Security Compliance
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.
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.
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, publishes reserve information and undergoes regular audits, 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.
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.
Uphold keeps roughly 90% of assets in cold storage, enforces mandatory 2FA, publishes reserve data, and has a clean hack-free track record. 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. Neither platform is relevant for Canadians going forward.
Regulatory Compliance
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.
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.
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.
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.
Uphold exited Canada in June 2025 and Canadian accounts are no longer supported. 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Uphold's ticketing support is the only functional option — but only for recovering stranded CAD balances. Bitvo support now routes through Bitbuy/Robinhood.
Conclusion
From a Canadian perspective, there is nothing to choose between Uphold and Bitvo — neither is available, and for different reasons.
Uphold exited Canada on June 11, 2025. If you had an account, the withdrawal deadline was September 8, 2025, and any remaining crypto was converted to CAD. Log in and withdraw via Interac. If you used Uphold Vault, withdraw directly through the Vault Recovery Site while Uphold still holds its Vault key. Don't leave stranded balances — act soon.
Bitvo had a clean and orderly wind-down. 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.
For Canadians looking for well-regulated alternatives, we recommend Bitbuy (the natural Bitvo successor, now under Robinhood/CIRO oversight), Kraken (200+ coins, nationally registered restricted dealer since April 2025), or Crypto.com (400+ coins, restricted dealer since May 2025). See our full list of the best crypto exchanges in Canada for more options.
