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.
Newton holds 80% of client assets offline in custodial cold storage with Coinbase and the remaining 20% in hot wallets secured by Fireblocks, with crypto assets covered by an insurance policy. Customer data is stored on Canadian servers with daily offsite backups, and the platform is tested internally every month and externally every year for vulnerabilities. Mandatory two-factor authentication and direct bank integration round out fraud protection.
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. As always, crypto itself isn't covered by CIPF, so long-term holdings belong in your own wallet.
Newton holds 80% of client assets offline in custodial cold storage with Coinbase Custody and the remaining 20% in hot wallets secured by Fireblocks, with crypto assets covered by an insurance policy. Customer data is stored on Canadian servers with daily offsite backups, and the platform is tested internally every month and externally every year for vulnerabilities. Mandatory two-factor authentication and direct bank integration round out fraud protection.
Bitbuy holds client assets in insured cold storage with BitGo, mandates 2FA, and publishes quarterly proof-of-reserves under CIRO requirements. Newton publishes its custody split: 80% with Coinbase Custody (cold storage, insured) and 20% with Fireblocks (hot wallets), with mandatory 2FA and regular security audits. Both platforms are transparent about their security arrangements and have clean fund-safety records.
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.
Newton is regulated by the Canadian Securities Administrators, FINTRAC, and securities regulators in every province and territory, a major step up from its early days as a FINTRAC-only MSB. It was among the first Canadian exchanges to pursue securities registration, and its affiliation with DV Trading adds institutional market-making depth behind its pricing.
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, bringing Bitbuy under Robinhood's international operations while keeping all Canadian registrations intact.
Newton is regulated by the Canadian Securities Administrators, FINTRAC, and securities regulators in every province and territory, a major step up from its early days as a FINTRAC-only MSB. It was among the first Canadian exchanges to pursue securities registration, and its affiliation with DV Trading adds institutional market-making depth behind its pricing.
Both Bitbuy and Newton are registered with FINTRAC and operate as CSA Restricted Dealers, authorized to serve Canadians in every province and territory. Bitbuy operates under CIRO oversight through the Robinhood/WonderFi group; Newton is working toward full CIRO investment dealer registration.
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.
Newton has FAQs and a knowledge centre on its website, with support handled through online tickets. There's no phone or live chat, and its middling Trustpilot score mostly reflects slow support and ID-verification frustrations rather than fund-safety issues. For simple buy-and-hold users the support model is adequate; anyone who values a human on demand should look at NDAX or Netcoins instead.
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 also watch their inbox for Robinhood migration communications and review new terms carefully before accepting them.
Newton has FAQs and a knowledge centre on its website, with support handled through online tickets. There's no phone or live chat, and its middling Trustpilot score mostly reflects slow support and ID-verification frustrations rather than fund-safety issues. For simple buy-and-hold users the support model is adequate; anyone who values a human on demand should look at NDAX or Netcoins instead. Newton integrates with Koinly for simplified tax reporting at year end.
Both platforms are email-ticket only for support — a genuine shared weakness. NDAX (phone and live chat until midnight on weekdays) and Netcoins (phone, chat and email seven days a week) are the better choices if real-time support matters to you.
Conclusion
Both Bitbuy and Newton are strong, well-regulated Canadian exchanges, and the right choice depends on what you value.
Bitbuy is the stronger pick for Canadians who want staking on nine coins, an OTC desk, Express and Pro trading platforms in one app, and the backing of a Nasdaq-listed company under CIRO oversight. Its C$2.1 billion in Canadian assets under custody and decade-long clean security 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. The 39% staking cut is also the highest in Canada.
Newton is the stronger pick for Canadians who want no trading commissions, slightly more coins (70+ vs 60+), Koinly tax integration, T5-friendly statement exports, free Interac deposits and withdrawals, and a genuinely beginner-friendly interface. The widening spreads are a genuine weakness for active traders — NDAX's 0.2% flat fee is more cost-effective at volume — but for occasional buyers, Newton's transparent commission-free model is easy to reason about.
We recommend Bitbuy for Canadians who want staking and a CIRO-supervised custodial platform with Robinhood backing, and Newton for those who want no commissions, Koinly integration and a locally focused beginner interface. By using our referral links, you get $50 on Bitbuy and $25 on Newton, and support us in conducting comprehensive independent analyses of crypto trading options for Canadians.
If you find that neither Bitbuy nor Newton meets your requirements, we encourage you to explore our monthly-updated list of the best exchanges for Canadians to trade crypto.
