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Coinfield vs. Kraken: What Works Better For Canadians in 2026

Oleg Galeev

Last updated July 19, 2026

Warning: CoinField is not a legitimate operating exchange. The platform stopped serving Canadians in mid-2023, left customer withdrawal requests unfulfilled, and in 2025 Ontario's Capital Markets Tribunal permanently banned it and ordered over $3 million in combined penalties, disgorgement and costs for unregistered trading, illegal distribution and misleading investors. CoinField did not participate in the proceedings. Scam impostor sites now operate under the CoinField name — if you find a site accepting deposits as "CoinField," it is a fraud. If you were a CoinField customer with unmet withdrawals, report your experience to the OSC. Kraken is the only legitimate option here.

CoinField and Kraken were once prominent cryptocurrency exchanges serving Canadians. CoinField is permanently banned from Ontario’s capital markets and is not a legitimate operating exchange anywhere. Kraken is one of the most trusted exchanges globally, a national registered restricted dealer in Canada since April 2025, with 200+ coins and free Interac deposits. This comparison is preserved for historical reference only.

Description

CoinField was an Estonia-based cryptocurrency exchange, operated by Manticore Labs OÜ, that served Canadians from 2018 until its collapse. CoinField is no longer active anywhere. The platform shut down in 2023 without meeting all customer withdrawal requests, and in 2025 Ontario's Capital Markets Tribunal permanently banned it and fined it over $2.4 million for unregistered trading and misleading investors.

Kraken is a Canada-friendly, US-based crypto exchange operating since 2013 and one of the most trusted names in the industry. In April 2025 it became a registered restricted dealer in Canada, valid in every province and territory, and it has grown its Canadian business past $2 billion in client assets. Kraken has a strong reputation for security and compliance and offers a wide range of coins, with CAD trading pairs that spare Canadians foreign exchange fees.

Coins

No longer applicable. Before shutting down, CoinField offered around 20 coins including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Stellar and USDT, but lacked popular assets like Cardano, Solana and Dogecoin.

200+ available to Canadians, with dedicated CAD trading pairs on majors.

Fees

No longer applicable. Historically, CoinField charged a 2% Interac e-Transfer deposit fee, a 2.5% Interac withdrawal fee, and 0.15%/0.25% maker/taker fees, which were high compared to competitors.

  • Free CAD deposits via Interac e-Transfer
  • Instant Buy incurs roughly a 1.5% fee (lower for stablecoins) plus a payment method fee if using a card
  • Kraken Pro uses maker/taker pricing starting around 0.25%/0.40% and dropping with 30-day volume, among the cheapest ways for Canadians to trade

Pros

  • None. The platform no longer exists, and there is no legitimate way to open a CoinField account.
  • Registered restricted dealer across all of Canada since April 2025
  • Free Interac e-Transfer deposits
  • CAD trading pairs, no FX fees on majors
  • Wide range of coins
  • Good for beginners via Instant Buy, with pro-grade tools on Kraken Pro
  • Staking available
  • Never hacked in over a decade of operation

Cons

  • Shut down in 2023 with customer withdrawal requests left unfulfilled
  • Found by Ontario's Capital Markets Tribunal to have engaged in unregistered trading, illegal distribution and misleading investors
  • Permanently banned in Ontario, with a $2.4 million penalty plus disgorgement ordered in 2025
  • The OSC found it lacked sufficient crypto assets in custody to satisfy withdrawals while telling customers otherwise
  • Scam websites now impersonate the CoinField name
  • Instant Buy fees are high, so use Kraken Pro for anything beyond small purchases
  • Client assets are not covered by the Canadian Investor Protection Fund, a condition every user must acknowledge
  • Customer support can be slow at peak times

Account Limits

No longer applicable.

Standard restricted dealer conditions apply: unlimited buying of majors like BTC and ETH everywhere, with an annual net purchase limit on certain altcoins for residents outside Ontario, BC, Alberta and Quebec. Deposit limits depend on verification level.

Methods to buy

There is no way to buy crypto through CoinField. If you find a website claiming to be CoinField and accepting deposits, treat it as a scam: the OSC has specifically warned about an impostor site using the CoinField name. For platforms that legitimately serve Canadians, see our list of the best crypto exchanges in Canada.

  • Interac e-Transfer (free)
  • Wire transfer
  • Debit/credit card

Security

CoinField marketed itself as a highly secure exchange using cold storage, multi-signature wallets and encryption. The regulatory record tells a different story: the OSC found the platform did not have sufficient crypto assets in custody to satisfy investor withdrawal requests and misled both investors and the regulator about why withdrawals were delayed. Whatever its technical security, customer funds were not safe. This is a textbook example of why we recommend holding your own coins in your own crypto wallet rather than leaving them on any exchange.

  • Roughly 95% of coins held in cold storage
  • Servers under 24/7 physical surveillance
  • 2FA, withdrawal email confirmations and account timeout
  • Regular Proof of Reserves audits
  • Never suffered a platform hack since 2013

Mobile and Desktop Trading

CoinField's website and apps went offline in 2023 and have not returned. Any active app or site using the CoinField name today is not the original exchange and should be treated as a scam. Kraken holds a 4.3-star rating on Google Play and a 4.7-star rating on the App Store.

CoinField

CoinField's website and apps went offline in 2023 and have not returned. Any active app or site using the CoinField name today is not the original exchange and should be treated as a scam.

Kraken

Kraken's app is well designed for both beginners and experienced traders. The Instant Buy option lets users purchase crypto in seconds with a card or fiat balance, convenient but pricey. Kraken Pro carries far more reasonable maker/taker fees with advanced charting, more order types and deeper tools, at the cost of a steeper learning curve. Our advice: fund with free Interac e-Transfer, then trade on Pro.

Coinfield

CoinField's website and apps went offline in 2023 and have not returned. Any active app or site using the CoinField name today is not the original exchange.

Reviewing CoinField's features

Coinfield trading view

Reviewing CoinField's usability from desktop version

Coinfield view with selecting coins

One of the pages on CoinField's app

Coinfield app main screeen

Reviewing CoinField's mobile app interface

App view while trading

Kraken

Kraken's app is well designed for both beginners and experienced traders. The Instant Buy option lets users purchase crypto in seconds with a card or fiat balance, convenient but pricey. Kraken Pro carries far more reasonable maker/taker fees with advanced charting, more order types and deeper tools, at the cost of a steeper learning curve. Our advice: fund with free Interac e-Transfer, then trade on Pro.

Kraken desktop interface

Kraken desktop interface

Kraken Pro screenshot

Kraken Pro Trading view

Kraken app interface #1

Kraken app interface

Kraken app interface #2

Kraken app interface while trading

Security Compliance

CoinField marketed itself as a highly secure exchange using cold storage, multi-signature wallets and encryption. The regulatory record tells a different story: the OSC found the platform did not have sufficient crypto assets in custody to satisfy investor withdrawal requests and misled both investors and the regulator about why withdrawals were delayed. Whatever its technical security, customer funds were not safe. This is a textbook example of why we recommend holding your own coins in your own crypto wallet rather than leaving them on any exchange.

Kraken keeps about 95% of user funds in cold storage, encrypts all account information, and physically secures its servers under constant surveillance. It has never been hacked since launching in 2013, one of the cleanest security records of any major exchange. Users can enable two-factor authentication, receive email notifications for every withdrawal, and benefit from account timeout protection. Kraken also publishes regular Proof of Reserves audits demonstrating customer funds are fully held.

CoinField marketed itself as a highly secure exchange using cold storage, multi-signature wallets and encryption. The regulatory record tells a different story: the OSC found the platform did not have sufficient crypto assets in custody to satisfy investor withdrawal requests and misled both investors and the regulator about why withdrawals were delayed. Whatever its technical security, customer funds were not safe. This is a textbook example of why we recommend holding your own coins in your own crypto wallet rather than leaving them on any exchange.

Kraken keeps about 95% of user funds in cold storage, encrypts all account information, and physically secures its servers under constant surveillance. It has never been hacked since launching in 2013, one of the cleanest security records of any major exchange. Users can enable two-factor authentication, receive email notifications for every withdrawal, and benefit from account timeout protection. Kraken also publishes regular Proof of Reserves audits demonstrating customer funds are fully held.

CoinField marketed itself as secure but the OSC found it misled investors about the state of customer funds — a cautionary reminder that security marketing claims cannot be taken at face value. Kraken maintains a clean 13-year security record with cold storage, 2FA, Proof of Reserves and physical server security. Only Kraken is relevant for Canadian users here.

Regulatory Compliance

CoinField's FINTRAC registration was ceased, and the company was never registered with Canadian securities regulators. In August 2024, Ontario's Capital Markets Tribunal found it violated securities law through unregistered trading, illegal distribution and misleading investors, and in 2025 it was permanently banned from Ontario's capital markets with over $3 million in combined penalties, disgorgement and costs. CoinField did not participate in the proceedings.

Kraken is one of the most compliant exchanges available to Canadians. It completed the CSA's rigorous pre-registration undertaking process and obtained restricted dealer registration in April 2025, recognized nationally, while it works toward full investment dealer registration and CIRO membership. In the US, the SEC's lawsuit against Kraken was dismissed in early 2025, clearing its regulatory slate as the company prepares for a public listing. Canadians can use the platform with confidence, with one caveat: as a restricted dealer, its client assets aren't covered by CIPF insurance.

CoinField's FINTRAC registration was ceased, and the company was never registered with Canadian securities regulators. In August 2024, Ontario's Capital Markets Tribunal found it violated securities law through unregistered trading, illegal distribution and misleading investors. In 2025 it was permanently banned from Ontario's capital markets with over $3 million in combined penalties, disgorgement and costs. CoinField did not participate in the proceedings.

Kraken is one of the most compliant exchanges available to Canadians. It completed the CSA's rigorous pre-registration undertaking process and obtained restricted dealer registration in April 2025, recognized nationally across all provinces and territories, while it works toward full investment dealer registration and CIRO membership. In the US, the SEC's lawsuit against Kraken was dismissed in early 2025, clearing its regulatory slate. Canadians can use the platform with confidence, with one caveat: as a restricted dealer, its client assets aren't covered by CIPF insurance.

CoinField had its FINTRAC registration ceased, was never registered with Canadian securities regulators, and was permanently banned from Ontario's capital markets in 2025 for securities violations. Kraken is a registered restricted dealer in every Canadian province and territory since April 2025, working toward full CIRO investment dealer registration.

Customer support

There is no customer support because there is no company left to contact. Former customers with unfulfilled withdrawals were harmed when the platform collapsed, and the tribunal noted the total harm to investors remains uncertain. If you were affected, you can report your experience to the OSC. If anyone contacts you claiming to recover your lost CoinField funds for a fee, that is a recovery scam, a common second-wave fraud targeting victims of collapsed exchanges.

Kraken offers 24/7 live chat and email support plus an extensive learning centre with helpful articles and guides. Support quality has historically been a sore point, with tickets sometimes taking a long time to resolve, though the live chat handles routine issues reasonably quickly.

There is no CoinField customer support because there is no company left to contact. Former customers with unfulfilled withdrawals were harmed when the platform collapsed, and the tribunal noted the total harm to investors remains uncertain. If you were affected, you can report your experience to the OSC. If anyone contacts you claiming to recover your lost CoinField funds for a fee, that is a recovery scam.

Kraken offers 24/7 live chat and email support plus an extensive learning centre with helpful articles and guides. Support quality has historically been a sore point, with tickets sometimes taking a long time to resolve, though the live chat handles routine issues reasonably quickly.

Kraken's 24/7 live chat is the only relevant support option for Canadians. CoinField has no support function at all.

Conclusion

CoinField is not a legitimate operating exchange. It collapsed in 2023 with unfulfilled customer withdrawals, was permanently banned from Ontario's capital markets in 2025, and impostor scam sites now operate under its name. Avoid any site presenting itself as CoinField. If you were a CoinField customer with unmet withdrawals, report your experience to the OSC. If anyone contacts you offering to recover your funds for a fee, that is a recovery scam.

Kraken is the clear choice for Canadians. As a registered restricted dealer in every Canadian province and territory since April 2025, it offers 200+ coins with free Interac e-Transfer deposits, CAD trading pairs, competitive Kraken Pro maker/taker fees, staking, and a 13-year clean security record. The main caveats are high Instant Buy fees (always use Kraken Pro) and no CIPF coverage on crypto assets. Kraken's coin range and low Pro fees make it one of the strongest multi-coin platforms in Canada.

We recommend choosing Kraken over CoinField for your cryptocurrency trading needs. By using our referral link, you support us in conducting comprehensive independent analyses of crypto trading options for Canadians.

If you find that Kraken doesn't meet your requirements, 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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