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Kucoin vs Coinfield: What Works Better For Canadians in 2024

Oleg Galeev

Last updated March 12, 2024

As of July 15th, 2023, Coinfield's website stopped operating properly for Canadians. Also, their registration status of MSB has been ceased by FINTRAC. As a result, we would recommend avoiding this crypto exchange at the moment. Feel free to check alternatives e.g. Bitget or BitBuy. The comparison below is outdated, but we have retained it in the event that the crypto exchange resumes proper operations in Canada. More information here. The comparison below is outdated and kept for educational purposes. Apparently, if you pick between Kucoin and Coinfield, go ahead with Kucoin.

KuCoin and CoinField are both popular cryptocurrency exchanges in Canada. KuCoin is a global exchange known for its extensive range of cryptocurrencies and advanced trading features, while CoinField is an EU-based exchange with a focus on serving the Canadian market.

Description

Kucoin is a sort of Canadian-friendly cryptocurrency exchange that offers peer-to-peer crypto trades, lending, and futures trading. Kucoin is suitable for more advanced traders looking for advanced charting and order types. Kucoin has 8 million

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 CoinField is no longer active anywhere.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.

Coins

500+ 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No longer applicable.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.

Fees

  • Low maker/taker trading fees ( 0.005%/0.025% to 0.1%/0.1% for class A coins)
  • Free deposits
  • Variable withdrawal fees
  • KCS holders get 20% discount on trading 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No longer applicable.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.

Pros

  • Low fees
  • Wide range of altcoins available
  • Advanced order types
  • Crypto lending
  • Futures trading
  • Fast crypto purchases
  • Peer to peer exchange
  • Anonymous trading
  • None. The platform no longer exists, and there is no legitimate way to open a CoinField account.

Cons

  • Platform is confusing for beginners
  • No fiat to crypto pairs
  • Must buy USDT to trade
  • Previously hacked
  • Not compliant in Ontario (but you can still use it though)
  • 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

Account Limits

Low

No longer applicable.

Methods to buy

  • Credit/debit card 
  • Third party Bank transfer

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.

Security

  • $275 million stolen in 2020 hack
  • 2FA available

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.

Mobile and Desktop Trading

Both KuCoin and CoinField offer mobile apps for trading on the go. KuCoin's app has a high rating on the App Store and Google Play, indicating positive user experiences.

CoinField's app also receives favorable ratings but has some users mentioning high fees and slow processing times. Both exchanges provide desktop platforms with advanced trading features and user-friendly interfaces.

Kucoin

Kucoin is slightly different than your average crypto exchange. You won’t be able to deposit Canadian dollars directly. You’ll have to go through a third-party such as Banxa to deposit fiat. Kucoin does, however, accept credit and debit card payments, but you’ll need to check if your Canadian bank allows crypto transactions.

There are no fiat to crypto pairs, so you cannot buy bitcoin or other crypto directly with your dollars. You’ll need to first purchase Tether USDT on Kucoin and then trade that for the crypto you want.

The Kucoin exchange can be quite confusing for beginners.

There are advanced charting and order types available, plus you can trade on margin and trade futures contracts if you wish.

To buy USDT quickly, go up to the top menu and select the “Fast Buy” option. Here, you can purchase USDT using your credit or debit card or via the P2P exchange, or via a third party transfer. Once you have your USDT, then you can trade it on the Kucoin exchange under “spot trading”. Select the trading pair e.g. USDT/BTC and then choose your order type e.g. market order.

The Kucoin app has a 3.7-star rating from over 2,000 reviews on the Apple App Store and a 2.7-star rating from over 12,000 reviews on Google Play. Many people complain that the app crashes or that there are certain features lacking such as the ability to filter order history by trading pair.

Kucoin’s app is a bit more simple than its desktop exchange but it’s still confusing for beginners. There are lots of features, tabs, and menus. Buying USDT is easy since you do not need to verify your account. Simply sign up with an email and you can buy crypto in seconds using your credit or debit card under the Fast trade option. From there though, you will need to navigate to the spot trading page and select the trading pair you want.

Kucoin crypto exchange desktop interface

Kucoin desktop interface

Kucoin desktop app (Fast Trade)

Kucoin desktop app (Fast Trade)

Kucoin app screenshot

Kucoin app interface

Kucoin app while trading

Kucoin app interface while trading

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

Security Compliance

Kucoin provides world-class security meaning your coins are in relatively safe hands. It has two-factor authentication, so you can prevent unauthorized access to your account.

Keep in mind, $275 million worth of crypto was stolen from Kucoin by North Korean hackers in 2020. Later, $200 million of the stolen funds was recovered. Still, it doesn’t bode well for Kucoin. If you have funds on the exchange, it’s best to move them to a private crypto wallet

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.

KuCoin and CoinField prioritize the security of their users' assets. KuCoin employs multiple security layers, including dynamic multifactor authentication, while CoinField implements cold storage, secret vaults, multisignature wallets, encryption, and isolated servers. While both exchanges have robust security measures, KuCoin has a more extensive track record and global reputation for security.

Regulatory Compliance

In June, 2021, the Ontario Securities Commission stated that Kucoin was illegally offering its residents securities and derivatives trading, but Kucoin did not respond to this. As a result, Kucoin is still available in Ontario as well as the rest of Canada. You can use Kucoin at full capacity whether it’s a simple buy order at market price or a more advanced order type. Bear in mind, Kucoin does not allow Interac e-Transfer to deposit Canadian dollars to your account. Instead, you will have to use a debit or credit card or a SWIFT transfer with USD.

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.

Both KuCoin and CoinField operate in Canada. It is important to note that Canadian federal organizations, such as the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), monitor compliance in the cryptocurrency industry. CoinField is fully regulated and licensed as a Money Service Business (MSB) by FINTRAC, ensuring compliance with Canadian regulations. KuCoin has faced regulatory issues in the past, particularly in Ontario, where it was fined by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) for non-compliance.

Customer support

Kucoin offers helpful FAQs and online ticketing service for their customers as well as 24/7 support and a live chat option.

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.

Both KuCoin and CoinField offer customer support through their websites, support tickets, and email communication. KuCoin has a reputation for responsive customer service, while CoinField's support response times can vary. Users of both exchanges have access to support resources and assistance when needed.

Conclusion

As of July 15th, 2023, Coinfield's website stopped operating properly for Canadians. Also, their registration status of MSB has been ceased by FINTRAC. As a result, we would recommend avoiding this crypto exchange at the moment. Feel free to check alternatives e.g. Bitget or BitBuy. The comparison below is outdated, but we have retained it in the event that the crypto exchange resumes proper operations in Canada. More information here. The comparison below is outdated and kept for educational purposes. Apparently, if you pick between Kucoin and Coinfield, go ahead with Kucoin.

Both KuCoin and CoinField are reputable cryptocurrency exchanges with their own strengths. However, KuCoin stands out as the winner due to its global presence, extensive range of cryptocurrencies, advanced trading features, and higher security reputation. While CoinField caters well to the Canadian market and offers unique features like its franchise program and referral program, KuCoin's broader offerings and track record make it the preferred choice for many cryptocurrency traders.

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

If you find that neither Kucoin nor CoinField meets your requirements, we encourage you to explore our monthly-updated list of the best exchanges for Canadians to trade crypto. This list provides a range of alternative options that may better suit your specific needs and preferences.

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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