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.
Gate has invested heavily in security in recent years, publishing monthly Proof of Reserves with coverage around 125% and holding licenses in Malta (MiCA), Dubai, Japan and elsewhere. That said, its track record includes past security incidents, and none of its licensing footprint extends to Canada. Since KYC is mandatory and tied to your ID country, Canadians who slip through via VPN risk having accounts frozen with funds inside.
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, and C$2.1 billion in client assets under custody remains subject to the same CIRO requirements. As always, crypto assets themselves aren't covered by CIPF, so long-term holdings belong in your own wallet.
Gate has invested heavily in security in recent years, publishing monthly Proof of Reserves at around 125% coverage and holding licenses in Malta (MiCA), Dubai, Japan and the US. That said, its track record includes past security incidents going back to its days as Bter, and none of its licensing footprint extends to Canada. Since KYC is mandatory and tied to your ID country, Canadians who try to slip through via VPN risk having accounts frozen with funds inside.
Both Bitbuy and Gate utilize hot and cold storage with multi-signature protocols. Bitbuy holds client assets with BitGo under insured custody and maintains mandatory 2FA on all accounts, while Gate publishes monthly reserves reports. Only Bitbuy's security is relevant to Canadians, since Gate does not accept Canadian users.
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.
Gate is not a compliant crypto exchange in Canada. Canada sits on its restricted locations list, Canadian accounts were closed in April 2022, and while Gate has since obtained licenses in the EU, Dubai, Japan and even launched a US entity in 2025, it has shown no sign of registering with Canadian regulators.
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 and Coinsquare under Robinhood's international operations while keeping all Canadian registrations intact. Robinhood also holds a Nasdaq listing, adding another layer of public-company accountability.
Gate is not a compliant crypto exchange in Canada. Canada sits on its restricted locations list, all Canadian accounts were closed in April 2022, and while Gate has since obtained licenses in the EU (MiCA via Malta), Dubai, Japan and the US, it has shown no sign of registering with Canadian regulators. The rebranding from Gate.io to Gate.com in May 2025 changed nothing for Canadians.
Bitbuy is registered with FINTRAC as a Money Services Business and operates under CIRO as a registered dealer. Gate includes Canada on its list of disallowed countries, meaning it can and does block Canadian users.
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.
Gate offers a help centre, blog and live chat for users in supported countries. Reviews remain mixed, with recurring complaints on Trustpilot about slow support and withdrawal difficulties. For Canadians this is academic, since the platform is off-limits entirely.
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 on complex issues — a genuine weakness compared to competitors like NDAX 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.
Gate offers a help centre, blog and live chat for users in supported countries. Reviews remain mixed, with recurring complaints on Trustpilot about slow support and withdrawal difficulties. For Canadians this is academic, since the platform is off-limits entirely.
Conclusion
This comparison is straightforward from a Canadian perspective. Gate closed all Canadian accounts in April 2022 and has not returned, so it simply is not an option regardless of its coin range or low fees.
Bitbuy is the clear choice. It is one of Canada's oldest and most regulated platforms, with a clean security record, CIRO-supervised asset custody and free Interac deposits. The Robinhood acquisition, which closed June 1, 2026, marks a significant moment: Bitbuy and Coinsquare are now part of a Nasdaq-listed company, which adds financial backing and signals a product roadmap that will eventually include equities, options and other investment products beyond crypto. The near-term trade-off is uncertainty around migration — new fees, a new interface and new terms are coming, so existing Bitbuy users should pay close attention to those communications before accepting changes.
We recommend choosing Bitbuy over Gate for your cryptocurrency trading needs. By using our referral link, you support us in conducting independent analysis of crypto trading options for Canadians.
If you find that Bitbuy doesn't meet your requirements, explore our monthly-updated list of the best exchanges for Canadians for more options.
