Newton Review: We Spent $100 To Fully Test Their Crypto Trading Platform

Newton is a Canadian cryptocurrency exchange, and I decided to sign up to see if it’s worth using. As someone who has tested over 50 exchanges, I was curious to compare Newton to Bitbuy, which is widely regarded as the #1 crypto exchange in Canada. Here’s my detailed Newton review.

Quick Summary

Named after Sir Isaac Newton, Newton is Canada’s first “no-fee” cryptocurrency exchange. While most exchanges charge for crypto withdrawals and trades to cover mining costs and network fees, Newton eliminates those charges, making it a unique option for Canadian traders.

On Newton’s platform, you can deposit funds via Interac e-Transfer, providing a convenient and cost-effective way to start trading. The exchange offers an impressive selection of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Stellar Lumens, Bitcoin Cash, Dogecoin, USDC, Chainlink, Aave, Axie Infinity, Yearn.Finance, BAT, Pax Gold, Uniswap, Enjin Coin, QCAD, Polygon, Compound, SushiSwap, Curve, Synthetix, Dai, MakerDAO, Polkadot, and more. In 2023 alone, Newton added over 30 new coins, and they’ve continued expanding their offerings into 2025, solidifying their reputation as a versatile platform for Canadian users.

Features

Newton boasts a clean, beginner-friendly interface with a modern yet professional design, making it an attractive option for first-time investors. Interestingly, the platform also provides more advanced charting and order options than you’d typically find on a beginner-friendly exchange. However, clicking on a cryptocurrency’s name brings up a detailed screen that could feel a bit overwhelming for those new to crypto trading.

Newton Pro, currently in beta mode, aims to cater to experienced investors by offering advanced order types and sophisticated charting tools. Promising some of the lowest spreads and competitive maker and taker fees, this new platform has the potential to position Newton as a serious contender among Canada’s most cost-effective crypto exchanges once it officially launches.

Newton’s standout feature is its no-fee model. It’s uncommon to find a cryptocurrency exchange that doesn’t charge the full cost of network fees, but Newton goes a step further by covering these fees up to $5, making it a highly cost-effective choice.

While Newton is designed exclusively for Canadian residents, Canadians can still access and use the trading platform while abroad, adding a layer of convenience for travelers and expats.

Registration & Verification

What You Need to Open an Account with Newton Crypto:

• Must be 18+
• A government-issued ID
• Face captured

Registering on Newton is a simple process. First, enter your email address and a password. Confirm your email and then you’ll be asked to set up two-factor authentication. It’s good that Newton forces you to do this because it helps keep your account secure. Unfortunately, not enough people take advantage of 2FA. 

Next, you’ll need to fill out more personal details such as name and date of birth, then provide images of a government-issued ID. Next, you’ll need to move your head to have your face captured by their software. There’s no selfie needed. We were automatically verified and could start depositing funds to Newton right away. Usually, we would need to upload additional documents such as proof of address, so verifying on Newton was a breeze. 

Fees

Newton doesn’t charge for fiat deposits and withdrawals. There’s no commission or trading fees and they cover network fees up to $5 when making crypto withdrawals. When network fees are high you will have to pay the remainder. 

• 0% CAD funding
• 0% CAD withdrawal
• 0% crypto deposit/withdrawals (up to $5 network fee waived)
• No commissions or trading fees
• Medium to high spreads

How Does Newton Make Money?

Newton generates revenue through the spread—the difference between the buy and sell price of cryptocurrencies. Since Newton acts as a broker rather than a traditional exchange, users buy directly from and sell directly to Newton itself, rather than trading with other users. This difference in pricing, or the spread, is how Newton earns money.

Newton highlights that their platform offers spreads 2-3x lower than many other Canadian crypto exchanges. For comparison, Shakepay’s spread ranges from 1.2% to 2.5%, while Wealthsimple’s spread falls between 1.5% and 2%. This makes Newton a notably cheaper option among Canada’s “no fee” exchanges.

Spreads with Newton

A spread in trading refers to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay (bid price) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept (ask price). This difference serves as the exchange’s profit.

Newton identifies itself as a trading platform rather than a traditional exchange. When using Newton, you’re buying and selling directly with them rather than with other individuals. This allows Newton to set the buy and ask prices themselves, which is how they generate revenue.

To their credit, Newton is transparent about its spreads, which are regularly updated on their website. The spread varies depending on the liquidity and trading volume of a cryptocurrency—the higher the liquidity, the smaller the spread. For Bitcoin, the spread typically hovers around 0.90%. While this is significantly lower than CoinSmart’s 2.1%, it’s noticeably higher than Bitbuy’s 0.20%, making it a middle-ground option for Canadians.

How Much Does it Really Cost To Trade Crypto with Newton?

We purchased $100 worth of Bitcoin on Newton and received $99.10 worth, meaning we incurred a loss of $0.90, or 0.90%, due to the spread. Since Newton doesn’t charge any commission or trading fees, this amount reflects the spread alone.

When withdrawing our 0.00352 BTC to a private wallet, Newton covered most of the network fee—a rare and commendable gesture we haven’t encountered with other exchanges. As a result, we only lost $0.03 for the withdrawal, making the process both affordable and user-friendly.

Newton Liquidity

Newton claims traders can access “millions of dollars in trading volume”, but there are no specific details about its liquidity. If you’re looking to make a large trade, then you could reach out to their support team first, to check if there is sufficient liquidity. 

Currencies And Deposit Methods

Newton exclusively accepts fiat deposits in Canadian dollars. You can fund your account through Interac e-Transfer, pre-approved debit cards, wire transfer, or crypto. Additionally, Newton allows you to directly link your bank account, enabling faster deposits while minimizing the risk of fraud—a feature that enhances both convenience and security for Canadian users.

How Long Do Deposits Take on Newton?

Our deposit via Interac e-Transfer took about 35 minutes to arrive into our Newton account.

How Long Does it Take to Withdraw Coins with Newton?

Withdrawals depend on the network and to withdraw bitcoin to a private wallet takes only a few minutes. We received our bitcoin within five minutes.

Security and Safety

Is Newton safe for Canadians to use? Newton complies with FINTRAC regulations in Canada, which is reassuring. They also perform daily site backups, use offline third-party storage for digital assets, and allow customers to link their bank accounts directly, reducing the risk of fraud.

However, Newton does not disclose the percentage of digital assets held in cold storage—a level of transparency we’d like to see improved. For instance, Bitbuy openly shares this information, which sets a higher standard for security and transparency. For this reason, we’d recommend Bitbuy over Newton for users prioritizing these aspects.

Newton does enforce mandatory two-factor authentication for all accounts. Users must download the Authy app and enter a verification code each time they log in, ensuring that accounts remain secure and accessible only to their rightful owners.

Mobile and Desktop app

Newton’s app provides a beginner-friendly interface, making it accessible for new crypto traders. The iOS app holds a solid 4.4-star rating with 5.6k reviews, while the Android app has a lower 2.9-star rating from 900 reviews. Feedback from Android users highlights a few pain points, including delays in deposits appearing, slow customer service responses, and a cumbersome login process. These issues indicate that while the app is user-friendly in design, there’s room for improvement, particularly on the Android platform.

Design and Usability

Newton’s overall design is clean and modern, with a refreshing use of casual and friendly language. This relaxed tone sets it apart from many overly formal crypto platforms, making it feel approachable for new users. At first glance, Newton appears user-friendly and relatively straightforward.

However, once you log in, the platform feels a bit barebones, with limited features visible on the dashboard. While this simplicity may appeal to beginners, more experienced users might find it lacking in depth.

On Newton’s platform, you can choose to add or withdraw funds or click on any listed coin to access charting information.

The menu in the top-right corner allows you to navigate to support, adjust account settings, manage your two-factor authentication method, and connect your bank account for seamless transactions.

The app mirrors the desktop experience almost identically, with the main difference being a layout optimized for mobile use, ensuring functionality and convenience on smaller screens.

To make a deposit using the desktop platform, use the right-hand sidebar and select “add funds”.

Then, you can select Interac, wire transfer or crypto as your preferred deposit method.

If using Interac, select it, then you will see a box to enter the amount you wish to deposit.

To add funds, enter the desired amount, verify that your email address is correct, and click “Send Fund Request.”

You’ll then receive an email from Newton displaying your bank’s logo. Clicking on it will redirect you to your online banking, where the necessary details are automatically filled in. All you need to do is confirm the transfer to complete the process.

Once your funds are deposited, you’re ready to start trading. From your dashboard, select the cryptocurrency you want to buy, and you’ll be redirected to the trading platform to submit a limit order.

If you want to buy using a market order, you can select the arrows icon in the sidebar.

Enter the amount you want to buy and hit review trade. 

Customer support

Newton provides a knowledge base on its website to address common questions, which can be helpful for users seeking quick answers. However, clicking the “Get Help” button opens a virtual assistant chat box, which can be frustrating if you’re trying to contact Newton directly.

To submit a support ticket, you’ll need to navigate to the knowledge center and click the “Submit a Request” button at the top of the page. Their support team is available on both weekdays and weekends. When we tested their responsiveness, we were pleasantly surprised to receive a reply within just four hours—a commendable response time.

Newton Consumer Ratings, Reports & Reviews on Other Platforms

Newton has an impressive 4.1-star rating on Trustpilot and 59% excellent reviews. Users seem to applaud Newton’s fast and helpful customer support as well as their fast withdrawals.

When users leave a negative review, Newton is quick to respond, trying to resolve the issue.

Does Newton Offer Staking or Other Services?

Newton does not offer any notable features such as staking or Visa cards. It offers a referral program where you cand your friend can earn $25 each when they fund their account. 

Does Newton Have an OTC Desk?

Newton does not currently have an OTC Desk for larger trades for Canadians.

Does Newton Restrict or Freeze Accounts?

It is not common for Newton users to have their accounts frozen. However, Newton has the power to do so if they suspect suspicious activity on your account. 

Any crypto exchange has the ability to freeze your account if they suspect suspicious behaviour such as trading larger amounts, or more frequently, than usual. 

Crypto exchanges try to protect their customers, so if they suspect someone else is using your account, they may freeze it until you contact them to reactivate it. You may have to prove you were the one making the trades.

Can Newton Track where you Receive and Send Crypto?

Newton and any crypto exchange can track where you have received and sent crypto. Crypto trades are recorded on the blockchain for anyone to see. This information includes time and date, amount sent and both “to” and “from” wallet addresses.

Before trading on a crypto exchange you must provide identity documents. It is therefore not too difficult to link a wallet on the blockchain with someone’s identity. This is how the Canadian government was able to freeze accounts of the protestors during the “Freedom Convoy” earlier this year.

Latest Updates on Newton For Canadians

Recurring Buys & Koinly Partnership

Newton has rolled out a recurring buys feature, enabling users to automate crypto purchases at regular intervals. This is a great tool for those looking to dollar-cost average their investments without the hassle of manual trades.

Additionally, Newton has partnered with Koinly, a leading crypto tax platform, to make tax reporting easier for its users. This integration offers detailed transaction records, streamlining the process of accurate tax calculations and ensuring compliance.

These updates significantly enhance Newton’s user experience, providing valuable tools for both seasoned investors and those navigating crypto tax obligations.

Newton Alternatives

There are many Canadian crypto exchanges and if Newton isn’t for you we recommend Bitget, Bitbuy or NDAX.

CoinSmart’s trading fees are just 0.2% and they offer the ability to trade crypto to crypto pairs without having to sell to Bitcoin or Ethereum first. 

NDAX also has low trading fees, staking, and a wide range of cryptocurrencies. 

	Newton	BitBuy	NDAX
Trading fees	0 (high spread)	0%-0.2%	0.2%
Cryptocurrencies	70+	40+	35+
Additional features	None	OTC Desk, Invoicing in crypto	Staking, OTC Desk
Customer Support	Great	Amazing	Poor
Security	Questionable	Top notch	Good

Common Crypto Exchange Scams Related to Newton

Leaving your digital assets on a crypto exchange exposes them to potential theft. Even well-known platforms like Binance and Crypto.com have been targeted by hackers. To protect your assets, it’s best to move your crypto to a private wallet. For guidance on the best wallets to use, check out our detailed guide.

Crypto exchange customers are also at risk of falling for phishing scams. These fraudulent emails often mimic legitimate messages from exchanges, making it difficult to distinguish the fake from the real. Scammers may claim there’s an issue with your account and provide a link to a fake website or a download that infects your computer with malware, stealing your private keys and exchange passwords.

Always verify the official website URL and email addresses of the exchange before logging in, and avoid clicking links from unrecognized sources.

Fake social media accounts are another common scam. Newton, for example, has several impersonators on platforms like Twitter and Facebook. Scammers may promote fake airdrops, encouraging you to connect your wallet to claim free coins, only to steal your crypto. Additionally, fake support accounts may request sensitive information under the guise of resolving an issue, potentially gaining access to your exchange account.

To stay safe, always verify the official social media accounts of the exchange you’re using. Newton’s verified accounts, for example, are marked with a blue checkmark, ensuring you’re interacting with the legitimate team.

 

A fake Newton account does not have the blue check as seen below. 

Conclusion

Newton is a refreshing and modern cryptocurrency exchange tailored for Canadians. Its no-fee structure and tight spreads immediately stand out, offering a cost-effective way to trade crypto. Personally, I find the sleek design of both the platform and mobile app a joy to use, making trading accessible and efficient. The automatic verification process is impressively smooth, and Newton’s commitment to security gives users peace of mind.

While the Android app has let some users down, I’ve found the iOS app and desktop platform simple and intuitive. With Newton Pro on the horizon, bringing advanced features for experienced traders, the platform is evolving to meet the needs of all users. What impressed me most was the prompt and helpful customer support—they responded to my queries in just a few hours, which is rare in the crypto space.

For beginners looking to buy cryptocurrency in Canada, Newton is a standout choice. And as a bonus, you can get $25 free when you trade over $100 CAD by signing up with our link. It’s a platform I highly recommend for anyone stepping into the world of crypto trading in Canada.

If are looking for Newton alternatives, check out BitBuy review.

You can also check our video: