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BEGINNERS GUIDE
HOW TO BUY BITCOIN & CRYPTO IN CANADA
A basic step-by-step guide for Canadians to learn how to buy and hold Bitcoin.
Do your own research. This simple 3 step ‘How to Buy Bitcoin 101 Beginners Guide‘ is just a starting point to begin learning about crypto.
Craig Leontowicz
Updated: December 19, 2021
STEP 1
Exchange Canadian Dollars $ for Bitcoin ฿
A cryptocurrency exchange is where you buy or sell Bitcoin with your Canadian dollars using INTERAC e-Transfer, wire transfer or bank draft. There is a fee (spread) for this exchange, rates will vary.
Cryptocurrency Exchanges to Buy or Sell Bitcoin in Canada
NOTE – Exchanges and banks in Canada comply with KYC (Know Your Customer) Laws. This means you will need to upload a photo ID and other documentation to prove your identity. It will take a day or two (or longer at busy times) for your account to be approved.
Shakepay is a great exchange for beginners.
Visit Site ➞
Deposit Fee
Free
Spread Fee
~1-2%
Crypto Withdraw Fee
Free
Newton is great for ease of use, low spread fee and lots of altcoins.
Visit Site ➞
Deposit Fee
Free
Spread Fee
~0.6%
Crypto Withdraw Fee
Cost (minus $5)
NDAX is good for trading larger amounts with low spread fees.
Visit Site ➞
Deposit Fee
Free
Spread Fee
0.2%
Crypto Withdraw Fee
0.000399 BTC ($25)
View & Compare More Canadian Crypto Exchanges
Recommended
DO use ‘Google Authenticator app’ for 2FA to secure your accounts when possible.
DO move your cryptocurrency to your own wallet (see step 2).
❌ DON’T leave your money on the exchange.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bitcoin Exchanges
STEP 2
Setup & Backup Your Bitcoin Wallet
A cryptocurrency wallet is software that allows you to securely store, send and receive digital assets.
Wallets
Beginners, start with a Software Wallet to hold the keys to your Bitcoin. Some popular and trusted wallets are Exodus, BlueWallet or find a wallet here ➞
Hardware Wallets offer offline storage for more security. Trezor or Ledger are current market leaders. Security Tip: Buy your hardware wallet direct from the manufacturer.
IMPORTANT! Backup Your Wallet with a Seed Phrase
A seed phrase is 12 (or 24) simple words the computer randomly generates for you. This is used to backup your crypto funds and allows you to regain access to your funds if something happens to your wallet.
Write your seed phrase on a piece of paper to backup your wallet. Put it somewhere very safe.
How a Wallet Works
A cryptocurrency wallet is a software program that stores a private and public key. These long hexadecimal key codes are known only to you and your wallet.
Your wallet interacts with the blockchain to enable you to send, save and receive digital currency like Bitcoin. A digital wallet is required if you want to buy Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency.
Wallet
Your software wallet holds your private key so only you can access your Bitcoin that is stored on the Blockchain.
Blockchain
The Blockchain is a public P2P decentralized network ledger. Many people are paid in Bitcoin to maintain and secure the network.
Seed Phrase
Write down your 12 (or 24) word seed phrase for offline backup. You will need this to access your private keys that control your Bitcoin.
Recommended
DO write down your seed phrase on piece of paper and put it somewhere very safe to BACKUP your wallet.
DO use a hardware wallet to save larger amounts of funds.
❌ DON’T lose or misplace your seed phrase.
❌ DON’T write or save your seed phrase online or digitally.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cryptocurrency Wallets
STEP 3
Move Bitcoin from Exchange to Your Wallet
SEND your Bitcoin from the exchange to your wallet RECEIVE address.
Congratulations! You now own Bitcoin.
Scroll down to find more helpful digital currency tools and resources for Canadians or read some more on our blog.
Recommended
DO confirm the first 4 and last 4 digits of a wallet addresses when sending and receiving Bitcoins.
❌ DON’T send your Bitcoin to people on Facebook, Twitter or any social media promising to send you more back. That is a scam.
❌ DON’T ever share your private seed phrase with any website or “customer service” messages. That is a scam.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sending & Receiving Bitcoin
More Helpful Information
Recent Posts
Buy Bitcoin with INTERAC e-Transfer in Canada
Learning
Bitcoin Whitepaper (PDF) – by Satoshi Nakamoto
Blockchain Explained – A Reuters Visual Guide
aantonop – A YouTube channel to find free, unbiased educational videos on all things Bitcoin and open blockchain.
Blockchain Demo – by Anders Brownworth
Taxes
Canada Revenue Agency – Guide for cryptocurrency users and tax professionals.
Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Tax Software
Portfolio Tracking
Apps & Websites to Track Your Crypto Portfolio