Security Compliance
Bitget uses two-factor authentication, sends alerts for logins and withdrawals, and offers an anti-phishing code to verify genuine emails. It maintains a protection fund of over $300 million to compensate users for losses where they're not at fault, and publishes monthly Proof of Reserves. Worth knowing: Bitget has had at least one security incident in its history and has been criticized for limited transparency around it.
Shakepay holds the majority of users' funds in cold storage with insurance covering risks like theft or key loss, and client funds are held 1:1 with approved custodians. Operating since 2015, it has never been hacked. As a CIRO member, Shakepay's CAD balances carry Canadian Investor Protection Fund coverage up to $1 million, though crypto assets fall outside CIPF. Two-factor authentication, biometric login and email withdrawal confirmations round out account security.
Bitget uses two-factor authentication, sends alerts for logins and withdrawals, and offers an anti-phishing code to verify genuine emails. It maintains a protection fund of over $300 million to compensate users for losses where they're not at fault, and publishes monthly Proof of Reserves. Worth knowing: Bitget has had at least one security incident in its history. Since the platform no longer serves Canadians, its security arrangements are largely academic for Canadian readers.
Shakepay holds the majority of users' funds in cold storage with insurance covering risks like theft or key loss, and client funds are held 1:1 with approved custodians. Operating since 2015, it has never been hacked. As a CIRO member, Shakepay's CAD balances carry Canadian Investor Protection Fund coverage up to $1 million, though crypto assets fall outside CIPF. Full details of Shakepay's security and custody arrangements are published at shakepay.com/security and are subject to ongoing CIRO oversight. Two-factor authentication, biometric login and email withdrawal confirmations round out account security.
Bitget prioritizes user security with 2FA, email alerts and an anti-phishing feature, plus a $300M+ company protection fund. Shakepay holds client crypto in insured cold storage, publishes full security details, and carries CIPF coverage on CAD balances as a CIRO investment dealer — institutional-grade protections that Bitget's company-run protection fund cannot match, and that are the only relevant security framework for Canadian readers since Bitget is no longer accessible.
Regulatory Compliance
Bitget is not registered with Canadian securities regulators and, as of 2026, Canada sits on its list of restricted jurisdictions. The Alberta Securities Commission had already warned investors that Bitget was not registered in the province before the broader restriction took effect. Canadians should avoid workarounds like VPNs, which breach Bitget's terms and put funds at risk of being frozen.
Shakepay is one of the most regulated crypto platforms in Canada. Beyond its FINTRAC Money Service Business registration, it became a CIRO-registered investment dealer in January 2025, the first Quebec-based crypto platform to reach that tier, and the first crypto-native member of Payments Canada in May 2025. Its bitcoin-backed lending product operates under a three-year exemptive relief from Quebec's AMF with passport coverage across all provinces. Montreal-based, it operates in every Canadian province and territory.
Bitget is not registered with Canadian securities regulators and, as of 2026, Canada sits on its list of restricted jurisdictions. The Alberta Securities Commission had already warned investors that Bitget was not registered in the province before the broader restriction took effect. Canadians should avoid workarounds like VPNs, which breach Bitget's terms and put funds at risk of being frozen.
Shakepay is one of the most regulated crypto platforms in Canada. Beyond its FINTRAC Money Service Business registration, it became a CIRO-registered investment dealer in January 2025, the first Quebec-based crypto platform to reach that tier, and the first crypto-native member of Payments Canada in May 2025. Its bitcoin-backed lending product operates under a three-year exemptive relief from Quebec's AMF with passport coverage across all provinces. Montreal-based, it operates in every Canadian province and territory.
Shakepay is registered with FINTRAC and operates as a full CIRO investment dealer with CIPF coverage on fiat — the highest regulatory tier available to a Canadian crypto platform. Bitget is not registered with Canadian securities regulators and has restricted Canadian users.
Customer support
Reviewers frequently describe Bitget's customer support as slow or unhelpful, particularly for complex issues involving futures or copy trading. That matters less now for Canadian readers, since the platform is closed to them, but anyone with a legacy account trying to withdraw remaining funds should be prepared for a slow support process.
Shakepay offers chat support, helpful FAQs and email support at [email protected], with tickets typically answered within hours, even on weekends. When we tested it, we received a reply in under 24 hours, and customer reviews consistently rank Shakepay's support among the friendliest in Canadian crypto.
Reviewers frequently describe Bitget's customer support as slow or unhelpful, particularly for complex issues involving futures or copy trading. That matters less now for Canadian readers, since the platform is closed to them, but anyone with a legacy account trying to withdraw remaining funds should be prepared for a slow support process.
Shakepay offers chat support, helpful FAQs and email support, with tickets typically answered within hours, even on weekends. When we tested it, we received a reply in under 24 hours, and customer reviews consistently rank Shakepay's support among the friendliest in Canadian crypto.
Shakepay's support wins easily for Canadians — it's fast, friendly and available. Bitget's support is relevant to Canadians only for recovering legacy funds, where expect friction.
Conclusion
From a Canadian perspective, this comparison has a clear answer. Bitget restricted Canadian users in early 2026 following new CSA guidance and is no longer available — and it was never registered with Canadian securities regulators to begin with. The Alberta Securities Commission had already warned investors before the full restriction.
Shakepay is the clear choice. As a CIRO-registered investment dealer since January 2025, it holds the same regulatory standard as bank-owned brokerages, with CIPF coverage on CAD balances up to $1 million. Add free Interac deposits, zero withdrawal fees, ShakingSats, the Shakepay Card with bitcoin cashback, interest on your CAD balance and the April 2026 bitcoin-backed loans product, and it is a genuinely well-rounded platform for Canadians who want BTC and ETH. The two-coin limitation is the only real constraint — if you need altcoins or advanced trading tools, platforms like Kraken or Crypto.com are worth checking instead.
We recommend choosing Shakepay over Bitget for your cryptocurrency trading needs. By using our referral link, you get $10 and support us in conducting comprehensive independent analyses of crypto trading options for Canadians.
If you find that neither Bitget nor Shakepay meets your requirements, explore our monthly-updated list of the best exchanges for Canadians for more options.
