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Bull Bitcoin vs Bitvo: What Works Better For Canadians in 2026?

Oleg Galeev

Last updated July 15, 2026

Note: Bitvo no longer exists. In November 2023, its client accounts were acquired by Bitbuy and migrated into the WonderFi ecosystem, and the Bitvo platform was wound down. Bitbuy itself was then acquired by Robinhood, which completed its C$250 million acquisition of WonderFi on June 1, 2026. Former Bitvo customers with account questions should contact Bitbuy/Robinhood support. This comparison is preserved for historical reference, and our current recommendation for Canadians follows at the end.

 

In the Canadian cryptocurrency landscape, Bull Bitcoin and Bitvo offered distinct services tailored to different users. Bull Bitcoin focuses on providing a straightforward platform for buying Bitcoin and paying bills with bitcoin, emphasizing self-custody. Bitvo was a Calgary-based exchange that competed on zero trading fees, a Same Day Guarantee and 24/7 phone support before winding down in 2023.

Description

Bull Bitcoin is a unique Canadian Bitcoin trading platform with the ability to pay bills with bitcoin (cellphone, electricity, even taxes to the CRA) and that sends every purchase straight to self-custody, it never holds your coins. Founded in 2013, it now also operates in Europe, Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina and Colombia.

Bitvo was a Calgary-based cryptocurrency exchange, founded in 2018, known for its Same Day Guarantee, zero trading fees and 24/7 phone support. Bitvo no longer exists: in November 2023, its client accounts were acquired by Bitbuy and migrated into the WonderFi ecosystem, and the Bitvo platform was wound down. It's also remembered as the exchange FTX almost bought, a deal terminated days after FTX's collapse in November 2022, narrowly sparing Bitvo's customers.

Coins

BTC only

No longer applicable. Before closing, Bitvo offered a small selection including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Litecoin, Cardano and QCAD, Canada's first mass-market stablecoin.

Fees

Bull Bitcoin sends the BTC directly to your wallet, so you avoid the typical withdrawal and network fees that exchanges often charge, which is a money saver. There are no separate trading, deposit or withdrawal fees either. Instead, the cost is built into their "We sell" price as a spread, typically around 1.5% to 2% over the market rate depending on the currency, and that spread is all-inclusive. When paying via debit or cash at Canada Post, you'll pay a flat $3.95 CAD fee per transaction.

No longer applicable. Historically: free deposits, zero trading fees (revenue came from the spread), and a 1% withdrawal fee with a $15 minimum.

Pros

  • Immediate self-custody of assets
  • Send funds via e-Transfer, wire or bill payment from your bank
  • Cash and debit funding at thousands of Canada Post locations
  • No withdrawal fees or wait times
  • Recurring buys directly from your bank account
  • Pay bills with bitcoin
  • Lightning Network support for instant, cheap payouts

None currently, since the platform is closed. In its day: no trading fees, the Same Day Guarantee, the Bitvo Cash Card, and rare 24/7 phone support.

Cons

  • Only bitcoin available
  • All funding methods now require full identity verification, including Canada Post
  • e-Transfer withdrawals capped at $10,000 CAD when selling
  • Platform wound down in November 2023 with client accounts sold to Bitbuy
  • High spreads masked the "zero fee" pitch
  • Small coin selection even at its peak

Account Limits

  • No maximum on deposits via wire transfer (wires over $10,000 CAD can get accelerated approval through Bull Bitcoin Prime)
  • No maximum on deposits via Interac e-Transfer (your bank's own Interac sending limit still applies, usually $10,000 to $25,000 CAD per day)
  • $100.00 CAD minimum / $7,500.00 CAD maximum per transaction via Cash or Debit at Canada Post
  • Up to $100,000.00 CAD per transaction via bill payment funding from your online banking
  • Buying and selling is effectively unlimited for verified accounts, and high-volume clients can use Bull Bitcoin Prime
  • Note: e-Transfer withdrawals when selling are capped at $10,000.00 CAD

No longer applicable.

Methods to buy

When buying bitcoin with Bull Bitcoin, you can deposit Canadian dollars via an Interac e-Transfer, wire transfer, bill payment from your online banking, or cash or debit at Canada Post. All methods require a verified Bull Bitcoin account. Since April 2024, even Canada Post in-person deposits require the clerk to check your government-issued ID, so the old anonymous cash route no longer exists.

There is no way to buy crypto through Bitvo. Former clients were migrated to Bitbuy, which is now part of Robinhood's Canadian operation following the WonderFi acquisition. If a site claiming to be Bitvo accepts deposits today, treat it as an impostor. For current options, see our best crypto exchanges in Canada.

Security

  • Full custody of your bitcoin.

Bitvo's exit was orderly and its record clean. It was a CSA-registered restricted dealer that operated on a full reserve basis, meaning it never lent customer funds, and held client assets with third-party custodians BitGo, with over 80% in cold storage. No customer funds were lost in the wind-down, and its refusal to close the FTX deal after the collapse protected its clients from being dragged into the largest fraud in crypto history.

Mobile and Desktop Trading

Bull Bitcoin has a user-friendly web interface. The open-source BULL Wallet mobile app launched in October 2025 and is available for iOS and Android. Bitvo's website and apps are no longer operational.

Bull Bitcoin

Bull Bitcoin keeps things simple since all transactions happen via your bank, and every purchase goes straight to your own wallet. The BULL Wallet app (launched October 2025) adds a native mobile experience for managing your self-custody bitcoin, making the platform genuinely usable on the go for the first time.

Bitvo

Bitvo's website and apps are no longer operational. The brand's social channels have gone quiet, and account access questions now route through Bitbuy/Robinhood support.

Bull Bitcoin

Bull Bitcoin keeps things simple since all transactions happen via your bank, and every purchase goes straight to your own wallet. There aren't many features to get you confused, and the platform has improved a lot with the launch of their mobile app and open-source BULL Wallet.

UI of Bull Bitcoin platform

Major Screen

Buying bitcoin with interac e-transfer on Bull Bitcoin platform

Buying Bitcoin via Bull Bitcoin

Transaction screen on the mobile app

Transaction screen on the mobile app

Bull Bitcoin app screenshot

Bitvo

Bitvo's website and apps are no longer operational. The brand's social channels have gone quiet, and account access questions now route through Bitbuy.

Bitvo desktop app main screen

Bitvo desktop app main screen

Bitvo desktop (trading view)

Bitvo desktop (trading view)

Bitvo mobile app

Bitvo mobile app

Bitvo app main screen

Bitvo app (main screen)

Security Compliance

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.

Bitvo's exit was orderly and its record clean. It was a CSA-registered restricted dealer that operated on a full reserve basis, meaning it never lent customer funds, and held client assets with third-party custodians BitGo, with over 80% in cold storage. No customer funds were lost in the wind-down, and its refusal to close the FTX deal after the collapse protected its clients from being dragged into the largest fraud in crypto history.

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.

Bitvo's exit was orderly and its record clean. It was a CSA-registered restricted dealer that operated on a full reserve basis, meaning it never lent customer funds, and held client assets with third-party custodian BitGo, with over 80% in cold storage. No customer funds were lost in the wind-down, and its refusal to close the FTX deal after the collapse protected its clients from being dragged into the largest fraud in crypto history.

Bull Bitcoin protects users through immediate self-custody — your coins never sit on the platform. Bitvo had a clean security and compliance record for a custodial exchange during its operational life, and its orderly wind-down is a model for how regulated Canadian platforms should close.

Regulatory Compliance

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.

Bitvo was registered with FINTRAC and as a restricted dealer with Canadian securities regulators, and that registration shaped its ending: rather than collapsing, its client accounts were transferred to another registered platform under regulatory oversight. Its successor chain: Bitvo clients to Bitbuy (November 2023), Bitbuy's parent WonderFi to Robinhood (2025). Former Bitvo customers with account questions should contact Bitbuy support.

Bull Bitcoin is registered with FINTRAC as a Money Services Business with full KYC, 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.

Bitvo was registered with FINTRAC and as a restricted dealer with Canadian securities regulators, and that registration shaped its ending: rather than collapsing, its client accounts were transferred to another registered platform under regulatory oversight. Its successor chain: Bitvo clients to Bitbuy (November 2023), Bitbuy's parent WonderFi to Robinhood (June 2026, C$250M acquisition). Former Bitvo customers with account questions should contact Bitbuy/Robinhood support.

Bull Bitcoin is registered with FINTRAC and fully authorized to serve Canadians, with a June 2026 MiCA licence from France's AMF. Bitvo was registered with FINTRAC and the CSA but wound down in November 2023.

Customer support

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.

There is no Bitvo support team anymore. Former customers should reach out to Bitbuy, which assumed servicing of migrated accounts. If anyone contacts you offering to recover Bitvo funds for a fee, treat it as a recovery scam.

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.

There is no Bitvo support team anymore. Former customers should reach out to Bitbuy/Robinhood, which assumed servicing of migrated accounts. If anyone contacts you offering to recover Bitvo funds for a fee, treat it as a recovery scam.

Bull Bitcoin's near-perfect Trustpilot rating speaks for itself. Bitvo's support was genuinely strong in its day — 24/7 phone was rare — but it's no longer operational.

Conclusion

Bitvo no longer exists. Its client accounts were migrated to Bitbuy in November 2023, and Bitbuy itself was acquired by Robinhood in June 2026. If you were a Bitvo customer, your account is now part of the Robinhood/WonderFi group — contact Bitbuy support for any outstanding questions.

For Canadians looking for a Bitcoin platform today, Bull Bitcoin is an excellent option. Immediate self-custody on every purchase, bill payments for phone/electricity/CRA taxes, Lightning support, Canada Post cash access at thousands of locations, and the BULL Wallet mobile app launched in October 2025. The FINTRAC MSB registration and June 2026 MiCA licence from France's AMF make it one of the more compliant Bitcoin-only platforms in the world.

We recommend Bull Bitcoin for Canadians looking for a Bitcoin-only self-custody platform. By using our referral link, you support us in conducting comprehensive independent analyses of crypto trading options for Canadians.

If you need more than Bitcoin, we encourage you to explore our monthly-updated list of the best exchanges for Canadians to trade crypto.

Author

Oleg is a Canadian citizen & crypto expert who has been trading since 2016. He started out with Coinbase, Kraken and Peer-to-Peer exchanges. After some time, centralized exchanges started charging crazy fees to their users.

He decided to review different crypto exchanges that operate in Canada and start a Youtube channel in order to educate Canadians on what kinds of things are going inside each one while giving them unbiased advice. On top of that, Oleg also has experience with NFT, airdrops, and crypto staking and he is constantly checking on new crypto assets.

His writing has been featured in popular Canadian media sources such as Toronto Sun and Ottawa Citizen. 

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