Security Compliance
NDAX keeps roughly 95% of digital assets in cold storage using Ledger Vault, a big name in crypto security, alongside multi-signature wallets and regular audits. Two-factor authentication is mandatory at sign-up, a policy we like since most exchanges leave it optional. Changing account details like your email or phone number requires submitting a selfie with a handwritten note, an old-school but effective defence against account takeover. As a CIRO member, NDAX also keeps client CAD balances in segregated accounts, though crypto assets themselves aren't covered by deposit insurance.
BitMEX's technical security record is genuinely strong: it has never been hacked, keeps all bitcoin in cold storage with multi-signature wallets, and has employees manually audit withdrawals. Its regulatory record is another matter. BitMEX and its founders pleaded guilty to violating the US Bank Secrecy Act for failing to run an anti-money-laundering program, the company was fined $100 million in January 2025, and its three co-founders were pardoned by President Trump in March 2025. Funds on the platform have historically been safe from hackers; the risk was always regulatory.
NDAX keeps roughly 95% of digital assets in cold storage via BitGo Trust and Tetra Trust, two institutional-grade custodians approved as part of NDAX's CIRO membership, alongside multi-signature wallets and regular audits. Two-factor authentication is mandatory at sign-up. Changing account details like your email or phone number requires submitting a selfie with a handwritten note — an effective defence against account takeover. As a CIRO member, NDAX keeps client CAD balances in segregated accounts protected under CIPF in the event of insolvency. Crypto assets themselves are not covered by CIPF.
BitMEX's technical security record is genuinely strong: it has never been hacked, keeps all bitcoin in cold storage with multi-signature wallets, and has employees manually audit withdrawals. Its regulatory record is another matter. BitMEX and its founders pleaded guilty to violating the US Bank Secrecy Act for failing to run an anti-money-laundering program, the company was fined $100 million in January 2025, and its three co-founders were pardoned by President Trump in March 2025. Funds on the platform have historically been safe from hackers; the risk was always regulatory.
NDAX keeps 95% of assets in cold storage via BitGo Trust and Tetra Trust, enforces mandatory 2FA and selfie-verification for account changes, and carries CIPF coverage on CAD balances as a CIRO investment dealer. BitMEX has a strong technical security record with cold storage and manual withdrawal audits, but its regulatory history includes a $100M US fine for AML failures. Since BitMEX is not available to Canadians, only NDAX's security is relevant here.
Regulatory Compliance
NDAX is one of the most compliant platforms in Canada: a registered investment dealer and CIRO member since December 2024, licensed across all provinces and territories, and registered with FINTRAC and the AMF. It has also received CIRO approval to offer staking, which very few Canadian platforms can claim.
BitMEX initially restricted only Ontario and Québec, but as of late 2023 its Restricted Jurisdiction Policy lists all of Canada as restricted. Its US legal troubles have concluded with guilty pleas, a $100 million fine and subsequent presidential pardons for the founders. There is no indication BitMEX intends to register with Canadian regulators or return to the Canadian market.
NDAX is one of the most compliant platforms in Canada. It became a registered investment dealer and CIRO member on December 19, 2024, approved across all provinces and territories by the Canadian Securities Administrators. It is also registered with FINTRAC and the AMF, and has received CIRO approval to offer staking services, which very few Canadian platforms can claim.
BitMEX initially restricted only Ontario and Québec, but as of late 2023 its Restricted Jurisdiction Policy lists all of Canada as restricted. Its US legal troubles have concluded with guilty pleas, a $100 million fine and subsequent presidential pardons for the founders. There is no indication BitMEX intends to register with Canadian regulators or return to the Canadian market.
NDAX is registered with FINTRAC and operates as a full CIRO investment dealer with CIPF coverage on fiat — the highest regulatory tier in Canada. BitMEX lists all of Canada as a restricted jurisdiction and is not registered with Canadian securities regulators.
Customer support
NDAX provides a knowledge centre answering the most common questions, plus live chat, email and phone support available Monday to Friday from 10 AM to midnight ET. When we contacted them, we got a reply in an impressive 20 minutes. Their team also responds to negative reviews publicly, which speaks well of how seriously they take support.
BitMEX offers support via a contact form on its website and has a detailed FAQ section. For Canadians this is academic, since the platform is off-limits entirely.
NDAX provides a knowledge centre answering the most common questions, plus live chat, email and phone support available Monday to Friday from 10 AM to midnight ET. When we contacted them, we got a reply in an impressive 20 minutes. Their team also responds to negative reviews publicly, which speaks well of how seriously they take support.
BitMEX offers support via a contact form on its website and has a detailed FAQ section. For Canadians this is academic, since the platform is off-limits entirely.
NDAX's multi-channel support — live chat, email and phone until midnight on weekdays — is the only relevant option for Canadians. BitMEX's support is academic for Canadian users.
Conclusion
From a Canadian perspective, this comparison has a clear answer. BitMEX has listed all of Canada as a restricted jurisdiction since late 2023 — not just Ontario and Quebec as it did previously — and its founders pleaded guilty in the US to AML failures with a $100 million fine.
NDAX is the clear choice. As a full CIRO investment dealer since December 2024, it holds the highest regulatory tier available to a Canadian crypto platform, with CIPF coverage on fiat balances up to $1 million. A fixed 0.2% trading fee with no spread markup, staking on 12+ coins with CIRO approval, free Interac deposits, phone support until midnight on weekdays, and a 4.7-star iOS app make it one of the strongest all-round options in Canada. The coin selection is smaller than global exchanges and the 20% staking commission is worth knowing, but for regulated Canadian crypto trading, NDAX is hard to beat.
We recommend choosing NDAX over BitMEX 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 NDAX doesn't meet your requirements, we encourage you to explore our monthly-updated list of the best exchanges for Canadians to trade crypto.
