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Coinsmart vs. Bitget: What Works Better For Canadians in 2026

Oleg Galeev

Last updated July 16, 2026

Note: Neither platform is available to Canadians. CoinSmart no longer exists as an independent exchange: it merged into the WonderFi group in July 2023, client accounts were migrated to Bitbuy in September 2023, and Bitbuy has been owned by Robinhood since June 2026. Bitget restricted Canadian users in early 2026 following new CSA guidance. This comparison is preserved for historical reference. Former CoinSmart users can log into Bitbuy with their old CoinSmart email. Our current recommendations for Canadians follow at the end.

CoinSmart and Bitget were notable crypto trading platforms, with each offering unique features. CoinSmart had a strong Canadian foundation and beginner-friendly approach; Bitget emphasized professional trading tools, copy trading and a huge altcoin range. Neither is available to Canadians in 2026.

Description

CoinSmart was a Toronto-based Canadian crypto exchange, launched in 2018, known for same-day CAD, USD and EUR deposits and a beginner-friendly design with advanced trading built in. CoinSmart no longer exists as an independent exchange: it merged into the WonderFi group in July 2023, and its client accounts were migrated to sister platform Bitbuy later that year. Visiting CoinSmart today redirects you to Bitbuy, which has been owned by Robinhood since June 2026.

Bitget is a global cryptocurrency exchange for skilled users, known for copy trading, futures and a huge altcoin selection. Important: Bitget is no longer available to Canadians. In early 2026, following new CSA guidance, Bitget restricted Canadian users, stopped accepting Canadian sign-ups and added Canada to its list of prohibited jurisdictions.

Coins

No longer applicable. Before the shutdown, CoinSmart offered a modest selection including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Cardano, Dogecoin, Solana and Shiba Inu.

Over 650 major coins and altcoins (some sources cite 1,300+ trading pairs), none of which are accessible from Canada.

Fees

No longer applicable. Historically: 0.20% single-trade fees, free deposits over $2,000, a 1% fee on smaller Interac deposits, and 1% fiat withdrawal fees.

  • 0.1% spot trading fee, discounted further if you pay fees with their BGB token
  • Competitive futures fees for derivatives traders

Low fees were always Bitget's main draw, but they're irrelevant for Canadians now.

Pros

None currently, since the platform is closed. In its day, CoinSmart's strengths were low trading fees, same-day verification, multi-currency deposits (CAD, USD, EUR via SEPA), and its crypto-to-crypto trading without intermediate pairs.

  • Low trading fees
  • Huge altcoin selection
  • Advanced features like copy trading, futures and trading bots
  • Monthly Proof of Reserves with a ratio above 100%

Cons

Ceased operating independently in 2023, with all accounts migrated to Bitbuy
The 1% fiat withdrawal fee was always a sore point

  • Not available in Canada
  • No Interac e-Transfer and no CAD support, even historically
  • Confusing for beginners
  • Never registered with Canadian securities regulators, and Alberta issued an investor warning before the full restriction

Account Limits

  • No longer applicable.

n/a for Canadians, since new accounts cannot be opened from Canada and existing Canadian accounts have been restricted.

Methods to buy

There is no way to buy crypto through CoinSmart. Former users can log into Bitbuy with their old CoinSmart email, resetting their password on first login and using their existing Google Authenticator codes for 2FA. Important: deposit wallet addresses changed in the migration, so never send crypto to an old CoinSmart address; if you already have, contact Bitbuy support with the transaction hash. For current options, see our best crypto exchanges in Canada.

Canadians cannot buy crypto on Bitget. The platform blocks Canadian users, and accessing it through a VPN violates Bitget's terms of service and can get your account frozen with funds stuck inside. If you were drawn to Bitget for altcoin variety or low fees, consider alternatives instead, which are registered to operate in Canada.

Security

CoinSmart's wind-down was orderly and regulator-supervised, with no reported loss of customer funds, the same clean pattern as Coinberry and Bitvo, and the opposite of CoinField. Its legacy custody arrangement with BitGo and its OSC registration are what made the seamless handover possible.

  • 2FA and anti-phishing codes
  • $300 million+ protection fund for user losses (note: this is a company-run fund, not third-party insurance)
  • Monthly Proof of Reserves

Mobile and Desktop Trading

CoinSmart's colourful, cartoon-styled platform is gone; its web addresses redirect to Bitbuy, and its mobile apps are no longer maintained. Bitget holds a 4.5-star rating on the Apple App Store and 4.2 stars on Google Play — none of which is accessible from Canada.

CoinSmart

CoinSmart's colourful, cartoon-styled platform is gone. Its web addresses redirect to Bitbuy, and its mobile apps are no longer maintained. Former CoinSmart users who need their account history for tax purposes should log into Bitbuy and request historical transaction records from support.

Bitget

The Bitget platform is built for experienced traders, with advanced charting and order book data that can overwhelm beginners. The mobile app is well rated on both stores, but since the platform no longer serves Canada, the app is off-limits for Canadian users.

Coinsmart

CoinSmart's colourful, cartoon-styled platform is gone; its web addresses redirect to Bitbuy, and its mobile apps are no longer maintained.

accessing Coinsmart app

Coinsmart App

Cool usability and design of Coinsmart cryptoexchange

Coinsmart App trading screen

Coinsmart app mobile view

Coinsmart mobile app interface

Coinsmart mobile app interface while trading

Coinsmart mobile app interface while trading

Bitget

The Bitget platform is built for experienced traders, with advanced charting and order book data that can overwhelm beginners. The mobile app is well rated on both stores, but since the platform no longer serves Canada, the app is off-limits for Canadian users anyway.

Trading crypto on Bitget from Canada

Bitget desktop view (trading screen)

Depositing money to Bitget

Bitget depositing screen

Bitget mobile app main screenshot

Bitget mobile app main screen

Bitget mobile app screenshot

Bitget mobile app (coins)

Security Compliance

CoinSmart's wind-down was orderly and regulator-supervised, with no reported loss of customer funds, the same clean pattern as Coinberry and Bitvo, and the opposite of CoinField. Its legacy custody arrangement with BitGo and its OSC registration are what made the seamless handover possible.

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.

CoinSmart's wind-down was orderly and regulator-supervised, with no reported loss of customer funds, the same clean pattern as Coinberry and Bitvo, and the opposite of CoinField. Its legacy custody arrangement with BitGo and its OSC registration are what made the seamless handover possible.

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.

CoinSmart had a clean security and compliance record during its operational life, with BitGo cold storage custody and an orderly wind-down with no customer fund losses. Bitget has a company-run $300M+ protection fund and monthly Proof of Reserves — academic for Canadians since it is no longer accessible. Neither platform is relevant to Canadians going forward.

Regulatory Compliance

CoinSmart was registered with FINTRAC and was one of the first crypto platforms granted registration by the Ontario Securities Commission, a status that shaped its ending: rather than stranding users, its accounts were transferred to another registered platform under regulatory oversight. The full successor chain: CoinSmart into WonderFi (July 2023), client accounts to Bitbuy (September 2023), WonderFi to Robinhood (June 2026). Former CoinSmart users needing historical transaction records for taxes should log into Bitbuy and request their history from support.

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.

CoinSmart was registered with FINTRAC and was one of the first crypto platforms granted registration by the Ontario Securities Commission, a status that shaped its ending: rather than stranding users, its accounts were transferred to another registered platform under regulatory oversight. The full successor chain: CoinSmart into WonderFi (July 2023), client accounts to Bitbuy (September 2023), WonderFi to Robinhood (June 2026). Former CoinSmart users needing historical transaction records for taxes should log into Bitbuy and request their history from support.

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.

CoinSmart was registered with FINTRAC and the OSC, enabling an orderly wind-down with no customer funds lost; its successor chain ends with Bitbuy/Robinhood. Bitget is not registered with Canadian securities regulators and has restricted all Canadian users.

Customer support

There is no CoinSmart support team anymore; former users should contact Bitbuy support ([email protected]) referencing their old CoinSmart account. Two practical warnings: anyone offering to "recover" CoinSmart funds for a fee is running a recovery scam, and any active website using the CoinSmart name to solicit deposits is an impostor.

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.

There is no CoinSmart support team anymore; former users should contact Bitbuy support referencing their old CoinSmart account. Two practical warnings: anyone offering to "recover" CoinSmart funds for a fee is running a recovery scam, and any active website using the CoinSmart name to solicit deposits is an impostor.

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 friction.

Neither platform has relevant ongoing support for Canadians. CoinSmart support now routes through Bitbuy/Robinhood; Bitget support is relevant only for recovering legacy funds.

Conclusion

Neither CoinSmart nor Bitget is available to Canadians in 2026 — for different reasons. CoinSmart merged into WonderFi and migrated its accounts to Bitbuy in 2023; Bitbuy is now owned by Robinhood following the June 2026 WonderFi acquisition. Bitget restricted Canadian users in early 2026 and was never registered with Canadian securities regulators.

If you were a CoinSmart customer with outstanding account questions, log into Bitbuy with your old CoinSmart email — you can use your existing Google Authenticator 2FA codes. Historical transaction records for tax purposes are available through Bitbuy support. Bitbuy itself is now under Robinhood ownership; read any migration communications carefully before accepting new terms.

If you have legacy funds on Bitget, contact support and request withdrawal to an external wallet — be prepared for friction.

For Canadians looking for well-regulated alternatives, we recommend Bitbuy (Canada's longest-standing registered marketplace, now under Robinhood/CIRO oversight), Kraken (200+ coins, nationally registered restricted dealer since April 2025), or NDAX (60+ coins, CIRO investment dealer with a flat 0.2% fee). See our full list of the best crypto exchanges in Canada for more options.

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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