There is no separate “crypto age” that I could find in Canadian law, so the age that matters in practice is your province’s age of majority and each platform’s own terms. According to Justice Canada, the age of majority is 18 in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan, and 19 in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut and the Yukon. Registered Canadian exchanges verify your identity and age before opening an account, so under-age buying on them does not work.
- 18 or older: most provinces, so you can open an account on a registered exchange once you pass identity checks
- 19 in seven provinces and territories: check the platform’s terms for your province
- Under age: the legitimate route is a parent or guardian buying and holding it, with the tax rules in mind
| Age Of Majority | Provinces And Territories |
|---|---|
| 18 | Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan |
| 19 | British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Yukon |
Source: Justice Canada. British Columbia’s own Age of Majority Act sets 19. Platform terms can be stricter than the law, so read the sign-up page for your exchange.
Is There A Legal Age To Buy Bitcoin In Canada?
I found no Canadian law that states how old you must be to invest in cryptocurrency. However, many crypto exchanges require their customers to be at least 18 years old, and the age of majority in your province governs whether you can sign a binding contract with one. But if there’s no crypto-specific rule, why do they prevent teenagers from buying?
The OCryptoCanada team made a survey via Survey Monkey and asked almost 1000 Canadians under 18 if they would like to invest in crypto. An impressive 92% said they would like to but some factors prevented them.
Of the 92% who said they would like to buy crypto, 98% of them said that they haven’t yet because:
- 13% do not know how to buy crypto in Canada
- 26% do not have enough knowledge and want to educate themselves more
- 14% do not have enough funds to invest in crypto
- 47% are ready to buy their first crypto assets but they can’t due to legal age limits on popular crypto exchanges in Canada. Some of them end up on offshore platforms that do not ask for KYC, which is the riskiest outcome of all.
Many Canadians under the age of 18 email us asking how to buy cryptocurrency in Canada. Just 2% of respondents in our survey said they own crypto despite the age restrictions. This information is for educational purposes only.
When it’s a bull market, bitcoin and other crypto are all over social media, so it’s inevitable that young people want to get involved. After all, young people would like the chance to start investing to build a financially secure future.
An argument can be made, however, that many of the cryptocurrencies that people under 18 would like to purchase are “meme coins” like SHIB because these are often hyped up by influencers on popular social media networks. Unfortunately, many people lose money on these types of coins because a lot of them are not legitimate projects and do not have any utility. They are “pump and dumps” and sometimes outright scams. Therefore, protecting those under 18 by not allowing them to purchase crypto can be seen as a good thing.
On the other hand, how much money do teenagers have to lose? Perhaps it’s a good financial lesson to teach people under 18 that investing is risky and they need to research as much as possible. Additionally, many people under 18 simply wish to invest in major crypto projects such as Ethereum or bitcoin, which although still risky, are seen by many in the traditional financial world as legitimate investments. Not every teenager wants to blow their money on dog coins.
Even though there is no defined crypto-specific law about how old someone must be to invest in crypto, many legit Canadian crypto exchanges set the restriction at 18 years old or the age of majority. They simply don’t wish to risk getting in trouble. Crypto exchanges could come under fire should a person under 18 lose a lot of money.
What Can I Do If I Am Under 18 In Canada?
We certainly don’t encourage anybody under 18 to purchase crypto. It’s incredibly risky. I used to list a few ways around the age rules here. I have removed the ones that send a teenager to unregistered platforms or crypto ATMs, because those are exactly where people lose money. The honest options are these.
1. Ask a parent or guardian to buy it and hold it. The adult buys crypto on a registered exchange in their own name and can keep it on their own private crypto wallet such as a Ledger hardware wallet. Remember that giving crypto to someone is a disposition for the giver under CRA rules, which means tax can apply to any gain between what it cost and its value on the day it is gifted. If an adult gifts it right away at the time of purchase, there won’t be much (if any) capital gain. Talk to an accountant before you do it.
2. Wait, and learn first. Many of the people in our survey said they wanted to educate themselves more. Use the time to learn how crypto scams work, how wallets work and how fees work, so your first purchase at 18 or 19 is a good one.
3. Do not use platforms that skip identity checks. If a platform asks for no ID, it is not registered in Canada, and no Canadian investor protection applies. An exchange that is not registered here is a red flag, not a loophole.
Should Underage Canadians Be Able To Buy Cryptocurrency?
It’s definitely a grey area. Underage people should be protected from crypto scams and making bad financial choices. Crypto exchanges have a responsibility to protect their customers but they also don’t want to get into legal trouble by allowing children to buy something as risky as crypto.
Some exchanges used to allow people as young as 13 to buy crypto with parental consent, but this is not the case any longer. Perhaps there have been one too many rug pulls or forgeries of consent. It is much easier for a crypto exchange to draw a hard line and restrict buying to adults.
Perhaps the best way to allow underage people to invest in crypto is to ask their parents to purchase crypto for them and give it to them when they’re old enough. This would be a good compromise as it would allow for a healthy discussion about investing. It would also encourage the underage person to HODL, which is often seen as the best way to make profit.
It is certainly a controversial topic, but from our survey it is clear that young people are interested in buying cryptocurrency and learning more about it.
Which Registered Exchanges Can I Use Once I Am Old Enough?
| Platform | Score | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Coinbase | 9.8/10 | CSA-registered Restricted Dealer |
| Kraken | 9.2/10 | CSA-registered Restricted Dealer |
| Wealthsimple Crypto | 8.4/10 | CSA-registered |
What Changed For New Canadian Crypto Buyers In October 2026?
- The CSA listed an amended decision for Wealthsimple, one of the registered platforms with simple CAD funding.
- The CSA issued an amended decision for Coinbase Canada, a Restricted Dealer in all provinces and territories.
- Robinhood closed its acquisition of WonderFi. Coinsquare no longer takes new sign-ups.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Old Do You Have To Be To Buy Bitcoin In Canada?
I found no crypto-specific age in Canadian law. In practice you need to be an adult under your province's age of majority, 18 in most provinces and 19 in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and the territories, and pass the exchange's identity checks.
Can A 16 Year Old Buy Bitcoin In Canada?
Not on a registered Canadian exchange. A parent or guardian can buy and hold crypto in their own name. Do not use platforms that skip ID checks.
What Is The Age Of Majority In Canada?
Justice Canada lists 18 for Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan, and 19 for British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut and the Yukon.
Can A Parent Buy Bitcoin For A Minor In Canada?
Yes, an adult can buy it in their own name and hold it. Giving crypto to someone else is a disposition under CRA rules, so a gain between cost and value on the day can be taxable. Ask an accountant first.
Why Do Crypto Exchanges Require You To Be 18?
Exchanges want valid contracts and want to avoid liability if a minor loses money. Some used to allow 13 with parental consent but stopped. Registered platforms also run KYC checks.
Is It Safe To Use An Exchange Without ID Verification?
No. A platform with no identity check is not registered in Canada, so no Canadian investor protection applies. It is where many young buyers end up losing money.