How to Buy Bitcoin in Canada

1. Choose a cryptocurrency trading platform that offers support for Bitcoin.
2. Fund your account through one of the many available methods.
3. Search for Bitcoin on the platform and purchase using your available funds.

1. Choose a Crypto Trading Platform

Generally, one of the first steps of choosing a crypto trading platform is to ensure that the cryptocurrency you want to purchase is supported.

Luckily, as one of the most well-known and most-traded cryptocurrencies, just about every crypto trading platform will offer support for Bitcoin.

With so many options to choose from, here are a few popular platforms for Canadians.

Wealthsimple Crypto

One of the most well-known and trusted names is Wealthsimple Crypto.

Wealthsimple has designed a user-friendly application that makes it easy for first-time investors to buy, sell and trade Bitcoin.
 
However, it is important to understand that the platform does not allow for direct ownership of the underlying assets.

Users cannot withdraw Bitcoin directly from the platform since the cryptocurrency must first be converted to cash before being taken out of Wealthsimple.

One of the reasons investors choose to purchase cryptocurrencies is the direct ownership of the underlying assets.

By offering tools like private keys and additional tiers of security, other platforms allow their users to move cryptocurrency out of the platforms and into digital wallets or other secure storage choices.

While Wealthsimple Crypto does not provide this, the platform simplifies the process and allows users with little experience in the cryptocurrency sector to get started without having to set up complicated wallets, keys, or other security precautions.

As a result, this is a great option for those who are new to investing in bitcoin.

Binance

Bitcoin may also be purchased by Canadians (except for residents of Ontario) through Binance, one of the world’s largest and best-known cryptocurrency exchanges, Binance supports over 200 different cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin.

Low trading costs and the ability to fund accounts using several currencies, including CAD, USD, EUR, are among the numerous advantages of Binance.

Binance offers users peace of mind by using a secure method for storing assets called “cold storage”.

This means that the digital wallets are stored offline and not connected to the internet in order to prevent cyber attackers from hacking the system.

Coinberry

Another popular option is Coinberry.

The Toronto-based trading platform is extremely easy to navigate and very friendly for new users.

Account setup, including identification verification, is a quick process.

Users are often able to deposit money and begin trading within minutes of signup.

Trading is commission-free but the platform could take between 0% to 2.5% in spread on each transaction. 

Coinberry is a trusted company that has used its reputation to build solid relationships across Canada.

Coinberry was chosen by the Canadian town of Innisfil as their partner for a pilot project in which municipal property taxes could be paid using cryptocurrency.

Partnerships such as these prove that Coinberry is a safe and reputable platform that takes security seriously.

Bitbuy

In December 2021, Bitbuy received OSC approval to become Canada’s first and only crypto trading platform that’s regulated as a marketplace.

Also founded in Toronto, Bitbuy has a platform that caters to both beginner and advanced traders.

Novice users are greeted with a friendly user interface and easy-to-understand options in the “Express Mode” product.

Experienced traders can opt for the “Pro Trade” product, which opens up features such as live order books and market depth charts.

Fees on trades vary from 0.1% to 0.2%, however, Bitbuy also charges for deposits and withdraws into and out of their platform, with fees ranging from 0.5% to 1.5% percent.

In terms of security, Bitbuy also uses cold storage as a way to ensure that customer assets remain safe and out of reach of any cyber security threats.

2. Deposit Money Into Your Account

Once you have selected a platform, the next step is to deposit money into your account.

Different platforms have different options, including e-transfer, debit card, bank transfer, or credit card. 

With these options, each platform may charge different deposit fees.

These fees add up quickly, especially if you are making multiple smaller deposits each month.

Another element to consider is processing times.

Platforms such as Wealthsimple Crypto offer “instant deposit”, allowing users to make purchases within seconds of adding money to their account.

Given the large price fluctuations on cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, having the ability to instantly purchase can make all the difference.

3. Buy Your Desired Quantity of Bitcoin

With money in your account, you are now ready to make your first purchase.

Searching “Bitcoin” or “BTC” in any of the trading platforms will bring up a trading window.

Here, you can see the current price of Bitcoin along with lots of other information.

As the price per Bitcoin has become tens of thousands of dollars, it is not necessary to purchase a whole Bitcoin to start off.

Just like fractional trading is available on some platforms to purchase stocks, investors looking to purchase Bitcoin can invest as little or as much as they want.

Whatever amount you decide to invest will give you a “piece” of a Bitcoin.

In fact, each bitcoin can be divided down to one hundred millionths.

Do I Need to Store My Bitcoin in a Wallet?

As discussed, there are several features that make purchasing Bitcoins safe and secure.

In general, crypto trading platforms offer a service known as a “custodial wallet”.

This means that while coins are safely stored in a wallet, the ownership of private keys is given to a third party.

Storing in a custodial wallet offers the benefit of ensuring that private keys are never lost.

Those who choose to keep ownership to themselves (non-custodial wallets) risk losing their keys (forgetting passwords, losing physical storage devices) and forever losing access to the Bitcoin stored in their wallet.

Both custodial and non-custodial wallets come in many options.

Users can opt for a virtual wallet, a hardware wallet, a desktop wallet, or a mobile wallet.

These options all have tradeoffs between convenience and security, and it is important to research the pros and cons of each before investing large sums of money into the cryptocurrency world.

Alternative Ways to Invest in Bitcoin in Canada

All the crypto trading platforms discussed above are centralized exchanges.

However, there are several other ways you can buy Bitcoin.

Here’s a brief overview of some alternative crypto investing options.

Bitcoin ATMs

Bitcoin ATMs are similar to traditional bank ATMs.

However, instead of using a payment card to withdraw or deposit cash, these ATMs allow you to use cash or cards to purchase Bitcoin.

You will need an active crypto wallet to complete the transfer.

You might also face a steep cost for buying crypto this way.

However, depending on your circumstances this could be the most convenient and anonymous way to purchase Bitcoin. 

The world’s first Bitcoin ATM was launched inside a coffee shop in downtown Vancouver in 2013.

Since then, these machines have spread across the world.

Currently, there over 34,000 BTC ATMs. 

Peer-to-peer platforms

Another way to buy Bitcoin is to reach out to someone who owns the digital asset and purchase it directly.

This method is the one that comes closest to Bitcoin’s core tenet of peer-to-peer online transactions.

The first few BTC transactions, conducted by Satoshi Nakamoto, were done on niche online forums and message boards.

Today, users can sign up on peer-to-peer platforms like LocalBitcoins to connect with sellers. 

This method is usually the fastest and easiest, but could also be the riskiest.

If you’re trying to buy Bitcoin directly from other users, it’s important to look for the ones with the best reputation and highest scores on LocalBitcoin. 

Decentralized platforms

A decentralized cryptocurrency platform (sometimes called a DEX) is a hybrid between centralized exchanges and the peer-to-peer platforms mentioned above.

These platforms are based on the same blockchain and smart contract technology that the cryptocurrencies use.

They automatically connect buyers and sellers without the need for a corporation or intermediary to facilitate the transactions.

These platforms tend to be much cheaper and faster than regular crypto exchanges.

However, there are no features and conveniences that you would expect from a mainstream crypto platform.

For instance, you can’t access margin trades, call customer service, or deposit funds in fiat currencies.

A Decentralized Exchange may not be the ideal way to buy Bitcoin for the first time, but could be a helpful tool for sophisticated investors looking to add niche assets.

Uniswap is an example of a popular DEX.

Bitcoin Historical Performance

Like most cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin has had periods of extreme price volatility.

Retail investors have shown lots of interest in Bitcoin over the past few years, driving prices up to a peak of almost $65,000 USD in 2021, however by the end of 2022 the price was hovering under $20,000 USD.

The price of Bitcoin in USD is $64261.77 as of 2024-04-25 07:27:00

While Bitcoin has been around since 2009, investors are still wary of Bitcoin as an investment instrument.

A range of issues has caused the price of Bitcoin to fluctuate over the past several years: regulatory concerns, the emergence of other coins, and the negative media coverage in the case of security breaches are all examples of events that cause Bitcoin prices to dip.

In addition, another well-known catalyst for price movement is comments made by public figures such as Elon Musk.

For example, Musk famously tweeted that Tesla would be accepting Bitcoin as a form of payment before backtracking on that comment in the following days.

The comments drove prices rapidly up and back down over the course of a few short days.

Is Bitcoin a Good Investment?

As a speculative and highly volatile investment, Bitcoin is not for everyone.

For those who have a higher risk tolerance, investing in Bitcoin has the potential to generate high returns.

However, you must also be ready to stomach the wild price fluctuations that are associated with the sector.

Bitcoin is slightly more stable than some other cryptocurrencies with lower market caps, but the investment should still be considered higher risk.

Frequently Asked Questions