Founded in 2014, Coinsquare is a pioneer Canadian digital asset platform known for fully regulated CIRO/FINTRAC compliance, free Interac e-Transfer CAD deposits/withdrawals, and institutional-grade cold storage custody.
| Fee Type | Rate |
|---|---|
| Spot Trading (Maker) | Quick Trade Spread ~1.2% / Pro: 0.15% maker / 0.25% taker |
| Spot Trading (Taker) | Quick Trade Spread ~1.2% / Pro: 0.15% maker / 0.25% taker |
| Futures (Maker) | Not Available (Regulatory restricted in Canada) |
| Futures (Taker) | Not Available (Regulatory restricted in Canada) |
| Withdrawal Fee | Varies by asset |
| Deposit Fee | Free (crypto) |
App Store July 2026
Interac e-Transfers are lightning fast. I had CAD moved from RBC into my Coinsquare balance in under 5 minutes and bought Bitcoin with zero deposit friction.
Trustpilot May 2026
Knowing Coinsquare is CIRO registered gives me peace of mind after all the offshore exchange collapses. It doesn't have 500 altcoins, but it's bulletproof for main assets.
Google Play March 2026
The app is great for simple buys, but don't use Quick Trade for large orders. Switch to the Pro order book view or the 1.2% spread will eat into your profits fast.
Reddit December 2025
Tried to withdraw my SOL to an external wallet and hit a 48-hour security hold because I changed my 2FA. Good for anti-theft, but annoying when you want fast custody.
App Store September 2025
Staking Ethereum directly through a regulated Canadian platform makes tax season and CAD payouts way easier than dealing with unverified DeFi protocols.
Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Toronto, Coinsquare is one of Canada's oldest and most prominent cryptocurrency platforms. Regulated under the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) and registered as an Investment Dealer and Marketplace, Coinsquare stands out as a compliant hub for Canadian retail and institutional investors. Holding an overall score of 7.42 out of 10, the exchange prioritizes local compliance, 1:1 asset backing with insured custodians, and native Canadian Dollar (CAD) fiat rails.
Coinsquare earns a fee score of 7.1 out of 10. While CAD deposits and withdrawals via Interac e-Transfer and EFT are completely free, trading fees depend on the interface used. On Quick Trade (the default mobile interface), spread markup is embedded directly into quotes, ranging from 1.0% to 1.5%. Active traders utilizing the Trade Pro order book pay competitive tiered fees starting at 0.15% maker / 0.25% taker for low volume, scaling down significantly for high-volume accounts. Crypto withdrawal fees vary based on live blockchain network gas conditions.
With a security rating of 9.1 out of 10, Coinsquare is a gold standard for regulatory compliance in North America. Beyond FINTRAC MSB registration, Coinsquare achieved full CIRO dealer status and CIPF (Canadian Investor Protection Fund) membership coverage for fiat balances. The platform enforces 95%+ offline cold storage with licensed custodians like Coinbase Custody, mandatory 2FA, and robust anti-fraud withdrawal monitoring.
Coinsquare scores 7.3 out of 10 for market products, offering over 60+ vetted cryptocurrencies and 4,000+ trading pairs. Supported assets include major coins (BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP) as well as popular altcoins and staking-eligible tokens (ADA, NEAR, DOT, ATOM). Beyond spot trading and automated recurring buys, Coinsquare features native CAD crypto staking, Wealth desk services for high-net-worth OTC execution ($25k+ CAD), and institutional custody integration.
Coinsquare is ideally designed for Canadian residents who prioritize regulatory safety, Canadian banking integration, and straightforward tax reporting. With an ease-of-use rating of 8.2 out of 10 and mobile app ratings averaging 4.6 out of 5 stars, it is an accessible choice for beginners buying crypto with e-Transfers, as well as institutional clients seeking regulated OTC execution.
The main drawbacks of Coinsquare include higher effective fees on simple Quick Trades, a smaller selection of altcoins compared to offshore unregulated giants like Binance or Bybit, and strict Canadian regulatory limits on high-risk instruments (meaning no high-leverage perpetual futures or speculative derivatives). Additionally, automated security fraud holds can occasionally delay large CAD or crypto withdrawals.
Coinsquare enforces automated anti-fraud security windows whenever accounts experience password resets, initial CAD deposits from new bank accounts, or unusually large digital asset withdrawal requests. This safety measure prevents unauthorized draining of compromised accounts.
Quick Trade uses instant spread pricing (typically 1.0%–1.5%) for 1-click execution. Pro Trade uses a transparent order book model with order types (Limit, Stop-Limit) where fees start much lower at 0.15% maker and 0.25% taker.
Yes. As a CIRO-regulated Investment Dealer, eligible CAD fiat balances held with Coinsquare's chartered Canadian banking partners are covered by CIPF (Canadian Investor Protection Fund) up to legal limits, protecting funds against insolvency.
Sources: Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) filings, Coinsquare official fee schedule, App Store customer feedback, and industry compliance records.
A top-tier, highly compliant exchange for Canadians who want local bank transfers, CIRO investor protection, and hassle-free tax compliance over speculative high-leverage trading.