Bitbuy Crypto Exchange Review: Is It the Best Choice for Canadian Investors in 2025?

If you're a Canadian looking to buy crypto without jumping through hoops, Bitbuy might be the first name you see. It’s not the biggest exchange out there, but it’s one of the few that plays by Canada’s rules. And in 2025, that matters more than ever.

Why Bitbuy Exists

After Binance and Bybit left Canada in 2023, the local crypto scene got a lot quieter. Suddenly, Canadians had fewer safe, legal places to trade. Bitbuy didn’t just survive - it became one of only eight exchanges registered with the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA). That means it’s officially monitored by regulators, not just left to its own devices like offshore platforms.

That registration isn’t just a badge. It means Bitbuy follows strict rules on how it holds your money, verifies your identity, and reports activity. If something goes wrong, you have legal recourse. That’s rare in crypto.

What You Can Trade

Bitbuy supports 33 cryptocurrencies as of early 2025. That includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Cardano, and a few others like Solana and Polkadot. Sounds decent? It is - if you’re just starting out.

But if you’re chasing the latest altcoins or niche tokens, you’ll hit a wall. Coinbase offers over 240. Kraken has even more. Bitbuy’s selection is focused on the big names - the ones most Canadians actually want to buy. If you’re not into meme coins or obscure DeFi tokens, this won’t bother you.

One big downside: many coins are only available on the Express Trade platform. That’s the simplified version. If you want to trade ADA or DOT with advanced orders, you’re stuck. You can’t even set a limit order for them on Pro Trade. That’s a weird limitation for an exchange that claims to serve advanced users.

Two Platforms, One Goal

Bitbuy runs two interfaces: Express Trade and Pro Trade.

Express Trade is for people who just want to buy Bitcoin or Ethereum and call it a day. You pick the coin, enter the amount in Canadian dollars, and click buy. No charts, no order book, no confusion. It’s like using a vending machine for crypto. Perfect for beginners, parents, or anyone who doesn’t want to think about spreads or slippage.

Pro Trade is where things get real. It has candlestick charts, limit orders, stop-losses, trailing stops, and a full order book. You can see exactly who’s buying and selling. It’s not as powerful as Kraken or Binance’s Pro platforms, but it’s more than enough for most retail traders. It even has a REST API for coders - though the docs are thin, and support is limited.

The real win? You can switch between both platforms with one account. No need to re-verify or link two separate logins. That’s a clean design choice.

Fees: Not the Cheapest, But Transparent

Bitbuy’s fee structure is where things get messy.

On Express Trade, you pay up to 1.99% per trade. That’s way better than Coinbase’s 3.99% for simple buys. But on Pro Trade, it drops to 0.20% per trade for makers and 0.30% for takers. That’s competitive - but only if you’re trading frequently.

Here’s the catch: if you use Interac e-Transfer to deposit, it’s free. But if you want to withdraw crypto, you pay network fees. And if you want to cash out to your bank, there’s a $50 minimum. That’s normal. But some users report being charged extra on Interac withdrawals - like $26 mysteriously vanishing from a $100 transfer. Bitbuy says it’s not their fee, but the bank’s. Still, it’s confusing and frustrating.

Staking is another story. Bitbuy lets you earn up to 11.57% APY on nine coins, including ETH, SOL, and DOT. Rewards auto-compound. No lockups. Sounds great, right? But the total fee is 39%. Bitbuy takes 30%, BitGo (their custodian) takes 9%. That’s steep. You’re giving up almost half your earnings just to hold. Compare that to Kraken’s 5-10% staking fees - it’s a dealbreaker for serious stakers.

Security: The One Thing They Nail

Bitbuy has never been hacked. Not once. Since 2013.

That’s unheard of in crypto. Even Coinbase, Kraken, and Binance have had breaches. Bitbuy’s security setup is built like a vault. Your coins are stored in cold storage across multiple cloud providers. Two-factor authentication is mandatory. All funds are insured by BitGo - a top-tier custodian used by institutions. They publish proof-of-solvency reports regularly. And they’ve passed independent audits.

That’s why so many Canadians trust Bitbuy. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t have a million coins or viral memes. But it keeps your money safe. That’s worth a lot when the rest of the industry feels like a wild west.

Customer Service: Hit or Miss

This is where Bitbuy falls apart.

On their official site, reviews are glowing. People call it the “best app in Canada.” But on Trustpilot, things are ugly. Out of 422 reviews, many are rage-filled. One user wrote: “This Company is a Complete Scam.” Another said they couldn’t send crypto out - they had to cash out and lost money.

Common complaints:

• Withdrawals take 3-5 days, even for small amounts
• Deposits via Interac have a mandatory 3-day hold before you can trade
• Support replies are slow or robotic
• Some users say their support tickets got deleted after complaining

But then there are the counter-reviews. One person said their issue was solved in 20 minutes by a real human who stayed on the line until it was fixed. So what’s going on?

It seems to depend on your account size and how you contact them. If you’re a small investor with a $50 withdrawal, you’re likely to get stuck in automated limbo. If you’re trading larger amounts or have a verified business account, you might get priority. That’s not fair. And it’s not transparent.

Who Is Bitbuy Really For?

Bitbuy isn’t for everyone. But it’s perfect for specific people:

• Canadians who want safety over variety - If you care more about regulation than having 200 coins, this is your exchange.
• Beginners - The Express Trade platform is the easiest way to buy crypto in Canada without a degree in finance.
• People who hate currency conversion - No USD, no EUR. Just CAD in, CAD out. No hidden FX fees.
• Long-term holders - If you’re buying Bitcoin and holding for 5 years, the high staking fees won’t matter. Security does.

It’s not for:

• Day traders - Limited order types, slow support, and no advanced charting tools make this a bad fit.
• Altcoin hunters - If you’re chasing Shiba Inu, Pepe, or new memecoins, you’ll be frustrated.
• People who need fast withdrawals - That 3-day hold on deposits and slow cashouts will drive you nuts.

The Bottom Line

Bitbuy isn’t the cheapest. It’s not the most feature-rich. And its customer service is inconsistent.

But in Canada, where regulators are cracking down and offshore exchanges are vanishing, Bitbuy offers something rare: trust. It’s built for Canadian rules, Canadian dollars, and Canadian users. It’s not perfect - but it’s one of the few exchanges you can actually sleep on.

If you want to buy Bitcoin safely, hold Ethereum long-term, and avoid the chaos of global exchanges - Bitbuy is still the best option in Canada. Just don’t expect lightning-fast support or a thousand coins. You’re paying for peace of mind, not speed or selection.

What’s Next for Bitbuy?

Owned by WonderFi Technologies (TSX: WNDR), Bitbuy has backing from a public company. That means it’s not going anywhere soon. Analysts expect them to slowly add more coins - maybe 5-10 more in 2025 - to compete with Coinbase.

But they won’t become Kraken. They won’t chase global users. Their future is clear: be Canada’s most trusted crypto exchange. And right now, that’s exactly what they are.