to a private crypto wallet where you control the private keys.

Wallets come in two broad types: hot wallets, which remain connected to the internet and offer convenience, and cold wallets, which can be kept offline and therefore reduce exposure to online hacks. If you choose a wallet, you become responsible for securing your private keys and backups.

Popular wallet options include both hot and cold solutions that support a wide range of tokens and features such as staking and DeFi access:

Wallet name	Hot or cold	Crypto assets supported	Cold storage supported	Staking/DeFi	Launched
Zengo	Hot	380+	Yes	Yes	2019
Crypto.com Onchain	Hot	1,000+	Yes	Yes	2020
Guarda	Hot	300+	Yes	Yes	2017
Exodus	Hot	250+	Yes	Yes	2016
Trust Wallet	Hot	10M+	Yes	Yes	2017
Coinbase Wallet	Hot	5,500+	Yes	Yes	2018
MetaMask	Hot	650,000+	Yes	Yes	2016
Ledger	Cold	5,500+	Yes	Yes	2016
Trezor	Cold	1,000+	Yes	Yes	2014

Option 2: Buying crypto ETFs

Canada leads in offering a range of crypto ETFs, including spot ETFs that hold the underlying digital assets. Instead of buying and managing coins yourself, you can buy ETF shares through a regular brokerage account, gaining exposure without handling wallets or private keys.

Common ETF types include:

• Spot crypto ETFs: These funds hold the underlying cryptocurrency directly and aim to track its price.
• Leveraged crypto ETFs: Designed to amplify daily returns using derivatives; they can magnify both gains and losses and are generally intended for short-term trading.
• Multi-asset or all-in-one ETFs with a small crypto allocation: These portfolios primarily hold stocks and bonds while allocating a modest percentage (often up to a few percent) to cryptocurrencies to provide limited exposure within a diversified fund.

Fidelity All-in-One ETFs	Conservative	Balanced	Growth	Equity
Risk classification	Low to medium	Low to medium	Medium	Medium
Ticker	FCNS	FBAL	FGRO	FEQT
Global equity	40%	59%	82%	97%
Global fixed income	59%	39%	15%	0%
Cryptocurrencies	1%	2%	3%	3%

Option 3: Buying shares or ETFs of publicly traded blockchain or crypto-related companies

If you prefer indirect exposure to the crypto sector, consider buying shares of companies involved in mining, exchanges, blockchain infrastructure or asset management. Owning stock provides exposure to industry growth without holding crypto directly, and these shares trade on conventional exchanges accessible to Canadian investors.

Examples of publicly traded firms active in the crypto and blockchain space include miners, exchanges and digital-asset managers:

Company name	Ticker	Exchange	Subsector
Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd.	GLXY	TSE	Asset management
Core Scientific Inc.	CORZ	Nasdaq	Mining and digital infrastructure
Riot Platforms Inc.	RIOT	Nasdaq	Mining and digital infrastructure
Coinbase Global Inc.	COIN	Nasdaq	Crypto exchange
MicroStrategy Inc. (Strategy)	MSTR	Nasdaq	Corporate bitcoin treasury
Marathon Digital Holdings	MARA	Nasdaq	Mining and infrastructure
Applied Digital Corporation	APLD	Nasdaq	Enterprise blockchain services
Bitfarms Ltd.	BITF	TSE	Crypto mining
Hut 8 Corp	HUT	TSE	Crypto mining
Cleanspark	CLSK	Nasdaq	Crypto mining

For broader exposure, investors can also buy equity ETFs that track baskets of blockchain- or crypto-related companies. These funds offer diversification across subsectors and reduce single-company risk compared with owning individual stocks.

ETF name	Global X Blockchain ETF	CI Galaxy Blockchain Index ETF	Bitwise Crypto Industries Innovators ETF	VanEck Digital Transformation ETF	Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF	First Trust SkyBridge Crypto Industry & Digital Economy ETF	iShares Blockchain and Tech ETF
Ticker symbol	BKCH	CBCX	BITQ	DAPP	STCE	CRPT	IBLC
Expense ratio	0.5%	0.59%	0.85%	0.51%	0.3%	0.85%	0.47%
Assets under management	USD$166.38 million	$4.57 million	USD$208.57 million	USD$214.2 million	USD$117.81 million	USD$131.58 million	USD$36.60 million
Inception date	July 12, 2021	April 28, 2022	May 11, 2021	April 12, 2021	Aug. 4, 2022	Sept. 20, 2021	April 25, 2022

Choosing the best way to hold crypto in Canada

Your ideal approach depends on your goals, risk tolerance and willingness to manage technical details. The table below summarizes the main advantages and disadvantages of each option to help you decide.

Investment option	Pros	Cons
Buying crypto directly from an exchange	• Direct exposure to cryptocurrencies • Wide choice of coins and features • Ability to transfer to a private wallet for full control • No fund management fees	• You handle investment decisions and security • Responsibility for private keys if using a wallet • Exchange custody carries security risk • Many exchanges and coins are not eligible for registered accounts
Buying crypto ETFs	• Regulated funds and cleared through traditional brokerages • No wallets or private keys to manage • Options for spot, leveraged or multi-asset exposure • Eligible for registered accounts like RRSPs and TFSAs	• Limited number of spot cryptocurrencies in some markets • Leveraged ETFs amplify losses as well as gains • ETFs charge management fees and may not perfectly track the underlying coin
Buying shares/ETFs of crypto-themed companies	• Indirect exposure without holding crypto directly • Traditional market oversight and settlement • Diversification across different business models • Eligible for registered accounts	• Company performance may diverge from cryptocurrency prices • Subject to stock-market volatility and company-specific risks • ETFs of stocks carry management fees

Many Canadian investors new to crypto limit their initial exposure to a small portion of their portfolio—commonly 1% to 5%—to gauge comfort level. Experienced investors with higher risk tolerance might allocate up to 10%, but larger concentrations carry significant volatility and should only be considered by those who understand the risks.

Crypto is a speculative asset class prone to dramatic price swings. Only invest amounts you can afford to lose, and ensure any crypto allocation aligns with your financial goals, time horizon and risk profile. Additional risks include regulatory and technological uncertainty, and the industry has a history of scams and frauds, so exercise caution and perform due diligence before investing.

Related reading on crypto

• Bitcoin or ethereum: which is the best crypto to buy in 2025?
• Has the bitcoin bubble burst?
• Donald Trump’s new meme coin: $Trump
• What you should know about cryptocurrency tax in Canada