KuCoin Vs Newton: Which Is Better For Canadians In 2026?

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Oleg Galeev, founder of OCryptoCanada

Oleg Galeev

Last updated October 2, 2026

KuCoin and Newton are two popular cryptocurrency exchanges, one global, one Canadian. From a Canadian perspective, the comparison is one-sided: KuCoin is permanently banned in Canada following an OSC ruling and appears on the CSA’s banned platform list nationwide. Newton is a Toronto-based CSA Restricted Dealer, fully available in every province.

KuCoin Vs Newton: Which Is Better For Canadians?

Newton wins by default for Canadians. KuCoin is on the CSA banned list after the Ontario Securities Commission ordered it permanently out of Ontario's markets in June 2022, and other provinces reciprocated. Since KuCoin no longer operates for Canadians, I recommend Coinbase (9.8/10, #1 on my list): open a Coinbase account.

KuCoin logo
Banned in Canada (CSA list)
Newton logo7.9/10
CSA-registered, CIRO investment dealer

Beginners who want a Canadian-regulated dealer with free CAD funding

Head To Head, Checked October 2026
KuCoinNewtonWinner
Canadian statusBanned in Canada (CSA list)CSA-registered, CIRO investment dealerNewton
My rankingNot in my top 10#6 of 10, 7.9/10Newton

Not sure which fits you? Take my 60-second quiz or see my full ranking.

How Do KuCoin And Newton Compare, Fact By Fact?

Every row below comes from each company’s own pages and the Canadian registries, checked October 2026. Where a row has no fair winner, it says so.

KuCoin Vs Newton: Master Spec Table
KuCoinNewtonWinner
CompanyBanned entities: Mek Global Limited (Seychelles) and PhoenixFin Pte. Ltd. (Singapore). No Canadian entity. Founders and funding: Not published.Newton Crypto Ltd., Toronto. Launched 2018 by Dustin Walper (CEO), Erynn Saunders and Tyson Leslie. Raised a CAD 25M Series B led by DV Chain. Staff not sourced.Depends
RegulationCSA banned list: OSC Decision 2022-06-21, reciprocated. OSC: permanent market ban, CAD 2,000,000 penalty, CAD 96,550.35 costs. No FINTRAC entry found.CIRO investment dealer since 2026-03-18, CIPF member for cash (never crypto). CSA decision 2022-08-15, amended 2026-03-25. FINTRAC MSB M19607029, expires 2029-01-31. AMF not verified.Newton
Assets700+ coins globally, not for Canadians.59 CAD pairs on the official help list (it may lag delistings, UMA and SKL still listed). No order book. USDC offered, USDT not.Newton
PriceMaker/taker from about 0.1% / 0.1%, VIP tiers, 20% off with KCS. Not for Canadians.Spread-based. Tier 1 (BTC, ETH, USDC) 1.00% to 1.15%, Tier 2 1.25% to 1.45%, Tier 3 1.50% to 1.60%. Signature status lowers it, to 1.00% from CAD 100K and 0.05% from CAD 5M of 365-day volume.Newton
CAD InNo longer available to CanadiansFree: Interac e-Transfer (CAD 10,000 per request, CAD 70,000 weekly) and pre-authorized debit. Wires are free from CAD 10,000 and cost CAD 35 between CAD 5,000 and 10,000.Newton
CAD OutNo longer available to CanadiansFree: Interac e-Transfer (CAD 10,000 per transaction) and EFT (CAD 50,000 per transaction), CAD 50,000 a week combined. Wire up to CAD 1,000,000, withdrawal wire fee not stated.Newton
Crypto In And OutFree crypto deposits, variable withdrawal fees. Transfers from KuCoin to regulated Canadian exchanges may be blocked.On-chain, multi-network, address book. BTC and Ethereum lanes: Fast CAD 10 + fee (30 min), Standard fee only (2 h), Free nightly. Newton covers up to CAD 5 a day. No Lightning found.Newton
CustodyHacked for $275M in 2020 (about $200M recovered). Not recognized in Canada; no recourse.Custodial. 'Over 80% of assets are stored offline' and crypto asset insurance in Newton's words, amount not published. SOC 2 Type II. No proof of reserves. Crypto not CIPF protected.Newton
Verification (KYC)No longer available to CanadiansCanadian government photo ID plus a selfie through Persona, North American phone number, proof of address in some cases. Review often under 5 minutes. SIN not stated. Residents of Canada, 18 or older.Depends
Account TypesNo longer available to CanadiansPersonal and corporate accounts (corporations, non-profits and not-for-profits) via an onboarding package. No TFSA or RRSP.Newton
ProvincesBanned in Ontario and reciprocated elsewhere. KuCoin's terms (updated 2026-09-29) name Ontario and British Columbia as Restricted Locations, not all of Canada.All provinces and territories. Net buy cap on restricted coins outside AB, BC, MB, SK and QC. French UI and support not verified.Newton
Extra ProductsNo longer available to CanadiansStaking (ETH, SOL, ADA), swaps, recurring buys, referral program (CAD 20 welcome bonus, up to CAD 100 per referral), Signature fee program.Newton
Tax ToolsNo longer available to CanadiansTransaction history as a Koinly-formatted CSV plus a direct Koinly connect offer. No CRA-formatted report from Newton itself.Newton
AppNot accessible to Canadians.iOS 4.62 (24,473 ratings, Canada store), Google Play 4.3 (about 8.14K reviews, global). Web app yes, 2FA mandatory. French UI not verified.Newton
SupportNo longer available to CanadiansEmail (support@newton.co) and in-app ticket. A phone number (+1 855 639 8662) is on the site footer but not described as a support line. Hours and French not verified.Newton
Sources For This Table

What Are The Key Differences Between KuCoin And Newton?

KuCoin Vs Newton: Side By Side
KuCoinNewton
DescriptionKuCoin is a Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange known for its huge altcoin selection, futures trading and trading bots, serving tens of millions of users worldwide. It is not available to Canadians: it is permanently banned from Ontario's capital markets, appears on the CSA's banned platform list, and its mandatory identity verification blocks Canadian sign-ups.Newton is a Toronto-based exchange, launched in 2018, that pioneered commission-free crypto trading in Canada. There are no trading commissions or funding fees; Newton earns through a spread built into prices. It is one of the most beginner-friendly platforms in the country and since 2026-03-18 it is a CIRO investment dealer member.
Coins700+ coins globally, not accessible from Canada.59 CAD pairs, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Dogecoin, Cardano, USDC, Chainlink and Polkadot. USDT, BNB and TRON are not available.
FeesLow maker/taker trading fees starting around 0.1% and 0.1%, decreasing with VIP level. Free crypto deposits, variable withdrawal fees. KCS holders got a 20% discount on trading fees.0% commissions, 0% fees on Interac e-Transfer and EFT funding and withdrawals | Spreads are the real cost, tiered by asset: 1.00% to 1.15% on BTC, ETH and USDC, 1.25% to 1.45% on LTC, SOL and XLM, 1.50% to 1.60% on everything else, falling to 0.05% by Signature status (trailing 365-day volume) | Up to CAD 5 in network fees covered on the first crypto withdrawal each day | Wires are free from CAD 10,000, with a CAD 35 fee between CAD 5,000 and CAD 10,000 | BTC and Ethereum network withdrawals have a Fast lane (CAD 10 + network fee), Standard lane and a free nightly lane
Pros
  • Huge range of altcoins
  • Advanced order types, futures, lending and trading bots
  • Low fees
  • Licensed in some regions (MiCA in the EU via Austria, AUSTRAC in Australia)
  • None of this is available to Canadians
  • No commissions, and Interac, EFT and large-wire funding is free
  • CIRO investment dealer member since March 2026, with a CSA decision history back to 2022
  • Staking on ETH, SOL and ADA
  • Market and limit orders and recurring buys
  • Koinly-formatted tax export and a direct Koinly link
  • Clean, beginner-friendly interface
  • Referral bonus of CAD 20 for the friend and up to CAD 100 for you
Cons
  • Permanently banned from Ontario's capital markets with about CAD 2 million in penalties, a ruling reciprocated across Canada
  • Mandatory KYC since July 2023 ended anonymous trading
  • Warning: using a VPN to get around the block violates KuCoin's terms, and KuCoin can freeze accounts and withhold funds from users dodging geo-blocks
  • Hacked for $275 million in 2020
  • Guilty plea in the US with about $297 million in penalties
  • Regulated Canadian exchanges have blocked incoming transfers from KuCoin
  • Spreads of 1.00% to 1.60% are well above order book fees for active traders
  • Support runs by email and in-app ticket, no live chat
  • A Trustpilot rating around 2.6 was reported in our earlier review, largely over support speed and verification friction
  • No USDT, no advanced trading tools, margin or derivatives
  • Only 59 CAD pairs
  • Crypto assets are not covered by CIPF
Security$275 million was stolen in the 2020 hack attributed to North Korean hackers, with around $200 million later recovered. 2FA available, mandatory KYC and tightened compliance since 2023.Over 80% of assets stored offline in cold storage, a crypto asset insurance policy described by Newton as full coverage (no amount published), SOC 2 Type II certification, AES-256 encryption, MFA, 24/7 monitoring, annual third-party penetration tests and a bug bounty. Customer cash is covered by CIPF as a dealer member, crypto is not. The custodian is not named on the current security page.
Methods To BuyCanadians cannot buy crypto on KuCoin. Verification requires ID from a supported country, and Canada is not one. Legacy users should withdraw, but transfers arriving directly at regulated Canadian exchanges from KuCoin may be blocked, so route through your own wallet first.Interac e-Transfer | Wire transfer | Pre-authorized debit (EFT) | Crypto deposits
AppThe app works in supported countries but is inaccessible to Canadians.iOS 4.62 on the Canadian App Store (24,473 ratings), Google Play 4.3 (about 8.14K reviews, global). Web app available.
Account LimitsNot applicable for Canadians. Elsewhere limits depend on KYC tier; unverified legacy accounts can only sell or withdraw.Deposits: e-Transfer 'Request Funds' CAD 10,000 per transaction and CAD 70,000 weekly, wire up to CAD 1,000,000. Withdrawals: e-Transfer CAD 10,000 per transaction, EFT CAD 50,000 per transaction, CAD 50,000 a week combined across EFT and e-Transfer, wire CAD 1,000,000. Daily trading cap CAD 5,000,000, 20 open limit orders. Net buy cap of CAD 30,000 a year on restricted coins in most provinces (BTC, ETH, LTC, BCH and USDC are exempt).

How Do You Fund And Cash Out KuCoin And Newton In Canada?

Newton: CAD Deposits
MethodFeeMinimumMaximumSpeed
Interac e-TransferFreeStart trading with as little as CAD 50CAD 10,000 per 'Request Funds' transaction, CAD 70,000 weeklyin minutes
Wire transferFree from CAD 10,000, CAD 35 between CAD 5,000 and CAD 10,000Not publishedCAD 1,000,000Not published
Pre-authorized debit (EFT)FreeNot publishedNot publishedNot published
Newton: CAD Withdrawals
MethodFeeMinimumMaximumSpeed
Interac e-TransferFreeNot publishedCAD 10,000 per transaction, CAD 50,000 weeklyfastest option per Newton
EFT to bank accountFreeNot publishedCAD 50,000 per transactionNot published
Wire transferNot stated for withdrawalsNot publishedCAD 1,000,000Not published

No funding for Canadians. Legacy users can only withdraw. Account verification is required before any deposit. Crypto withdrawals to an external address need the address saved in your address book first.

What Does It Actually Cost To Buy On Newton?

Worked Cost, Buy Only And Buy Plus Sell (Round Trip)
AmountNewton BuyNewton Round Trip
CAD 100$1.00 to $1.60$2.00 to $3.20
CAD 500$5.00 to $8.00$10.00 to $16.00
CAD 1,000$10.00 to $16.00$20.00 to $32.00
CAD 10,000$100.00 to $160.00$200.00 to $320.00

Newton: Standard Silver-tier spread fee shown at trade time: 1.00% to 1.15% on BTC, ETH and USDC, up to 1.60% on other assets, checked 2026-10-03 on Newton's fee article. Signature status lowers it, to 0.05% at CAD 5M of trailing 365-day volume. Neither publishes a maker and taker schedule because there is no order book: the spread is the fee. If cost matters most, NDAX (flat 0.20%) or Kraken Pro are cheaper places to buy in Canada. Ranges reflect each platform’s published band, not a single quote. Bank and network fees are not included.

What Do KuCoin And Newton Offer Beyond Buying And Selling?

KuCoin Only

  • Futures, lending and trading bots (historic): KuCoin offered futures, lending and bots globally. Not available to Canadians.

Newton Only

  • Signature Program: Fee tiers assigned automatically by trailing 365-day volume: Gold CAD 100K (BTC, ETH, USDC at 1.00%), Platinum CAD 1M (0.85% and 1.00%), Diamond CAD 2M (0.50%), Onyx CAD 5M (0.05%).
  • Staking: Up to 4.5% APY shown for ETH, SOL and ADA (estimates, not guaranteed). Newton keeps 30% of ETH rewards plus execution income, 27% of SOL rewards plus MEV rewards, and 7.5% of ADA rewards. Staked assets are locked.
  • Recurring buys: Set an amount, a coin and a frequency for automatic purchases.
  • Referral program: A friend gets a CAD 20 bonus after signing up and trading CAD 100 within 90 days; the referrer earns up to CAD 100 depending on activity.

What Happens To Your Money If KuCoin Or Newton Fails?

KuCoin: KuCoin is banned by Canadian regulators, so there is no registered Canadian entity, no CIPF cover and no complaint route that gets your money back. If you hold funds, withdraw to a wallet you control before sending anywhere else, because transfers straight to Canadian exchanges may be blocked. Warning: using a VPN violates its terms and can freeze your account. It was also hacked for $275 million in 2020.

Newton: As a CIRO investment dealer member since March 2026, cash left in a Newton account is covered by CIPF, but Newton states crypto is not protected by CIPF, CDIC or any investor protection scheme. Over 80% of assets are kept offline and Newton says it carries crypto insurance, but it gives no amount and the custodian is not named on the current page, and no proof of reserves is published. An exchange hack or insolvency would leave you relying on that insurance and on the dealer's regulatory capital rules for the portion you cannot withdraw in time.

How Are KuCoin And Newton Treated For Tax In Canada?

KuCoin: Trades on KuCoin were dispositions for CRA purposes. Export your history now. Export formats: Not published.

Newton: Selling, swapping one coin for another and staking rewards are dispositions or income; buying and withdrawing to your own wallet are not. Newton exports your history as a Koinly-formatted CSV and links directly to Koinly; there is no CRA-ready report from Newton.

Selling, swapping or spending crypto is a disposition for the CRA on any platform. This is not tax advice: see my guide to crypto taxes in Canada.

Which Should You Choose, KuCoin Or Newton?

Choose KuCoin If

  • You want a registered platform that serves Canadians today: Coinbase is our number one replacement, with free Interac e-Transfer funding and a Canadian restricted dealer registration.

Choose Newton If

  • You want a Canadian-only CIRO dealer with free Interac and EFT funding and a simple app.
  • You trade small amounts of the majors and prefer one visible price over order book mechanics.
  • You trade over CAD 1M a year and can reach Signature tiers that cut the fee below 1%.

What Happened To KuCoin?

KuCoin is on the CSA banned list after the Ontario Securities Commission ordered it permanently out of Ontario's markets in June 2022, and other provinces reciprocated.

The OSC decision of June 21, 2022 named Mek Global Limited (Seychelles) and PhoenixFin Pte. Ltd. (Singapore). It imposed a permanent ban on market participation, a CAD 2,000,000 administrative penalty and CAD 96,550.35 in costs, and other provinces and territories reciprocated.

I found no KuCoin or Mek Global entry in the FINTRAC registry when I checked on October 2, 2026. KuCoin's own Terms of Use, updated September 29, 2026, list Ontario and British Columbia among restricted locations, though they do not name all of Canada.

The registry has no official instruction for people who still hold funds there. I would not deposit more, and I would not try to get around the ban: any workaround breaches KuCoin's own rules and leaves you with no Canadian regulator to complain to. Contact KuCoin support directly about getting your balance out.

What Should KuCoin Users Use Instead?

The practical answer is Newton, since it is available to Canadians today. Here is what I can verify about it.

Newton: Beginners who want a Canadian-regulated dealer with free CAD funding.

Newton At A Glance
ItemDetail
RegulatorInvestment dealer and CIRO Dealer Member since March 18, 2026, FINTRAC MSB M19607029.
Trading CostNewton charges no commission.
CAD FundingFree Interac e-Transfer, wire and EFT
Coins59 CAD pairs
Best ForBeginners who want a Canadian-regulated dealer with free CAD funding
My Score7.9/10

Kraken: Beginners who want to learn, then cheaper trading on Kraken Pro. It is a registered Canadian dealer with a wide coin choice, which is the sensible replacement here.

Kraken At A Glance
ItemDetail
RegulatorRestricted Dealer with the OSC and every provincial and territorial regulator (Payward Canada Inc., CSA decision April 1, 2025), FINTRAC MSB M19343731. Not a CIRO member.
Trading CostKraken Pro starts at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker for the first tier, dropping to 0.30% and 0.60% from USD 2,500 of 30-day volume and 0.22% and 0.38% from USD 10,000.
CAD FundingFree Interac e-Transfer deposits
CoinsAbout 498 tickers (derived)
Best ForBeginners who want to learn, then cheaper trading on Kraken Pro
My Score9.2/10

How Do KuCoin And Newton Compare On Fees, Funding, And Coins?

KuCoin Vs Newton, Verified Facts
ItemKuCoinNewton
StatusBanned by the CSA; nothing available to CanadiansInvestment dealer and CIRO Dealer Member since March 18
Trading FeesNone availableNo fee; spread from 1.00% on BTC
CAD FundingNone availableFree Interac e-Transfer, wire and EFT
CoinsNone available59 CAD pairs

KuCoin, in the past tense: Nothing KuCoin offered has been available to Canadians under Canadian law since the ban, and I do not publish old fee or coin numbers for it.

Newton charges no commission. Its cost is the spread: 1.00% to 1.15% on BTC, ETH and USDC, 1.25% to 1.45% on LTC, SOL and XLM, and 1.50% to 1.60% on everything else. Signature status can bring that down to as low as 0.05% for high-volume traders.

Interac e-Transfer, wire and pre-authorized debit are all free. Interac Request Funds is capped at CAD 10,000 per transaction and CAD 70,000 weekly, and wires go up to CAD 1,000,000. Withdrawals are stated as free.

Newton's help centre lists 59 CAD pairs and warns that pairs can be disabled.

Which Is Safer?

KuCoin. KuCoin is on the CSA banned list. That is the whole safety story for a Canadian, because there is no registered Canadian entity, no CIRO oversight, and no FINTRAC MSB entry that I could find.

Newton. Newton became a CIRO Investment Dealer Member on March 18, 2026, after being a CSA-registered platform since 2022. It says over 80% of assets are kept offline and that it holds crypto insurance. Crypto is not CIPF-protected.

Newton Pros And Cons

Pros

  • CIRO Investment Dealer Member
  • No commission, free CAD funding
  • Clear tiered spreads
  • Staking on supported coins

Cons

  • Spread of 1.00% or more on BTC
  • Only 59 CAD pairs
  • Staking rates are estimates
  • Crypto not CIPF-covered

Who Should Choose KuCoin, And Who Should Choose Newton?

Nobody opening a new account in Canada should choose KuCoin. Status: banned by the csa; nothing available to canadians. Existing customers should follow the withdrawal guidance above.

Choose Newton if you are beginners who want free CAD funding and a CIRO-regulated dealer.

What Changed For KuCoin And Newton In October 2026?

  • KuCoin updated its Terms of Use, which still list Ontario and British Columbia among restricted locations.
  • Kraken republished its fee schedule page, which shows the Pro spot entry tier at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker.
  • Newton OTC Inc.'s FINTRAC registration ceased. Newton Crypto Ltd., the retail platform, is unaffected.
  • The CSA published a second amended decision for Newton Crypto Ltd. in March.
  • Newton was admitted to CIRO membership as an Investment Dealer.
  • Kraken's Canadian entity received its CSA Restricted Dealer decision and announced free Interac e-Transfer deposits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is KuCoin Available In Canada?

KuCoin is on the CSA banned list after the Ontario Securities Commission ordered it permanently out of Ontario's markets in June 2022, and other provinces reciprocated.

What Should I Use Instead Of KuCoin?

Kraken is the closest fit I can verify. Beginners who want to learn, then cheaper trading on Kraken Pro.

Is Newton Safe For Canadians?

Investment dealer and CIRO Dealer Member since March 18, 2026, FINTRAC MSB M19607029.

How Much Does Newton Cost?

Newton charges no commission.

Can I Still Get My Money Out Of KuCoin?

The registry has no official instruction for people who still hold funds there. I would not deposit more, and I would not try to get around the ban: any workaround breaches KuCoin's own rules and leaves you with no Canadian regulator to complain to. Contact KuCoin support directly about getting your balance out.

Do KuCoin And Newton Have Limit Orders?

KuCoin: Yes globally, not for Canadians. Newton: Yes, market and limit orders, up to 20 open limit orders.

Which Coins Can You Buy On KuCoin And Newton?

KuCoin: 700+ globally, none for Canadians Newton: 59 CAD pairs

Is The Spread The Fee On KuCoin And Newton?

KuCoin: No longer applicable. Newton: Yes, the spread fee of 1.00% to 1.60% is the only trading cost and is shown before you confirm.

Does CIPF Cover My Crypto On KuCoin Or Newton?

KuCoin: CIPF never covers crypto, and this platform no longer serves Canadians. Newton: Newton is a CIPF member for cash, but CIPF never covers crypto.

Are KuCoin And Newton Available In Every Province?

KuCoin: Banned in Ontario and reciprocated across Canada. Newton: All provinces and territories; net buy caps of CAD 30,000 on restricted coins outside AB, BC, MB, SK and QC.

Do Interac Deposits Work On Weekends On KuCoin And Newton?

KuCoin: No longer applicable. Newton: Not published; Newton says e-Transfer funds in minutes.

What Is The Minimum Buy On KuCoin And Newton?

KuCoin: No longer applicable. Newton: Newton says you can start trading with as little as CAD 50.

Can A Business Use KuCoin Or Newton?

KuCoin: No longer applicable. Newton: Yes, corporations, non-profits and not-for-profits can open a corporate account through an onboarding package.

Author

Oleg Galeev, founder of OCryptoCanada

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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