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.
To secure an Uphold account, users enable two-factor authentication, which Uphold requires before funds can be transferred. The platform keeps around 90% of digital assets in cold storage and has never suffered a sitewide hack. For former Canadian users, the more pressing security matter is retrieving stranded balances before unclaimed property rules kick in.
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.
To secure an Uphold account, users enable two-factor authentication, which Uphold requires before funds can be transferred. The platform keeps around 90% of digital assets in cold storage and has never suffered a sitewide hack. For former Canadian users, the more pressing security matter is retrieving stranded balances before unclaimed property rules kick in.
Netcoins combines BitGo cold storage, Fireblocks hot wallet security and parent-company blockchain surveillance for a layered security approach that goes beyond what most Canadian exchanges offer. Uphold employs cold storage and two-factor authentication and has never been hacked — but since it no longer serves Canadians, only Netcoins' protections are 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.
Uphold is regulated in the USA and compliant with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) record-keeping requirements. However, it is no longer Canadian-friendly: Canada appears on Uphold's non-supported jurisdictions list, and Canadian accounts were wound down in 2025. Uphold has publicly stated it's working on plans to return to Canada, but no timeline has been announced.
Netcoins is one of the most regulated exchanges in Canada. Beyond its FINTRAC MSB registration, it has been registered as a Restricted Dealer with 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.
Uphold is regulated in the USA and compliant with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) record-keeping requirements. However, it is no longer available to Canadians: Canada appears on Uphold's non-supported jurisdictions list, and Canadian accounts were wound down in 2025. Uphold has publicly stated it's working on plans to return to Canada, but no timeline has been announced.
Netcoins is fully compliant in Canada, registered with FINTRAC and operating as a CSA Restricted Dealer in every province. Uphold was registered with FINTRAC but is no longer authorized to serve Canadian users.
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.
Uphold offers help centres on its website and in-app, with support via an online ticketing system. If you're a former Canadian customer trying to recover funds, their Canadian services withdrawal help page is the place to start, and be patient, as reviews frequently mention slow, message-only support with replies taking days.
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.
Uphold offers help centres on its website and in-app, with support via an online ticketing system. If you're a former Canadian customer trying to recover funds, their Canadian services withdrawal help page is the place to start — be patient, as reviews frequently mention slow, message-only support with replies taking days.
Netcoins' seven-days-a-week phone, chat and email support is a clear advantage. It is one of the few Canadian exchanges offering phone support at all. Uphold's support is relevant to Canadians only for recovering stranded CAD balances.
Conclusion
From a Canadian perspective, this comparison has only one answer. Uphold exited Canada on June 11, 2025 — if you had an account, the withdrawal deadline was September 8, 2025, and any remaining crypto was auto-converted to CAD. Log in and withdraw it now if you haven't, and act quickly if you used Uphold Vault since the 12-month key retention window after account closure is running.
Netcoins is the clear choice for Canadians. It is one of the first registered crypto exchanges in the country, backed by a publicly traded parent company with audited financials, and operating with BitGo cold storage and Fireblocks hot wallet security since 2014 without a hack. The flat 0.5% fee is easy to understand, the Netcoins Visa card earns 3% bitcoin cashback on everyday spending, and seven-days-a-week phone, chat and email support is rare at this price point. The coin selection is smaller than global exchanges and the spread on top of the 0.5% fee is worth watching on small trades, but for a beginner-friendly regulated Canadian platform it is hard to beat.
We recommend choosing Netcoins over Uphold 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 Netcoins doesn't meet your requirements, explore our monthly-updated list of the best exchanges for Canadians for more options.
