Note: Neither platform is available to Canadians. Binance withdrew from the Canadian market in May 2023 after refusing new CSA investor-protection requirements, and it remains unavailable in every province and territory. Gate (formerly Gate.io, rebranded to Gate.com in May 2025) has restricted all Canadian accounts since April 2022. This comparison is preserved for historical reference only.
This comparison looks at Binance and Gate.io, two prominent cryptocurrency exchanges that are widely recognized. Binance is the world’s largest exchange by trading volume; Gate (now Gate.com) is one of the world’s largest by altcoin variety. Neither is available to Canadians in 2026.
Binance Vs Gate.io: Which Is Better For Canadians?
Neither is an option for Canadians today. Binance left Canada in May 2023 after announcing on May 12, 2023 that new Canadian securities rules made operating there untenable. Gate.io is an offshore exchange that is not registered in Canada and lists Canada as a restricted location in its user agreement. I recommend Coinbase instead (9.8/10, #1 on my list): open a Coinbase account.
What Are The Key Differences Between Binance And Gate.io?
Binance Vs Gate.io: Side By Side
Binance
Gate.io
Description
Founded in 2017 by Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, a McGill graduate raised in Canada, Binance was the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, offering hundreds of coins, deep liquidity and every product type. It withdrew from Canada in May 2023 after announcing that new Canadian securities rules made operating there untenable, and it is unavailable in every province and territory.
Launched in 2013, Gate (formerly Gate.io, rebranded and moved to Gate.com in May 2025) is one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. However, Canada is on the list of restricted locations in the Gate user agreement, alongside 30+ other jurisdictions. Gate has not served Canadians since earlier reports of Canadian accounts moving to withdrawal-only around April 2022, so we would not recommend trying to use it.
Coins
Hundreds of cryptocurrencies including BTC, ETH, XRP, DOGE and USDT, none accessible from Canada.
Past tense: 2,053 base assets across 2,202 tradable spot pairs (public API, 2026-10-02), none of them open to Canadians. USDT was never part of a Canadian offer.
Fees
A 0.1% base spot fee, dropping with volume and BNB discounts, was historically among the cheapest anywhere. Not applicable to Canadians now.
Past tense: spot base fee 0.2% per pair per the public API (2026-10-02), lower with volume. Free crypto deposits. CAD was never supported.
Pros
Largest exchange in the world with the deepest liquidity
Huge altcoin selection and low fees
Advanced order types, margin, futures and P2P trading
Lite and Pro interfaces for beginners and veterans alike
Thousands of altcoins were available
Advanced trading features and tools
Not available to Canadians, so none of this is usable
Cons
Exited Canada in May 2023 rather than accept the new CSA requirements that every registered platform accepted
Fined roughly $6 million by FINTRAC for anti-money-laundering reporting failures in Canada
Pleaded guilty in the US in 2023 with an approximately $4.3 billion settlement, with founder CZ serving prison time before a 2025 pardon
Faced Canadian class action litigation over derivatives previously sold to retail investors
Using it via VPN violates its terms, risks frozen funds, and leaves you with no recourse in Canada
Not allowed in Canada, and no Canadian entity
Mandatory KYC means Canadians cannot sign up, and VPN workarounds risk frozen funds
CAD was never supported
Not beginner-friendly
Security
2FA, cold storage with multi-signature wallets, mandatory KYC and the SAFU emergency fund. The 2019 hack (7,000 BTC stolen from the hot wallet, roughly 2% of holdings, fully reimbursed) was a reminder that even giants get breached.
that claim was not confirmed here. Gate's FINTRAC MSB registration M20329002 (Gate Technology Corp.) expired 2023-05-31.
Methods To Buy
Canadians cannot buy crypto on Binance. Legacy users with balances should withdraw to a private wallet. Binance said it hoped to return one day but no return has been announced, so treat any offer of Binance access for Canadians as a scam.
Canadians cannot buy crypto on Gate. Account creation requires KYC, and restrictions are enforced based on the country on your ID, so even a VPN won't get you a working account, just one that can be frozen with your funds inside.
App
The app works in supported countries; for Canadians its only remaining function was withdrawing legacy balances.
Not applicable to Canadians.
Account Limits
Not applicable. New Canadian registrations were blocked and legacy Canadian accounts were moved to withdrawal-only status.
No longer applicable. n/a for Canadians, since accounts cannot be opened from Canada.
How Do You Fund And Cash Out Binance And Gate.io In Canada?
Legacy Canadian accounts are withdrawal-only. No current funding methods. No CAD funding exists. Canada is a Restricted Location in user agreement clause 2.5. Whether any legacy Canadian account can still withdraw crypto is not stated on an official Gate page, so contact Gate support.
What Do Binance And Gate.io Offer Beyond Buying And Selling?
Binance Only
Derivatives, margin and P2P (historic): Binance offered futures, margin and P2P trading globally. Canadian retail access ended in May 2023.
What Happens To Your Money If Binance Or Gate.io Fails?
Binance: Binance has no Canadian entity registered or recognized today, so Canadian regulators give you no recourse. If you still hold a balance, withdraw it to a wallet you control; legacy Canadian accounts were set to withdrawal-only. Using a VPN to keep trading breaks Binance's terms and can freeze your funds. Treat sites and Telegram groups offering Binance access to Canadians as scams.
Gate.io: Gate does not serve Canada, is not on the CSA list, holds no current FINTRAC registration and is not a CIRO member. CIPF never covers crypto. A Canadian with a balance left on Gate has no regulator to appeal to, and the user agreement tells users in restricted locations to stop using the services and lets Gate restrict or close accounts at its discretion. Opening an account through a VPN risks a freeze.
How Are Binance And Gate.io Treated For Tax In Canada?
Binance: Trades on Binance were dispositions for CRA purposes. Export your trade and deposit history while you can still log in for withdrawals. Export formats: Not published.
Gate.io: Any earlier trades or sales on Gate are dispositions for CRA purposes. Keep or export your full trade and transfer history while you still have access, because a restricted account may be closed.
Selling, swapping or spending crypto is a disposition for the CRA on any platform. This is not tax advice: see my guide to crypto taxes in Canada.
Which Should You Choose, Binance Or Gate.io?
Choose Binance If
You want a registered platform that serves Canadians today: Coinbase is our number one replacement, with free Interac e-Transfer funding and a Canadian restricted dealer registration.
Choose Gate.io If
You want an altcoin-heavy exchange: Gate does not serve Canadians, so pick a registered Canadian platform with a deep coin list, such as Kraken.
What Happened To Binance?
Binance left Canada in May 2023. On May 12, 2023 it announced that new Canadian securities rules made operating there untenable. Global News reported that the new rules covered stablecoins and crypto contracts, with a CAD 100 million escrow mentioned. A few weeks later, on May 30, 2023, the FINTRAC registry shows Binance Canada Capital Markets Inc. (M21783493) as ceased.
Binance is not on the CSA authorized list and it is not on the CSA banned list. It simply is not here. It said it hoped to return one day, but I found no sign of a return.
Binance: Timeline
Date
Event
May 12, 2023
Binance announces it is leaving Canada
May 30, 2023
FINTRAC lists Binance Canada Capital Markets Inc. as ceased
What Should Existing Binance Users Do?
If you still hold anything on Binance, treat it as an account at a platform that does not serve Canada. I have not verified current withdrawal terms for Canadian users, so confirm them in Binance's own Canada FAQ before you move money, and move long-term holdings to your own wallet.
What Happened To Gate.io?
Gate.io has not closed, but it is not open to you. It is an offshore exchange that is not registered in Canada, and its user agreement lists Canada among its restricted locations, alongside the United States, mainland China, Singapore, France and Germany. I read that agreement on October 2, 2026.
Gate.io is not on the CSA authorized or banned lists, and the FINTRAC registry shows Gate Technology Corp. (M20329002) as expired on May 31, 2023, with no current registration. I found no CAD funding, which fits a platform that bars Canadians in its own terms. For context only, its public API lists 2,053 base assets across 2,202 tradable spot pairs and a 0.2% base spot fee.
Gate.io: Timeline
Date
Event
May 31, 2023
FINTRAC registration for Gate Technology Corp. expires
Oct 2, 2026
Gate.io's user agreement, read on this date, lists Canada as a restricted location
What Should Existing Gate.io Users Do?
Using Gate.io as a Canadian would break its own terms, and no Canadian investor protection would apply if something went wrong. If you want a big altcoin menu, use a registered platform instead.
What Should Binance And Gate.io Users Use Instead?
Neither platform can take new Canadian customers, so the real question is where to go next. My status registry points to Kraken. The facts below come from each platform's own pages and the CSA lists.
Registered Alternatives, Compared
Platform
Regulation
Trading Cost
Interac E-Transfer Funding
Coins
Kraken
CSA Restricted Dealer (Payward Canada Inc.), decision April 1, 2025
Kraken Pro 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker at the entry tier; Instant Buy 1% plus spread
Free, min CAD 5
About 490 (derived)
Why Kraken Fits
Registered Restricted Dealer (Payward Canada) with a broad coin list and CAD Interac funding.
Kraken has two price lists. Instant Buy and recurring trades cost 1% plus a spread, and custom orders 1.5%. Kraken Pro starts at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker, dropping to 0.30% and 0.60% from USD 2.5K of 30-day volume, and 0.22% and 0.38% from USD 10K. Kraken Plus offers zero trading fees on up to USD 10,000 of monthly volume, though the spread and card fees still apply.
Payward Canada Inc. is a Restricted Dealer, registered with the Ontario Securities Commission and the securities regulators of each province and territory, under a CSA decision dated April 1, 2025. It is not on CIRO's membership list. Kraken's Proof of Reserves snapshot for June 30, 2026 shows reserve ratios of 102.9% for BTC, 100.5% for ETH, 100.6% for SOL, 102.3% for XRP and 100.3% for ADA. Canadian clients also face a net purchase limit of CAD 30,000 over a rolling 12 months (CAD 100,000 for Eligible Investors) on assets other than BTC, ETH, LTC and BCH.
Kraken: Pros And Cons
Pros
Restricted Dealer registered across Canada
Kraken Pro fees start at 0.40% and 0.80%
Free Interac e-Transfer deposits
Proof of Reserves published
Cons
Instant Buy costs 1% plus spread
CAD 10 Interac withdrawal fee
Purchase limits on most non-major assets (not in AB, BC, MB, QC, SK)
What Changed For Binance And Gate.io In October 2026?
: Gate.io's user agreement still names Canada among its restricted locations.
: The FINTRAC registration for Gate Technology Corp. expired.
: FINTRAC lists Binance Canada Capital Markets Inc. (M21783493) as ceased.
: Binance announces it is leaving the Canadian market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happened To Binance?
Binance left Canada in May 2023. On May 12, 2023 it announced that new Canadian securities rules made operating there untenable. Global News reported that the new rules covered stablecoins and crypto contracts, with a CAD 100 million escrow mentioned. A few weeks later, on May 30, 2023, the FINTRAC registry shows Binance Canada Capital Markets Inc. (M21783493) as ceased.
What Happened To Gate.io?
Gate.io has not closed, but it is not open to you. It is an offshore exchange that is not registered in Canada, and its user agreement lists Canada among its restricted locations, alongside the United States, mainland China, Singapore, France and Germany. I read that agreement on October 2, 2026.
Can Canadians Still Use Binance Or Gate.io?
No. Binance left Canada in May 2023 and is not available to Canadian residents. No. Gate.io's user agreement names Canada as a restricted location, and it is not registered here.
What Is The Best Alternative To Binance And Gate.io?
Kraken: Beginners who want to learn, then cheaper trading on Kraken Pro.
How Do I Protect My Funds If A Platform Closes?
Keep only what you are actively trading on an exchange, withdraw long-term holdings to your own wallet, and use platforms that appear on the CSA authorized list. A platform that is banned, restricted or gone gives you no Canadian investor protection.
Do Binance And Gate.io Have Limit Orders?
Binance: Yes globally, not for Canadians. Gate.io: Not applicable, Canadians cannot use Gate.
Which Coins Can You Buy On Binance And Gate.io?
Binance: Hundreds globally, none for Canadians Gate.io: 2,053 base assets, none open to Canadians
Is The Spread The Fee On Binance And Gate.io?
Binance: No longer applicable. Gate.io: Not applicable.
Does CIPF Cover My Crypto On Binance Or Gate.io?
Binance: CIPF never covers crypto, and this platform no longer serves Canadians. Gate.io: CIPF never covers crypto, and Gate is not a CIPF member.
Are Binance And Gate.io Available In Every Province?
Binance: No longer available in any province. Gate.io: None, Canada is a Restricted Location.
Do Interac Deposits Work On Weekends On Binance And Gate.io?
Binance: No longer applicable. Gate.io: No Interac e-Transfer, CAD was never supported.
What Is The Minimum Buy On Binance And Gate.io?
Binance: No longer applicable. Gate.io: Not applicable.
Can A Business Use Binance Or Gate.io?
Binance: No longer applicable. Gate.io: Not applicable, Canada is a Restricted Location.
Oleg is a Canadian citizen & crypto expert who has been trading since 2016. He started out with Coinbase, Kraken and Peer-to-Peer exchanges. After some time, centralized exchanges started charging crazy fees to their users.
He decided to review different crypto exchanges that operate in Canada and start a Youtube channel in order to educate Canadians on what kinds of things are going inside each one while giving them unbiased advice. On top of that, Oleg also has experience with NFT, airdrops, and crypto staking and he is constantly checking on new crypto assets.
His writing has been featured in popular Canadian media sources such as Toronto Sun and Ottawa Citizen.