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Is Kucoin Banned in Ontario or is Legal in 2024?

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If you want to learn whether Kucoin is banned in Ontario, you have come to the right place. The Ontario crypto ban affected several non-compliant crypto exchanges, including Kucoin, Bybit, Poloniex, and Binance.

Before the enforcement action, Kucoin was a top crypto hub in Canada and beyond that allowed crypto enthusiasts to trade 700+ coins at low trading fees of 0.1% and below. It also offered leverage trading, crypto derivatives, NFTs, crypto staking, and lending/borrowing of crypto assets.

Thus, its ban was a big blow to Canadian crypto investors and traders who used the platform for their crypto trades. It left many wondering whether Kucoin is still available in other Canadian provinces.

This post covers everything you need to know about the Kucoin ban in Ontario, whether itโ€™s legal in Canada, and the best Kucoin alternatives you can use for your crypto investing needs.

Is Kucoin Banned in Ontario?

Yes, Kucoin is banned in Ontario for non-compliance with the Ontario securities laws. It is unavailable in this province as the Ontario crypto ban prohibits it from participating in Ontarioโ€™s capital markets.

It all started in June 2021 when the OSC warned Kucoin and Bybit against operating non-registered exchanges and allowed them a grace period of one year to serve the commission with the required information.

The grace period lapsed, and Bybit settled, but Kucoin did not supply the commission with the requested information or subject itself to the OSCโ€™s registration process.

In June 2022, the OSC obtained orders from a panel of the Capital Markets Tribunal, permanently banning Kucoin from participating in Ontorioโ€™s Capital markets.

Further, the exchange was hit with an administrative penalty of CAD $2,000,000 for non-compliance and an additional $96,550 to cover the OSCโ€™s investigation costs.

image showing kucoin crypto exchange app logo

Kucoin Alternatives in Ontario

As we have seen above, Kucoin is banned in Ontario.

The good news is that there are other Kucoin alternatives that you can use to trade crypto throughout Canada, some of which offer almost similar features.

Below is a rundown of four digital assets platforms that you can look into.

CoinSmart (now Bitbuy)

CoinSmart Crypto Exchange (now Bitbuy)

coinsmart logo

Top crypto exchange in Canada (now Bitbuy)

Great for new & advanced traders

Competitive trading fees

Get a $50 bonus when you deposit $250

CoinSmart is arguably the best Canadian crypto exchange. It is a publicly traded crypto platform operating in Canada.

The platform supports multiple popular coins, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Stellar, Solana, Polkadot, Shiba Inu, EOS, Cardano, and others.

You can fund your CoinSmart wallet with CAD, USD, and EUR  via Interac e-Transfer, credit/debit card, bank wire, and bank draft.

There is also the CS Premium, an OTC desk for filing large orders of $25,000+.

  • Supported coins: 39 coins
  • Trading fees: 0.0% to 2%
  • Security: 2FA, cold storage with Bitgo and Fireblocks Custody
  • Promotion: Get a $50 sign-up bonus if you verify your account and deposit $250+.

VirgoCX

VirgoCX

virgocx logo

Get a $20 bonus when you deposit $100

Great crypto broker for newbies

0.50% to 2.50% trading fee

Trade several popular coins

VirgoCX is a Toronto-based crypto exchange that offers a large variety of 60+ cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD Coin, Dogecoin, Uniswap, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Chainlink, Stellar, and more.

Fiat deposits/withdrawals are free, and users can fund their wallet with CAD or USD via Interac e-Transfer, Bill Payment, Wire transfer, or debit card.

Trading fees on the platform are applied in the form of bid-ask spreads and range from 0.5%-2.5%, depending on the asset class you are trading.

There is also the VirgoCX Wealth, an OTC desk for filling large trades of CAD 30,000+.

  • VirgoCX crypto-list: 60+ coins
  • Trading fees: 0.5%-2.5% bid-ask spread
  • Security: 2FA, SSL protocols, Coinbase Custody, reliable bank partnership for secure fiat transfer.
  • Promotion: Get a $20 sign bonus when you verify your account and make a fiat deposit of $100+.

Wealthsimple Crypto

Wealthsimple Crypto

wealthsimple logo

Trade several cryptocurrencies

Excellent trading platform

1.5% to 2% trading fee

Wealthsimple Crypto is a cryptocurrency brokerage platform that offers 55+ cryptocurrencies and is excellent for beginners looking to diversify their portfolios with crypto.

The platform allows you to invest in crypto, stocks, and ETFs using the same app.

Supported coins include Bitcoin, Ethereum, ApeCoin, Ankr, BandChain, Cardano, Compound, Curve, Chiliz, 1inch, Aave, and more.

You can fund your Wealthsimple wallet via Electronic fund transfer or BTC/ETH deposits and start trading immediately.

Wealthsimple Crypto doesnโ€™t charge deposit/withdrawal fees but applies bid-ask spreads of 1.5%-2% when trading crypto on the platform.

  • Supported coins: 55+
  • Trading fees: 1.5%- 2%
  • Security: 2FA, data encryption, cold storage with Gemini custody, Coincover crypto insurance
  • Promotion: Get a $25 cash bonus if you deposit $200+ within 30 days.

Netcoins

Netcoins

netcoins logo

Trade several popular coins

Excellent crypto broker for newbies

Charges trading fees + undisclosed spread in prices

Netcoins is owned by BIGG Digital Assets and offers a simple platform where users can buy 30+ cryptocurrencies with CAD or USD starting with as little as $10.

You can fund your Netcoins wallet via Interact e-Transfer, bank wire, and crypto deposits.

Top cryptocurrencies on the platform include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, Algorand,  Avalanche, Dogecoin, Stellar, The Sandbox, Axie Infinity, and others.

Netcoins charges a flat trading fee of 0.5% for every trade, but you wonโ€™t incur any deposit/ withdrawal fee for transfer amounts of $2,500 and above.

Thereโ€™s also Netcoins Pay, a prepaid Mastercard that allows you to spend your crypto easily and earn 1% Bitcoin back on all purchases.

  • Supported coins: 35+
  • Trading fees: 0.5%
  • Security: Cold Storage, $250M insurance policy, CoinCover insurance.
  • Promotion: Get a $20 bonus when you fund your Netcoins wallets with CAD 100 and buy $100 worth of crypto.

Hereโ€™s a definitive guide for Netcoins vs Wealthsimple Crypto.

While Kucoin is not legal in Ontario, you can technically use it in other Canadian provinces. It was banned in June 2022 by the OSC from participating in the Ontario capital markets on non-compliance grounds.

Where is Kucoin banned Worldwide?

Kucoin is not banned worldwide. In fact, the crypto exchange operates in 200+ countries. That said, Kucoin is not licensed in Canada and the US.

Related: Kucoin Canada detailed review.

Best Crypto Offer This Month

Overall best crypto exchange in Canada + $50 bonus

Top registered and regulated crypto trading platform for Canadians.

$50 instant cash reward when your initial deposit is at least $250 or more.

Access over 45 popular coins and altcoins and staking to earn interest.

Competitive low trading fees for crypto and free deposits.

Get access to advanced trading tools.

Access nearly 80 crypto assets with one-click trading + $20 bonus

Instant deposit with e-Transfer and supports CAD and USD.

$20 bonus when you verify your account and deposit at least $100.

Offers over 80 crypto assets.

0.50% to 2% trading fees; free fiat deposits and withdrawals.

Author

Gravatar for Enoch Omololu, MSc (Econ)
Enoch Omololu, MSc (Econ)

Enoch Omololu, personal finance expert, author, and founder of Savvy New Canadians, has written about money matters for over 10 years. Enoch has an MSc (Econ) degree in Finance and Investment Management from the University of Aberdeen Business School and has completed the Canadian Securities Course. His expertise has been highlighted in major publications like Forbes, Globe and Mail, Business Insider, CBC News, Toronto Star, Financial Post, CTV News, TD Direct Investing, Canadian Securities Exchange, and many others. Enoch is passionate about helping others win with their finances and recently created a practical investing course for beginners. You can read his full author bio.

About Savvy New Canadians

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