Security Compliance
Bitbuy remains one of the safest crypto exchanges for Canadians. Client assets are segregated and held predominantly in insured cold storage with custodian BitGo, protected by mandatory two-factor authentication, and verified through quarterly proof-of-reserves reporting required under CIRO oversight. Bitbuy has operated since 2016 without a hack. The Robinhood acquisition doesn't change these protections, since Robinhood stepped into Canada's existing regulatory structure rather than around it. As always, crypto itself isn't covered by CIPF, so long-term holdings belong in your own wallet.
Bull Bitcoin is one of the safest options in Canada because you always take full custody of your bitcoin, so you don't need to worry about hackers stealing funds sitting on the platform. There is still a small level of trust needed because you don't buy the bitcoin yourself and must wait a moment for it to be sent to your crypto wallet, but delivery is near instant, especially over Lightning.
Bitbuy remains one of the safest crypto exchanges for Canadians. Client assets are segregated and held predominantly in insured cold storage with custodian BitGo, protected by mandatory two-factor authentication, and verified through quarterly proof-of-reserves reporting required under CIRO oversight. Bitbuy has operated since 2016 without a hack. The Robinhood acquisition, completed June 1, 2026, doesn't change these protections — Robinhood stepped into Canada's existing regulatory structure rather than around it. Crypto assets aren't covered by CIPF, so long-term holdings belong in your own wallet.
Bull Bitcoin is one of the safest options in Canada because you always take full custody of your bitcoin — there are no exchange-held funds to hack. There is a small window of trust when you wait for your BTC to arrive after a purchase, but delivery is near instant, especially over Lightning. The BULL Wallet is fully open-source, so its code can be audited by anyone.
Both Bitbuy and Bull Bitcoin take security seriously through fundamentally different approaches: Bitbuy through insured cold storage and CIRO-mandated quarterly audits, Bull Bitcoin through immediate self-custody that eliminates exchange-held funds entirely.
Regulatory Compliance
Bitbuy's regulatory pedigree is among the best in Canada: it was the country's first registered crypto marketplace back in 2021, is registered with FINTRAC, and operates under CIRO oversight through the WonderFi group's registered dealer. In June 2026, Robinhood completed its C$250 million acquisition of WonderFi after CIRO approved the transfer of control, making Bitbuy part of a Nasdaq-listed company while keeping all Canadian registrations in place. The old IIROC Crypto-Asset Working Group reference is obsolete, as IIROC merged into CIRO in 2023.
Bull Bitcoin is registered with FINTRAC as a Money Services Business and there is a full KYC procedure, meaning Bull Bitcoin is fully compliant with Canadian regulations. In July 2026, the company also obtained a MiCA licence through France's AMF, one of the strictest regulators in the EU, which says a lot about how seriously they take compliance.
Bitbuy's regulatory pedigree is among the best in Canada. It was the country's first registered crypto marketplace in 2021, is registered with FINTRAC, and operates under CIRO oversight through the WonderFi/Robinhood group's registered dealer structure. On June 1, 2026, Robinhood completed its C$250 million acquisition of WonderFi after CIRO approved the transfer of control of Coinsquare Capital Markets on May 20, 2026, bringing Bitbuy under Robinhood's international operations while keeping all Canadian registrations intact.
Bull Bitcoin is registered with FINTRAC as a Money Services Business with a full KYC procedure, making it fully compliant with Canadian regulations. In June 2026, Bull Bitcoin also obtained a MiCA licence through France's AMF, one of the strictest regulators in the EU, allowing it to serve users across all 27 EU member states without compromising its self-custody model. Founder Francis Pouliot announced the milestone as proof that rigorous regulatory compliance and a cypherpunk approach to privacy and self-custody are not mutually exclusive.
Both Bitbuy and Bull Bitcoin are registered as Money Services Businesses with FINTRAC, adhering to Canadian federal regulations. Their commitment to compliance is a testament to their reliability and safety as trading platforms.
Customer support
Bitbuy has FAQs and a knowledge centre on its website, with support handled through email tickets. There's no live chat or phone line, and replies can take a while for complex issues, which is a genuine weakness compared to competitors like NDAX or Netcoins that offer real-time channels. Bitbuy account holders should also watch their inbox for Robinhood migration communications and review new terms carefully before accepting them.
Bull Bitcoin's support is one of its strongest points, and customers consistently praise how fast and knowledgeable the team is. The platform holds a 4.9 to 5-star rating on Trustpilot with over 320 reviews, so it's clear that customers are extremely satisfied with the service.
Bitbuy has FAQs and a knowledge centre on its website, with support handled through email tickets. There's no live chat or phone line, and replies can take a while for complex issues — a genuine weakness compared to competitors like NDAX or Netcoins that offer real-time channels. Bitbuy account holders should watch their inbox closely for Robinhood migration communications and review any new terms carefully before accepting them.
Bull Bitcoin's support is one of its strongest points, and customers consistently praise how fast and knowledgeable the team is. The platform holds a 4.8 to 5-star rating on Trustpilot with over 320 reviews. Support is mainly email-based, with a smaller team that provides personalized service.
Conclusion
While both Bitbuy and Bull Bitcoin offer commendable services tailored to their specific user bases, Bitbuy emerges as the winner in this comparison. Its broad selection of cryptocurrencies, dual-platform catering to various trader experiences, and higher mobile app ratings for iOS make it a versatile choice for Canadian users. Additionally, Bitbuy's superior security features, including cold storage and insurance policies, alongside its strong compliance with Canadian federal regulations, ensure a secure and reliable trading environment. Though Bull Bitcoin has its strengths, especially for Bitcoin enthusiasts, Bitbuy's comprehensive offerings and robust platform support crown it as the preferred choice in 2024.
When comparing Bitbuy to Bull Bitcoin, it stands out with new staking options, allowing users to earn rewards, which not all exchanges offer. Bitbuy maintains its strong focus on security by keeping 90% of assets in cold storage, which is an improvement over the older claim of 95%. Moreover, the platform has revamped its fee structure to be more transparent and competitive, addressing past concerns about high fees. These updates solidify Bitbuy’s position as a reliable, feature-rich exchange, especially appealing to Canadian users seeking both security and earning potential.
However, if your goal is to trade Bitcoin in the most effective and affordable way in Canada, then Bull Bitcoin has no alternatives. In our opinion, every Canadian should sign up for an account with them because of this, not to mention the ability to pay for over 5,000 Canadian bills with Bitcoin, which you can do with Bull Bitcoin.
Both Bitbuy and Bull Bitcoin offer commendable services tailored to their specific user bases, and the right choice depends on what you want from a crypto platform.
Bitbuy is the stronger pick for Canadians who want a regulated, multi-coin exchange with staking, an OTC desk and the backing of a Nasdaq-listed company. The CIRO-supervised custody, free Interac deposits, and long Canadian track record are real strengths. The near-term trade-off is migration uncertainty — new fees, a new interface and new terms are coming under the Robinhood platform, and users should read those communications carefully before accepting any changes.
Bull Bitcoin is the strongest option in Canada for anyone whose focus is Bitcoin specifically. The all-inclusive spread, no withdrawal fees, bill payment for phone, electricity and CRA taxes, Lightning support and the open-source BULL Wallet make it uniquely suited to Bitcoin accumulators. The June 2026 MiCA licence through France's AMF adds meaningful international credibility. If you want to accumulate BTC simply, cheaply and with full self-custody from day one, Bull Bitcoin is hard to beat.
We recommend Bitbuy for Canadians who want multi-coin trading and staking, and Bull Bitcoin for those whose focus is Bitcoin specifically. By using our referral links, you support us in conducting comprehensive independent analyses of crypto trading options for Canadians.
If neither Bitbuy nor Bull Bitcoin meets your requirements, explore our monthly-updated list of the best exchanges for Canadians for more options.
