Security Compliance
Beaver Bitcoin is non-custodial, which puts it in the same safety category as Bull Bitcoin and Bitcoin Well rather than traditional exchanges. Because coins are delivered to your wallet immediately, the platform never accumulates customer funds that hackers could target, and there's no scenario where your bitcoin gets stuck behind a frozen withdrawal queue. The trade-off is on you: you must set up and secure your own Bitcoin wallet before your first purchase, so pick a good one and back up your seed phrase properly.
Netcoins keeps the majority of client crypto in cold storage with custodian BitGo, whose private keys live in air-gapped offline systems, while hot wallet operations run through Fireblocks. Two-factor authentication is mandatory for withdrawals, and multi-signature wallets add another layer. Its parent company's blockchain surveillance technology monitors wallet addresses and transactions for fraud and links to criminal enterprises. Netcoins has operated since 2014 without a hack.
Netcoins keeps the majority of client crypto in cold storage with custodian BitGo, whose private keys live in air-gapped offline systems, while hot wallet operations run through Fireblocks. Two-factor authentication is mandatory for withdrawals, and multi-signature wallets add another layer. Its parent company's blockchain surveillance technology monitors wallet addresses and transactions for fraud and links to criminal enterprises. Netcoins has operated since 2014 without a hack. Because Netcoins is custodial, your coins remain on the platform until you withdraw — standard exchange practice but a risk Beaver Bitcoin eliminates entirely.
Beaver Bitcoin is non-custodial by default. Your bitcoin is sent directly to your personal wallet on every single purchase, eliminating exchange-custody risk entirely. The main trust factor is that Beaver successfully routes the BTC to your address, which it does as a standard on-chain transaction you can verify on the public blockchain.
Beaver Bitcoin eliminates custodial risk by never holding your funds. Netcoins holds client crypto with BitGo in cold storage and Fireblocks for hot wallet operations, mandatory 2FA and multi-signature wallets — strong institutional protection for a custodial exchange. For self-custody purists, Beaver Bitcoin wins. For those who prefer the convenience of a full exchange with phone support and a Visa card, Netcoins is the more versatile choice.
Regulatory Compliance
Beaver Bitcoin is registered as a Money Services Business with FINTRAC and applies full KYC to every customer, keeping it compliant with Canadian regulations. As a bitcoin-only, non-custodial platform, it operates in the same regulatory lane as Bull Bitcoin rather than the securities-registered dealer path taken by custodial exchanges.
Netcoins is one of the most regulated exchanges in Canada. Beyond its FINTRAC MSB registration, it has been registered as a Restricted Dealer with the Canadian securities regulators in every province since 2021, among the very first platforms to achieve this, and is working toward full investment dealer registration and CIRO membership. Its parent, BIGG Digital Assets, is publicly traded and must publish audited financial statements, adding a transparency layer most private exchanges can't match.
Netcoins is one of the most regulated exchanges in Canada. Beyond its FINTRAC MSB registration, it has been registered as a Restricted Dealer with the Canadian securities regulators in every province since 2021, among the very first platforms to achieve this, and is working toward full investment dealer registration and CIRO membership. Its parent, BIGG Digital Assets, is publicly traded and must publish audited financial statements, adding a transparency layer most private exchanges can't match.
Beaver Bitcoin is registered with FINTRAC as a Money Services Business and complies with Canadian AML and KYC requirements. Full identity verification is required before purchasing.
Both platforms are registered with FINTRAC as MSBs. Netcoins goes further as a CSA Restricted Dealer in every province with public company audit obligations. Beaver Bitcoin is a FINTRAC-registered MSB, appropriate for a non-custodial Bitcoin-only service.
Customer support
Beaver's support is one of its standout features for a company its size. Reviews consistently praise the fast, human responses, and the team personally replies to feedback on Trustpilot, where the platform holds a strongly positive rating. Support runs through their help centre and email. The one recurring complaint worth noting in fairness: a small number of users report account closures during compliance reviews, which is a reality of any KYC platform but stings more when it's your DCA pipeline.
Netcoins offers email, live chat and phone support seven days a week, and phone support remains rare among crypto exchanges. Its reputation for customer service is strong, with reviewers consistently praising the fast, human support and quick verification, though some negative reviews cite blocked withdrawals during compliance checks. Check the live Trustpilot page for the current rating before quoting a number.
Netcoins offers email, live chat and phone support seven days a week — phone support remains rare among crypto exchanges, and Netcoins is one of the few Canadian platforms that offers it. Its reputation for customer service is strong, with reviewers consistently praising fast, human support.
Beaver Bitcoin provides support through its website contact form and email. Being a small team, response times may be slower, but the platform is so minimal that most users rarely need help after initial setup.
Netcoins' seven-day phone, chat and email support is the clear winner. Beaver Bitcoin's contact form is adequate for a platform where the main use case is sending an Interac e-Transfer and watching BTC arrive in your wallet.
Conclusion
Both Beaver Bitcoin and Netcoins are solid Canadian exchanges that serve different goals.
Choose Beaver Bitcoin if you want Bitcoin only, immediate self-custody on every purchase, a flat transparent 1.5% fee, and the simplest possible recurring buy that sends bitcoin straight to your hardware wallet without ever managing an exchange account.
Choose Netcoins if you want 60+ coins, a flat 0.5% fee (competitive with Beaver Bitcoin on Bitcoin specifically when you factor in Netcoins' spread), staking on select coins, a Visa card with 3% bitcoin cashback, seven-day phone support, and the broader ecosystem of a CSA Restricted Dealer backed by a publicly traded parent company.
For long-term Bitcoin holders who prioritise self-custody and simplicity, Beaver Bitcoin is the right pick. For Canadians who want altcoins, a Visa card, phone support, or more funding options, Netcoins is the better platform.
We recommend choosing Beaver Bitcoin for Bitcoin-only self-custody buyers, or Netcoins for those who want a broader, more feature-rich exchange. By using our referral links, you support us in conducting comprehensive independent analyses of crypto trading options for Canadians.
If you find that neither meets your requirements, we encourage you to explore our monthly-updated list of the best exchanges for Canadians to trade crypto.
