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Bull Bitcoin vs Uphold: What Works Better For Canadians in 2024?

Oleg Galeev

Last updated September 20, 2024

In the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency exchanges accessible to Canadians, Bull Bitcoin and Uphold offer distinct services tailored to diverse investor needs. Bull Bitcoin stands out as a specialized platform focused on Bitcoin, offering direct self-custody and the unique ability to pay bills with Bitcoin. In contrast, Uphold expands the horizon by allowing users to trade a combination of cryptocurrencies, stocks, and precious metals, all in one place, with the added convenience of cross-asset exchanges.

Description

Bull Bitcoin is a unique Canadian Bitcoin trading platform with ability to pay bills with bitcoin (cellphone, electricity even taxes to CRA) and that allows you to take self-custody immediately. 

Uphold is a multi-asset platform that allows you to trade more than 66 cryptocurrencies, 50 US stocks and four precious metals. You can trade crypto for stocks or stocks for crypto, instantly.

Coins

BTC only

70+

Fees

Bull Bitcoin sends the BTC directly to your wallet so you avoid typical withdrawal and network fees that exchanges often have which is a money saver. Bull Bitcoin does not charge fees for buying bitcoin either. Instead, you’ll get exactly what their “We sell” price is. When paying via debit or cash at Canada Post, you’ll pay a 2% fee. 

  • 1.8% spread on crypto for Canadians
  • 3% spread for precious metals
  • 1% spread for US equities
  • 3.99% credit card fee
  • $3.99 withdrawal fee to US/EU/UK banks
  • Free deposits from US/EU/UK banks
  • Free debit card purchases

Pros

  • Immediate self-custody of assets
  • Send funds via e-Transfer or wire
  • Pay anonymously with cash
  • No withdrawal fees or wait times
  • Recurring buys directly from your bank account
  • Pay bills with bitcoin
  • Wide range of cryptocurrencies
  • Trade stocks and precious metals 
  • Swap crypto for stocks or metal in seconds
  • Recurring buy/sell orders
  • 50 simultaneous Limit orders allowed
  • Free debit card purchases

Cons

Only bitcoin available 

  • High spreads
  • Uphold debit card not available to Canadians
  • Bank deposits/withdrawals not available for Canadians 
  • 3.99% credit card processing fee
  • Lack of search filters for equities

Account Limits

  • $10,000,000.00 CAD deposit / day via wire trasnfer
  • $10,000.00 CAD deposit / day via Interac E-transfer
  •  $1,000.00 CAD deposit / day via Cash or Debit at Canada Post
  • Buy & Sell transfer are almost unlimited ( $1,000,000.00 CAD a day)

Low

Methods to buy

When buying cryptocurrency with Bull Bitcoin, you can deposit Canadian dollars via an Interac e-Transfer, wire transfer or cash or debit at Canada Post. With the first two options, you will have to KYC and verify your Bull Bitcoin account. 

Debit card

Security

  • Full custody of your bitcoin.

Mobile and Desktop Trading

Bull Bitcoin lacks a dedicated mobile app, focusing instead on a straightforward and secure desktop experience tailored for Bitcoin transactions and bill payments. Its platform, while not the most modern in design, emphasizes simplicity and directness in purchasing Bitcoin.

Uphold, on the other hand, offers a comprehensive trading experience on both mobile and desktop platforms. The mobile app is available on iOS, with a rating of 4.6 stars from 5,000 reviews, and on Google Play, where it has garnered a 4.5-star rating from 18,000 reviews. Users appreciate the app's breadth of functionality, despite some feedback about its clunkiness. The desktop platform mirrors this functionality, enabling seamless trading across cryptocurrencies, stocks, and metals.

Bull Bitcoin

Bull Bitcoin has a simple website since all of the transactions happen via your bank. There aren’t many features to get you confused, however, we think their website could be designed a little better.

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

Uphold

Uphold’s app has a 3.5-star rating from 5,000 reviews on the Apple App store and a 3.2-star rating from 18,000 reviews on Google Play. Some reviewers have said the app is slow and buggy, with the verification process being particularly slow.

Uphold is easy to use for beginners. There is a quick trade option called “Anything to Anything”. All you need to do is enter the asset you want to trade, the amount, and the asset you wish to swap it for. You can trade crypto to stocks, stocks to metal etc. in just a few clicks. 

Uphold desktop trading app screenshot

Uphold desktop app

Uphold mobile app screenshot

Uphold mobile app while trading

Reviewing Uphold crypto exchange app and asset types for trading

Uphold main screen app

Security Compliance

Bull Bitcoin is completely safe since you always take full custody of your bitcoin, you do not need to worry about hackers stealing your funds on the platform. However, there is still a level of trust needed because you do not buy the bitcoin yourself and must wait for it to be sent to your crypto wallet

To secure your Uphold account, you can enable two-factor authentication.

Uphold trading platform utilizes cold storage for your safety.

Bull Bitcoin prioritizes user security by enabling immediate self-custody of Bitcoin, reducing the risk associated with holding assets on an exchange. It is compliant with Canadian regulations, being registered with FINTRAC, and emphasizes transparency in its operations.

Uphold maintains a focus on regulatory compliance, registered as a Money Services Business in the United States, and adheres to various anti-money laundering (AML) and financial regulations. However, specific details about its security measures, such as cold storage and insurance coverage for digital assets, are not as prominently detailed.

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. 

Uphold is fully regulated in the USA. They are compliant with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and record keeping regulations with the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). It's Canadian-friendly as well.

Both Bull Bitcoin and Uphold operate within the regulatory frameworks applicable to their services in Canada. Bull Bitcoin's registration with FINTRAC and adherence to KYC procedures align it closely with Canadian federal oversight. Uphold, while primarily regulated under US laws, ensures compliance with international standards that affect Canadian users, including those set by OFAC and the BSA.

Customer support

Since it is a small company, it may take some time for them to get back to you. Their opening hours are from 9 AM to 8 PM Mon-Fri with sporadic ability on weekends.The platform has a 4.9-star rating on Trustpilot with almost 200 reviews, so it’s clear that customers are extremely satisfied with the service. 

Uphold has good reviews about their customer service teams. They offer help centres on their website and within the app. 

You can contact Uphold’s customer support via their online ticketing system on their website. 

Bull Bitcoin offers dedicated support through email, with responsive assistance during business hours. Its smaller scale and focus on the Canadian market mean personalized service but potentially longer response times during off-hours.

Uphold extends a broader range of support options, including an online ticketing system, FAQ, and educational resources. Reviews suggest that the support team is helpful and responsive, providing a reliable resource for users worldwide.

Conclusion

While both platforms offer unique advantages to Canadian crypto traders and investors, Bull Bitcoin emerges as the winner for those prioritizing direct Bitcoin transactions, self-custody, and utilizing Bitcoin for everyday payments. Its focus on Bitcoin, combined with robust security practices and adherence to Canadian regulatory standards, makes it an ideal choice for users seeking a dedicated Bitcoin trading experience. Uphold's broader asset offerings and trading capabilities present a compelling option for users seeking versatility, but Bull Bitcoin's specialization and service tailored to Canadian users' needs give it the edge in this comparison.

Bull Bitcoin is the most cost-effective platform for trading Bitcoin in Canada, offering a unique feature that allows users to pay bills, including phone, electricity, and even taxes to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

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.