Security Compliance
Netcoins keeps the majority of client crypto in cold storage with custodian BitGo, whose private keys live in air-gapped offline systems, while hot wallet operations run through Fireblocks. Two-factor authentication is mandatory for withdrawals, and multi-signature wallets add another layer. Its parent company's blockchain surveillance technology monitors wallet addresses and transactions for fraud and links to criminal enterprises. Netcoins has operated since 2014 without a hack.
Gate has invested heavily in security in recent years, publishing monthly Proof of Reserves with coverage around 125% and holding licenses in Malta (MiCA), Dubai, Japan and elsewhere. That said, its track record includes past security incidents, and none of its licensing footprint extends to Canada. Since KYC is mandatory and tied to your ID country, Canadians who slip through via VPN risk having accounts frozen with funds inside.
Netcoins keeps the majority of client crypto in cold storage with custodian BitGo, whose private keys live in air-gapped offline systems, while hot wallet operations run through Fireblocks. Two-factor authentication is mandatory for withdrawals, and multi-signature wallets add another layer. Its parent company's blockchain surveillance technology monitors wallet addresses and transactions for fraud and links to criminal enterprises. Netcoins has operated since 2014 without a hack.
Gate has invested heavily in security in recent years, publishing monthly Proof of Reserves with coverage around 125% and holding licenses in Malta (MiCA), Dubai, Japan and the US. That said, its track record includes past security incidents going back to its days as Bter, and none of its licensing footprint extends to Canada. Since KYC is mandatory and tied to your ID country, Canadians who try to slip through via VPN risk having accounts frozen with funds inside.
Netcoins publishes full custody details: BitGo cold storage with air-gapped keys and Fireblocks for hot wallets, plus blockchain surveillance through its parent company's compliance tools. Gate uses hot and cold storage with multi-signature protocols and publishes monthly Proof of Reserves at 125% coverage. Since Gate is not accessible from Canada, only Netcoins' security is relevant for Canadian readers.
Regulatory Compliance
Netcoins is one of the most regulated exchanges in Canada. Beyond its FINTRAC MSB registration, it has been registered as a Restricted Dealer with the Canadian securities regulators in every province since 2021, among the very first platforms to achieve this, and is working toward full investment dealer registration and CIRO membership. Its parent, BIGG Digital Assets, is publicly traded and must publish audited financial statements, adding a transparency layer most private exchanges can't match.
Gate is not a compliant crypto exchange in Canada. Canada sits on its restricted locations list, Canadian accounts were closed in April 2022, and while Gate has since obtained licenses in the EU, Dubai, Japan and even launched a US entity in 2025, it has shown no sign of registering with Canadian regulators.
Netcoins is one of the most regulated exchanges in Canada. Beyond its FINTRAC MSB registration, it has been registered as a Restricted Dealer with the Canadian securities regulators in every province since 2021, among the very first platforms to achieve this, and is working toward full investment dealer registration and CIRO membership. Its parent, BIGG Digital Assets, is publicly traded and must publish audited financial statements, adding a transparency layer most private exchanges can't match.
Gate is not a compliant crypto exchange in Canada. Canada sits on its restricted locations list, Canadian accounts were closed in April 2022, and while Gate has since obtained licenses in the EU (MiCA via Malta), Dubai, Japan and launched a US entity in 2025, it has shown no sign of registering with Canadian regulators. The rebrand from Gate.io to Gate.com in May 2025 changed nothing for Canadians.
Netcoins is registered with FINTRAC and operates as a CSA Restricted Dealer in every Canadian province and territory. Gate lists Canada as a disallowed country and has held no Canadian regulatory registration since closing Canadian accounts in April 2022.
Customer support
Netcoins offers email, live chat and phone support seven days a week, and phone support remains rare among crypto exchanges. Its reputation for customer service is strong, with reviewers consistently praising the fast, human support and quick verification, though some negative reviews cite blocked withdrawals during compliance checks. Check the live Trustpilot page for the current rating before quoting a number.
Gate offers a help centre, blog and live chat for users in supported countries. Reviews remain mixed, with recurring complaints on Trustpilot about slow support and withdrawal difficulties. For Canadians this is academic, since the platform is off-limits entirely.
Netcoins offers email, live chat and phone support seven days a week, and phone support remains rare among crypto exchanges. Its reputation for customer service is strong, with reviewers consistently praising the fast, human support and quick verification, though some negative reviews cite blocked withdrawals during compliance checks.
Gate offers a help centre, blog and live chat for users in supported countries. Reviews remain mixed, with recurring complaints on Trustpilot about slow support and withdrawal difficulties. For Canadians this is academic, since the platform is off-limits entirely.
Netcoins' seven-days-a-week phone, chat and email support is the only relevant option for Canadians. Gate's support is academic since the platform is unavailable.
Conclusion
From a Canadian perspective, this comparison has a clear answer. Gate has listed Canada as a restricted jurisdiction since April 2022 — the May 2025 rebrand to Gate.com changed nothing, and KYC enforcement means even VPN workarounds result in accounts that can be frozen with funds inside.
Netcoins is the clear choice for Canadians. As a CSA Restricted Dealer backed by publicly traded BIGG Digital Assets, it is one of the most transparent and compliant exchanges in Canada. Free Interac deposits, a flat 0.5% fee, a Visa card with 3% bitcoin cashback, staking on select coins with regulatory approval, credit card purchases via Simplex, and seven-days-a-week phone support make it a well-rounded platform for beginners and intermediate traders. The 0.5% fee plus spread combination is worth modelling for active traders — at that point NDAX's 0.2% flat fee may serve you better.
We recommend choosing Netcoins over Gate.io for your cryptocurrency trading needs. By using our referral link, you get $25 and support us in conducting comprehensive independent analyses of crypto trading options for Canadians.
If you find that neither Netcoins nor Gate.io meets your requirements, we encourage you to explore our monthly-updated list of the best exchanges for Canadians to trade crypto.
