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Newton vs. Bitvo: What Works Better For Canadians in 2026

Oleg Galeev

Last updated July 20, 2026

Note: Bitvo no longer exists. In November 2023, its client accounts were acquired by Bitbuy and migrated into the WonderFi ecosystem, and the Bitvo platform was wound down. Bitbuy itself was then acquired by Robinhood, which completed its C$250M acquisition of WonderFi on June 1, 2026. Former Bitvo customers with account questions should contact Bitbuy/Robinhood support. Newton is the only active platform here.

Newton and Bitvo are two popular cryptocurrency exchanges that once served Canadians. Newton is a Toronto-based CSA Restricted Dealer offering 70+ coins with zero commissions and free Interac funding. Bitvo was a Calgary-based exchange known for its same-day guarantee and 24/7 phone support before its orderly wind-down in November 2023.

Description

Newton is a Toronto-based exchange, founded 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's one of the most beginner-friendly platforms in the country, registered with securities regulators in every province.

Bitvo was a Calgary-based cryptocurrency exchange, founded in 2018, known for its Same Day Guarantee, zero trading fees and 24/7 phone support. Bitvo no longer exists: in November 2023, its client accounts were acquired by Bitbuy and migrated into the WonderFi ecosystem, and the Bitvo platform was wound down. It's also remembered as the exchange FTX almost bought, a deal terminated days after FTX's collapse in November 2022, narrowly sparing Bitvo's customers.

Coins

70+ including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Dogecoin, Cardano, USDC, Chainlink and Polkadot. Note: USDT, BNB and TRON are not available.

No longer applicable. Before closing, Bitvo offered a small selection including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Litecoin, Cardano and QCAD, Canada's first mass-market stablecoin.

Fees

  • 0% commissions, 0% CAD funding and withdrawal fees via Interac e-Transfer
  • Spreads are the real cost, tiered by asset: roughly 1.0-1.15% on BTC, ETH and USDC, 1.25-1.45% on mid-tier coins, and 1.5-1.6% on the rest, with rates as low as 0.5% for eligible clients
  • Up to $5 in network fees covered on your first crypto withdrawal each day
  • $35 fee on wire deposits between $5,000 and $10,000; larger wires are free

No longer applicable. Historically: free deposits, zero trading fees (revenue came from the spread), and a 1% withdrawal fee with a $15 minimum.

Pros

  • No commissions or funding fees, with everything in the spread
  • Registered with the CSA, FINTRAC and regulators in every province and territory
    80% of client assets in insured Coinbase cold storage, 20% in Fireblocks-secured hot wallets
  • Staking available on supported coins like ETH and SOL
  • Market and limit orders
  • T5-friendly statement exports for tax season
  • Clean, genuinely beginner-friendly interface
  • $25 referral bonus

None currently, since the platform is closed. In its day: no trading fees, the Same Day Guarantee, the Bitvo Cash Card, and rare 24/7 phone support.

Cons

  • Spreads have widened over the years and undercut the "cheapest in Canada" claim for active traders
  • No live chat or phone support, tickets only
  • Weak Trustpilot rating (around 2.6), largely over support speed and verification friction
  • No USDT, and no advanced trading tools, margin or derivatives
  • Platform wound down in November 2023 with client accounts sold to Bitbuy
  • High spreads masked the "zero fee" pitch
  • Small coin selection even at its peak

Account Limits

  • Free Interac e-Transfer deposits and withdrawals (daily caps apply, confirm current figures in-app)
  • Wire transfers supported for large amounts, historically up to $1M

No longer applicable.

Methods to buy

  • Interac e-Transfer
  • Wire transfer
  • Crypto deposits

There is no way to buy crypto through Bitvo. Former clients were migrated to Bitbuy, which is now part of Robinhood's Canadian operation following the WonderFi acquisition. If a site claiming to be Bitvo accepts deposits today, treat it as an impostor. For current options, see our best crypto exchanges in Canada.

Security

  • 80% of assets in cold storage with Coinbase Custody, covered by insurance
  • Hot wallets secured by Fireblocks
  • Mandatory 2FA, device registration and login monitoring
  • Dedicated security team, daily offsite backups stored on Canadian servers, and monthly internal plus annual external penetration testing

Bitvo's exit was orderly and its record clean. It was a CSA-registered restricted dealer that operated on a full reserve basis, meaning it never lent customer funds, and held client assets with third-party custodians BitGo, with over 80% in cold storage. No customer funds were lost in the wind-down, and its refusal to close the FTX deal after the collapse protected its clients from being dragged into the largest fraud in crypto history.

Mobile and Desktop Trading

Newton's iOS app has a rating of 4.6 stars on the App Store. Bitvo's website and apps are no longer operational.

Newton

Newton's interface remains one of the cleanest in Canadian crypto: modern, casual in tone, and simple enough that a first-time buyer can fund via Interac and place a trade within minutes. Market and limit orders are built in, and the mobile apps mirror the web platform. Advanced traders will outgrow it, which is by design.

Bitvo

Bitvo's website and apps are no longer operational. The brand's social channels have gone quiet, and account access questions now route through Bitbuy/Robinhood.

Newton

Newton's interface remains one of the cleanest in Canadian crypto: modern, casual in tone, and simple enough that a first-time buyer can fund via Interac and place a trade within minutes. Market and limit orders are built in, and the mobile apps mirror the web platform. Advanced traders will outgrow it, which is by design.

Newton desktop interface

Newton desktop interface

Market order with Newton

Market order with Newton

Newton mobile app #1 (welcome screenshot)

Newton app interface

Newton mobile app #2 (cryptocurrencies available)

Newton app interface while trading

Bitvo

Bitvo's website and apps are no longer operational. The brand's social channels have gone quiet, and account access questions now route through Bitbuy.

Bitvo desktop app main screen

Bitvo desktop app main screen

Bitvo desktop (trading view)

Bitvo desktop (trading view)

Bitvo mobile app

Bitvo mobile app

Bitvo app main screen

Bitvo app (main screen)

Security Compliance

Newton holds 80% of client assets offline in custodial cold storage with Coinbase and the remaining 20% in hot wallets secured by Fireblocks, with crypto assets covered by an insurance policy. Customer data is stored on Canadian servers with daily offsite backups, and the platform is tested internally every month and externally every year for vulnerabilities. Mandatory two-factor authentication and direct bank integration round out fraud protection.

Bitvo's exit was orderly and its record clean. It was a CSA-registered restricted dealer that operated on a full reserve basis, meaning it never lent customer funds, and held client assets with third-party custodians BitGo, with over 80% in cold storage. No customer funds were lost in the wind-down, and its refusal to close the FTX deal after the collapse protected its clients from being dragged into the largest fraud in crypto history.

Newton holds 80% of client assets offline in custodial cold storage with Coinbase and the remaining 20% in hot wallets secured by Fireblocks, with crypto assets covered by an insurance policy. Customer data is stored on Canadian servers with daily offsite backups, and the platform is tested internally every month and externally every year for vulnerabilities. Mandatory two-factor authentication and direct bank integration round out fraud protection.

Bitvo's exit was orderly and its record clean. It was a CSA-registered restricted dealer that operated on a full reserve basis, meaning it never lent customer funds, and held client assets with BitGo, with over 80% in cold storage. No customer funds were lost in the wind-down, and its refusal to close the FTX deal after the collapse protected its clients from being dragged into the largest fraud in crypto history.

Newton holds 80% of client crypto in Coinbase cold storage with insurance, 20% in Fireblocks-secured hot wallets, with mandatory 2FA, Canadian server backups and regular penetration testing. Bitvo had a clean security and compliance record during its operational life, with BitGo cold storage custody and an orderly wind-down with no customer fund losses. Only Newton is relevant for Canadian users going forward.

Regulatory Compliance

Newton is regulated by the Canadian Securities Administrators, FINTRAC, and securities regulators in every province and territory, a major step up from its early days as a FINTRAC-only MSB. It was among the first Canadian exchanges to pursue securities registration, and its affiliation with DV Trading adds institutional market-making depth behind its pricing.

Bitvo was registered with FINTRAC and as a restricted dealer with Canadian securities regulators, and that registration shaped its ending: rather than collapsing, its client accounts were transferred to another registered platform under regulatory oversight. Its successor chain: Bitvo clients to Bitbuy (November 2023), Bitbuy's parent WonderFi to Robinhood (2025). Former Bitvo customers with account questions should contact Bitbuy support.

Newton is regulated by the Canadian Securities Administrators, FINTRAC, and securities regulators in every province and territory, a major step up from its early days as a FINTRAC-only MSB. It was among the first Canadian exchanges to pursue securities registration, and its affiliation with DV Trading adds institutional market-making depth behind its pricing.

Bitvo was registered with FINTRAC and as a restricted dealer with Canadian securities regulators, and that registration shaped its ending: rather than collapsing, its client accounts were transferred to another registered platform under regulatory oversight. Its successor chain: Bitvo clients to Bitbuy (November 2023), Bitbuy's parent WonderFi to Robinhood (June 2026, C$250M acquisition). Former Bitvo customers with account questions should contact Bitbuy/Robinhood support.

Newton is registered with FINTRAC and operates as a CSA Restricted Dealer in every Canadian province and territory. Bitvo was registered with FINTRAC and the CSA, enabling an orderly wind-down with no customer funds lost; its successor chain ends with Bitbuy/Robinhood.

Customer support

Newton has FAQs and a knowledge centre on its website, with support handled through online tickets. There's no phone or live chat, and its middling Trustpilot score mostly reflects slow support and ID-verification frustrations rather than fund-safety issues. For simple buy-and-hold users the support model is adequate; anyone who values a human on demand should look at NDAX or Netcoins instead.

There is no Bitvo support team anymore. Former customers should reach out to Bitbuy, which assumed servicing of migrated accounts. If anyone contacts you offering to recover Bitvo funds for a fee, treat it as a recovery scam.

Newton has FAQs and a knowledge centre on its website, with support handled through online tickets. There's no phone or live chat, and its middling Trustpilot score mostly reflects slow support and ID-verification frustrations rather than fund-safety issues. For simple buy-and-hold users the support model is adequate; anyone who values a human on demand should look at NDAX or Netcoins instead.

There is no Bitvo support team anymore. Former customers should reach out to Bitbuy/Robinhood, which assumed servicing of migrated accounts. If anyone contacts you offering to recover Bitvo funds for a fee, treat it as a recovery scam.

Newton's ticket-based support is the only relevant option for Canadians. Bitvo support now routes through Bitbuy/Robinhood.

Conclusion

Bitvo no longer exists. Its client accounts were migrated to Bitbuy in November 2023, and Bitbuy itself was acquired by Robinhood in June 2026. If you were a Bitvo customer, your account is now part of the Robinhood/WonderFi group — contact Bitbuy/Robinhood support for any outstanding questions.

Newton is the clear choice for Canadians. As a CSA Restricted Dealer in every province with FINTRAC registration, it offers 70+ coins, zero commissions, free Interac deposits, Coinbase cold storage with insurance, and a genuinely beginner-friendly interface. The honest caveats are widening spreads that make it less competitive for active traders, and ticket-only support with no phone or live chat. For lower fees on volume, NDAX at 0.2% flat is worth comparing; for phone support, Netcoins has it seven days a week.

We recommend choosing Newton over Bitvo 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 Newton doesn't meet your requirements, we encourage you to explore our monthly-updated list of the best exchanges for Canadians to trade crypto.

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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