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.
To secure an Uphold account, users enable two-factor authentication, which Uphold requires before funds can be transferred. The platform keeps around 90% of digital assets in cold storage and has never suffered a sitewide hack. For former Canadian users, the more pressing security matter is retrieving stranded balances before unclaimed property rules kick in.
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 — this is a company-run fund, not third-party insurance. It publishes monthly Proof of Reserves. Since Bitget is not accessible from Canada, its security arrangements are academic for Canadian readers.
To secure an Uphold account, users enable two-factor authentication, which Uphold requires before funds can be transferred. The platform keeps around 90% of digital assets in cold storage and has never suffered a sitewide hack. For former Canadian users, the more pressing security matter is retrieving stranded balances before unclaimed property rules kick in.
Bitget emphasizes security with 2FA, anti-phishing codes and a $300M+ company protection fund. Uphold keeps roughly 90% of assets in cold storage, mandates 2FA and publishes reserve information — a cleaner third-party custody arrangement. Neither platform's security is relevant to Canadians going forward since neither is 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.
Uphold is regulated in the USA and compliant with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) record-keeping requirements. However, it is no longer Canadian-friendly: Canada appears on Uphold's non-supported jurisdictions list, and Canadian accounts were wound down in 2025. Uphold has publicly stated it's working on plans to return to Canada, but no timeline has been announced.
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.
Uphold is regulated in the USA and registered with FINTRAC as a Canadian MSB, but it is no longer operating in Canada: Canadian accounts were wound down in June 2025, and any remaining crypto was auto-converted to CAD by September 8, 2025. Uphold has publicly stated it's working on plans to return to Canada, but no timeline has been announced.
Neither Bitget nor Uphold is currently authorized to serve Canadian retail crypto investors. Bitget was never registered with Canadian securities regulators and restricted Canada following regulatory pressure in 2026. Uphold retains its FINTRAC MSB registration but no longer serves 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.
Uphold offers help centres on its website and in-app, with support via an online ticketing system. If you're a former Canadian customer trying to recover funds, their Canadian services withdrawal help page is the place to start, and be patient, as reviews frequently mention slow, message-only support with replies taking days.
Reviewers frequently describe Bitget's customer support as slow or unhelpful, particularly for complex issues. 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 friction.
Uphold offers help centres on its website and in-app, with support via an online ticketing system. If you're a former Canadian customer trying to recover funds, their Canadian services withdrawal help page is the place to start, and be patient, as reviews frequently mention slow, message-only support with replies taking days.
Neither platform's ongoing support is relevant to Canadians. Both are relevant only for the specific scenario of recovering legacy funds — and both present friction in that process.
Conclusion
From a Canadian perspective, there is nothing to choose between Bitget and Uphold — neither is available. Bitget restricted Canadian users in early 2026 and was never registered with Canadian securities regulators. Uphold exited Canada on June 11, 2025, with any remaining crypto auto-converted to CAD by September 8, 2025.
If you have legacy funds on Bitget, contact support and request withdrawal to an external wallet — be prepared for friction.
If you have unclaimed CAD balances on Uphold, log in and withdraw via Interac before unclaimed property laws apply. If you used Uphold Vault, use the Vault Recovery Site promptly — Uphold only keeps its copy of the Vault key for 12 months after account closure.
For Canadians looking for a regulated alternative, we recommend Kraken (200+ coins, nationally registered restricted dealer since April 2025), Crypto.com (400+ coins, restricted dealer since May 2025), or Wealthsimple Crypto (140+ coins, Canada's only CIRO investment dealer). All three are fully legal, well-regulated and accept free Interac deposits. See our full list of the best crypto exchanges in Canada for more options.
