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.
Coinbase keeps around 98% of customer crypto in cold storage with multi-signature wallets, making theft extremely difficult even if systems are compromised, and backs custodied assets with substantial crime insurance. It undergoes SOC 1 and SOC 2 audits and, as a public company, publishes quarterly audited financials, a level of transparency almost no competitor matches. Note that Coinbase also offers the separate, non-custodial Coinbase Wallet app for self-custody, which is distinct from holding coins on the exchange.
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.
Coinbase keeps around 98% of customer crypto in cold storage with multi-signature wallets, making theft extremely difficult even if systems are compromised, and backs custodied assets with substantial crime insurance covering hundreds of millions. It undergoes SOC 1 and SOC 2 Type II audits and, as a public company, publishes quarterly audited financials — a level of transparency almost no crypto exchange competitor matches. Coinbase has never suffered a major exchange-level hack. Note that Coinbase also offers the separate, non-custodial Coinbase Wallet app for self-custody, which is distinct from holding coins on the exchange.
Both Newton and Coinbase employ rigorous security frameworks — cold storage for the majority of assets, two-factor authentication, and regular third-party audits. Coinbase's 98% cold storage, SOC 2 certification and public-company audit trail give it a formal transparency edge. Newton's 80% Coinbase cold storage and Fireblocks hot wallet protection are solid; the key difference is Coinbase's superior audit credentials.
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.
Coinbase went from unregistered convenience to the most credentialed international platform in Canada: it signed an Enhanced Pre-Registration Undertaking in March 2023, formally launched with Interac rails in August 2023, and became a CSA-registered Restricted Dealer in April 2024, the first international exchange to achieve this. It's registered with FINTRAC as an MSB and authorized in Quebec by the AMF. Canadians can use the platform fully, with the standard restricted dealer caveats: certain altcoin purchase limits and no CIPF coverage on crypto.
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.
Coinbase went from unregistered to the most credentialed international platform in Canada: it signed an Enhanced Pre-Registration Undertaking with the CSA in March 2023, formally launched with free Interac rails in August 2023, and became a CSA-registered Restricted Dealer in April 2024 — the first international exchange to achieve this. It's registered with FINTRAC as an MSB and authorized in Quebec by the AMF. Canadians can use the full platform, with the standard restricted dealer caveats: certain altcoin purchase limits and no CIPF coverage on crypto. Coinbase is also working toward full CIRO investment dealer registration.
Both Newton and Coinbase are registered with FINTRAC and operate as CSA Restricted Dealers authorized to serve Canadians in every province and territory. Both are working toward full CIRO investment dealer registration.
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.
Coinbase offers 24/7 support with live chat, a comprehensive help centre and an extensive learning hub. Support quality remains its weak spot: reaching a human who understands Canadian banking specifics can take patience, and our own test took four days to get a real person. For routine issues the automated help works fine, but complex account problems can drag.
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.
Coinbase offers 24/7 support with live chat, a comprehensive help centre and an extensive learning hub. Support quality remains its weak spot: reaching a human who understands Canadian banking specifics can take patience, and our own test took four days to get a real person. For routine issues the automated help works fine, but complex account problems can drag. The Coinbase learn centre is genuinely excellent for beginners.
Coinbase's 24/7 live chat availability gives it a clear edge over Newton's ticket-only model for users who need real-time help. Newton's support is more consistent in tone once you do get a response. Neither offers phone support in Canada.
Conclusion
Both Newton and Coinbase are strong, well-regulated options for Canadians, and the right choice depends on what you need.
Newton is the stronger pick for Canadians who want a locally focused platform with no commissions, free Interac deposits and withdrawals, and a genuinely clean beginner interface. The Koinly integration simplifies tax reporting at year end. Newton also integrates recurring buys, staking on ETH and SOL, and limit orders. The widening spreads and ticket-only support are genuine weaknesses — active traders will find better value at NDAX's flat 0.2% fee, and users who need real-time support will prefer NDAX or Netcoins.
Coinbase is the stronger pick for Canadians who want more coins (200+), the world's most recognized exchange brand, the polished simplicity of the Coinbase app, and the transparency of a publicly traded S&P 500 company with audited financials. Advanced Trade's fees are competitive for volume traders, and Coinbase One adds zero-fee trading and boosted staking rewards for regular buyers. The main caveats are high simple-interface fees (always use Advanced Trade), inconsistent support, and the Interac name-matching pitfall that trips up some new users.
We recommend choosing Newton for Canadians who want a locally focused beginner platform with no commissions, and Coinbase for those who want more coins, a recognized global brand and the S&P 500 transparency. By using our referral links, you support us in conducting comprehensive independent analyses of crypto trading options for Canadians.
If you find that neither Newton nor Coinbase meets your requirements, we encourage you to explore our monthly-updated list of the best exchanges for Canadians.
