Bitbuy
Bitbuy is a Canadian cryptocurrency trading platform founded in 2016, serving 900,000+ retail investors, 1,500+ corporate clients, and high-net-worth individuals across Canada. It operates a CIRO-regulated ATS marketplace supporting 70+ cryptocurrencies, with custody via Coinbase Custody and BitGo, and was acquired by Robinhood Markets in June 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Bitbuy does
Bitbuy is a Canadian cryptocurrency trading platform founded in 2016 and headquartered in Toronto, operating as a trade name of the CIRO-regulated Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. (CCML). It serves Canadian retail investors, high-net-worth individuals, and corporate clients through a multi-tier product portfolio: Express Trade (beginner-friendly, $10 minimum), Pro Trade (advanced charting and tools), Alpha OTC (over-the-counter desk for trades of $20,000 CAD and above), Corporate Solutions (1,500+ businesses adding crypto to their balance sheets), and Staking (rewards up to 12.77% APY across 8+ proof-of-stake assets). The platform supports 70+ cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, with Interac e-Transfer and bank wire funding rails.
The core technology is an Alternative Trading System (ATS) functioning as an auction market matching orders at top-of-book in strict price/time priority. Custody infrastructure combines segregated cold storage at Coinbase Custody Trust Company (NY) and BitGo Trust Company (South Dakota) with $680M USD of combined insurance coverage, alongside hot wallet management via Fireblocks Ltd. Regulatory standing includes CIRO membership, OSC and CSA registration as Canada's first registered marketplace for crypto assets, FINTRAC MSB registration, and CIPF membership providing up to $1M cash coverage per account (digital assets excluded).
The business model is primarily transaction-based, charging a flat 0.5% fee per CAD trade on the retail side, supplemented by staking service revenue share, OTC spreads on large transactions, and corporate subscription revenue. The platform claims 900,000+ Canadian users and $7B+ in cumulative crypto traded. In December 2021, WonderFi Technologies acquired First Ledger Corp. (Bitbuy's parent), and in June 2026 Robinhood Markets completed its acquisition of WonderFi for CA$250 million, bringing Bitbuy and Coinsquare under the Robinhood brand with approximately 300,000 funded Canadian customers and a 115-person team transferring into the parent organization.
Bitbuy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bitbuy
- Legal name
- Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd.
- Website
- https://bitbuy.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Bitbuy is a Canadian cryptocurrency trading platform founded in 2016, serving 900,000+ retail investors, 1,500+ corporate clients, and high-net-worth individuals across Canada. It operates a CIRO-regulated ATS marketplace supporting 70+ cryptocurrencies, with custody via Coinbase Custody and BitGo, and was acquired by Robinhood Markets in June 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bitbuy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cryptocurrency Exchange
- NAICS
- Securities and Commodity Exchanges (52321)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200), Commodity Contracts Brokers & Dealers (6221)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Crypto-Digital Asset Market Making (Spot & Derivatives) (FSACANAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Treasury Management & Corporate Crypto Yield Programs (FSADAHAL), On/Off-Ramp Providers (Fiat↔Crypto) & Cash-In/Cash-Out Networks (FSADAIAE)
Keywords
Where Bitbuy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bitbuy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Trading Spreads and Transaction Fees: Revenue generated from spreads (mark-up on purchases, mark-down on sales) and explicit trading fees. Canadian users pay flat 0.5% fee per CAD trade. The fee schedule is publicly available and incorporated by reference into the Client Account Agreement.
- Staking Rewards Revenue Share: Revenue derived from staking services where users earn up to 12.77% rewards, with Bitbuy likely retaining a portion as a service fee.
- Corporate Solutions: Revenue from dedicated business accounts offering cryptocurrency treasury management services for 1,500+ corporate clients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Express Trade - Simple buying and selling for beginners |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Pro Trade - Advanced charting and trading tools |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Alpha (OTC) - Over-the-counter service for large trades |
| Subscription | Monthly | Corporate Solutions - Business crypto treasury management |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Staking - Earn rewards on crypto holdings |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Bitbuy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bitbuy operates a Canadian cryptocurrency exchange platform that enables retail and institutional clients to buy, sell, and trade 70+ digital assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies. The platform offers multi-tier trading services (Express Trade for beginners, Pro Trade for advanced traders, Alpha OTC for high-net-worth clients) along with cryptocurrency staking services (up to 12.77% rewards) and Corporate Solutions for businesses adding crypto to their balance sheets. Operations are conducted through a CIRO-regulated Alternative Trading System (ATS) under Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd.
Product overview
Bitbuy is a Canadian cryptocurrency exchange platform offering a multi-tiered product portfolio built around its core ATS (Alternative Trading System). The platform operates as a CIRO-regulated marketplace supporting trading of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and 80+ cryptocurrencies. The core offerings include Express Trade (beginner-friendly simplified trading) and Pro Trade (advanced charting for experienced traders). The product suite extends through Staking (earn rewards up to 12.77% APY), Alpha/OTC (personal account manager for trades $20,000+ CAD), and Corporate Solutions (business crypto accounts serving 1,500+ companies). Mobile applications for iOS and Android provide on-the-go access. The platform is now part of Robinhood following its June 2026 acquisition of parent company WonderFi, bringing approximately 300,000 Canadian customers into Robinhood's ecosystem.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Express Trade
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $7 billion in cryptocurrency traded on the platform
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Bitbuy
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Bitbuy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Bitbuy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. (CCML)coreBitbuy operates under Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. (CCML), the CIRO-regulated parent company. CCML provides the regulatory framework, compliance infrastructure, and operational support for Bitbuy's platform.
- Coinbase Custody Trust CompanycoreCold storage custodian for digital assets. Coinbase Custody Trust Company is a trust company regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Holds digital assets in trust for the benefit of clients in segregated accounts.
- BitGo Trust CompanycoreCold storage custodian for digital assets. BitGo Trust Company is a South Dakota trust company licensed under the South Dakota Division of Banking. Holds digital assets in trust for the benefit of clients in segregated accounts as fiduciary.
- Fireblocks Ltd.coreHot wallet provider for liquidity purposes. Fireblocks provides software that securely stores private keys and monitors balances for the small portion of digital assets held temporarily in online hot wallets for operational needs.
- Canadian Investment Protection Fund (CIPF)minorBitbuy is a member of CIPF. The cash portion of client accounts is covered by CIPF up to $1M per account. CIPF coverage does not extend to digital assets.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bitbuy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Coinsquare: Sister Canadian crypto exchange under the same Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. regulatory umbrella and same WonderFi/Robinhood parent. Directly comparable on product (retail trading, staking) and customer base (Canadian retail and corporate clients).
- Wealthsimple Crypto: Canadian retail crypto offering bundled within a larger wealth/brokerage platform. Directly competes for the same Canadian retail investors, with the added leverage of multi-asset account relationships.
- Newton: Canadian crypto exchange offering commission-free or low-fee trading of 70+ assets. Targets the same Canadian retail and active trader audience as Bitbuy's Pro Trade.
- NDAX (National Digital Asset Exchange): Canadian-registered crypto exchange serving retail and institutional clients with CAD funding. Closely comparable on regulatory registration (CSA/IIROC) and product set (spot trading, OTC, corporate accounts).
- Shakepay: Canadian crypto platform focused on retail users buying Bitcoin and Ethereum via Interac. Overlaps with Bitbuy's Express Trade tier and competes for the same beginner-to-intermediate Canadian retail segment.
Broad incumbents
- Kraken: Global crypto exchange with established Canadian operations. Competes on advanced trading, staking, and OTC, but operates at much larger scale across multiple jurisdictions.
- Coinbase: Largest US-regulated crypto exchange and the parent of Coinbase Custody (Bitbuy's custodian). Overlaps with Bitbuy on retail trading, staking, and institutional custody, but at global scale.
- Crypto.com: Global crypto platform with retail trading, staking, and a card program. Operates in Canada and competes for the same retail crypto audience, with a broader product ecosystem.
- Gemini: US-regulated crypto exchange and custodian. Comparable regulatory-first positioning and institutional offering, with some Canadian user overlap in the high-net-worth segment.
- Interactive Brokers: Global multi-asset broker that added crypto trading in 2021. Competes for Canadian active traders and high-net-worth clients seeking crypto alongside other asset classes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bitbuy social profiles
Digital presenceBitbuy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Bitbuy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bitbuy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Bitbuy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bitbuy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bitbuy
What does Bitbuy do?
Bitbuy operates a Canadian cryptocurrency exchange platform that enables retail and institutional clients to buy, sell, and trade 70+ digital assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies. The platform offers multi-tier trading services (Express Trade for beginners, Pro Trade for advanced traders, Alpha OTC for high-net-worth clients) along with cryptocurrency staking services (up to 12.77% rewards) and Corporate Solutions for businesses adding crypto to their balance sheets. Operations are conducted through a CIRO-regulated Alternative Trading System (ATS) under Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd.
Is Bitbuy a public or private company?
Bitbuy is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Bitbuy founded?
Bitbuy was founded in 2016. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Bitbuy based?
Bitbuy is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Bitbuy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Trading Spreads and Transaction Fees are the primary driver. The others are staking Rewards Revenue Share and corporate Solutions.
Who are Bitbuy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Coinsquare, Wealthsimple Crypto, Newton, NDAX (National Digital Asset Exchange) and Shakepay. Broad incumbents are Kraken, Coinbase, Crypto.com, Gemini and Interactive Brokers.
Does Bitbuy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bitbuy.
What industry is Bitbuy in?
Bitbuy's product category is Cryptocurrency Exchange. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSACANAJ, Crypto-Digital Asset Market Making (Spot & Derivatives), with a secondary code of FSADAHAL, Treasury Management & Corporate Crypto Yield Programs. Its NAICS code is 52321 and its SIC code is 6200.