Wealthsimple Crypto is the cryptocurrency exchange run by Wealthsimple. It uses a third party custodian for increased security, charges zero deposit or withdrawal fees, and has a user-friendly interface, but due to two main drawbacks—terrible customer support and high trading fees—I can't recommend using Wealthsimple Crypto in good faith.
CoinSmart is the favourite among knowledgeable Canadian crypto investors, both for its high level of security and for its ease of use. It also has extremely low trading fees, so if you're looking for a secure, cost-effective way to buy and sell crypto in Canada with a $50 signup bonus (available until June 7, 2023), I can't recommend CoinSmart highly enough.
What Is Wealthsimple Crypto?
Wealthsimple Crypto provides automated investment services as well as tax plans and portfolio rebalancing to help people reach their financial goals through simple, low-cost investments. Wealthsimple also offers a brokerage platform, Wealthsimple Trade, which allows customers to trade stocks and ETFs at no cost.
The Wealthsimple Crypto and Trade apps are linked and work in tandem, meaning that they can be used on a mobile app and in desktop format. This makes using Wealthsimple Crypto quite convenient for existing Wealthsimple Trade users, and vice versa.
Wealthsimple Crypto Features
1. Third-Party Custodian
Gemini Custody, a third-party custodian, keeps your coins on this platform. The Winklevoss brothers (Facebook co-founders) founded it, and Gemini Custody is also regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYSDFS).
Gemini has $200 million in cold storage insurance. This increases safety because it means that even if the site were to be hacked, your coins would still be safe.
2. No Fees To Deposit Or Withdraw Funds
You won't have to worry about high minimum deposits when creating a Wealthsimple Crypto account. In fact, you can start investing with little as a single dollar.
Wealthsimple Crypto also doesn't charge any fees for depositing or withdrawing money. All you have to do is use an Electronic Funds Transfer (ETF) to move funds from a Canadian bank account to your Wealthsimple Trade app.
3. Beginner-Friendly Interface
The Wealthsimple Crypto user interface is very friendly to beginners, which is perfect for those who are just starting out in the world of cryptocurrency.
An intuitive user interface is also helpful for experienced crypto investors because it makes it easier to navigate, and it also makes trading a lot faster.
Cryptocurrencies on Wealthsimple Crypto
You can buy and sell 44 cryptocurrencies using fiat currency (Canadian dollars) on Wealthsimple:
| Bitcoin (BTC) | Chainlink (LINK) | Cosmos (ATOM) | Dai (DAI) |
| Ethereum (ETH) | Uniswap (UNI) | Decentraland (MANA) | Enjin (Enjin) |
| Bitcoin Cash (BCH) | Yearn. Finance (YFI) | Fantom (FTM) | Filecoin (FIL) |
| Litecoin (LTC) | Maker (MKR) | Gala Games (GALA) | Loopring (LRC) |
| Dogecoin (DOGE) | Compound (COMP) | Maker (MKR) | Polkadot (DOT) |
| Aave (AAVE) | Curve (CRV) | Polygon (MATIC) | Ren (REN) |
| Basic Attention Token (BAT) | Kyber Network (KNC) | Shiba Inu (SHIB) | Stellar (XLM) |
| Balancer (BAL) | Synthetix (SNX) | Solana (SOL) | SushiSwap (SUSHI) |
| 0x (ZRX) | 1inch (1INCH) | Terra (LUNA) | Tezos (XTZ) |
| ApeCoin (APE) | Avalanche (AVAX) | The Graph (GRT) | The Sandbox (SAND) |
| Axie Infinity (AXS) | Cardano (ADA) | Uma (UMA) | USD Coin (USDC) |
Wealthsimple Crypto Fees
Wealthsimple Crypto does not charge any fees for deposits or withdrawals, nor do they charge any fees when creating or terminating an account. They also do not charge for electronic statements or trade confirmations.
However, be aware that there's a spread that is added to the price that can vary between 1.5% and 2% whenever you place a buy or sell order, making trading with Wealthsimple as expensive as with other high-cost platforms like Newton and Shakepay.
Why I Can't Recommend Wealthsimple Crypto
Despite its user-friendliness, I can't recommend Wealthsimple Crypto for two major reasons.
- Terrible customer support: Trust me when I say that trying to solve a problem with Wealthsimple is next to impossible. On multiple occasions, it's taken me months just to reach someone on their team who's capable of solving my issue, and in the end, that person just told me they're too busy to look into it. I've rarely experienced such poor customer support from any company, let alone a crypto exchange.
- Very expensive: Wealthsimple Crypto's fees and trading spreads are significantly higher than other exchanges like Bitbuy and CoinSmart, making it a poor choice for long-term or frequent investors.
Taking these factors into consideration, I instead recommend that you consider using CoinSmart. Here are a few reasons I recommend it over Wealthsimple Crypto.
Introducing CoinSmart: Our #1-Rated Crypto Exchange In Canada
#2 In Canada
|
Trading Fees: 0% |
★★★★★ Rated 4.7/5 |
VirgoCX offers 50+ cryptocurrencies, charges zero trading fees, and only charges spread between 0.5% – 0.95%, making it a cost-effective exchange.
VirgoCX’s trading platform and mobile app are intuitive and easy to use, even for beginners. It offers 24/7 customer support via live chat and email, plus an extensive FAQ section on its site.
VirgoCX charges no deposit or withdrawal fees on fiat and covers the first $6 in mining fees on ERC20 withdrawals. It requires 2-factor authentication on all accounts and maintains a 95% cold storage policy to keep your assets safe at all times.
As a new VirgoCX user, you'll receive a $20 bonus upon funding your account, which you can use to buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, or any of the dozens of assets VirgoCX supports.
If maximizing your investment potential is important to you, VirgoCX is a great choice.
Features
- Lowest fees in all of Canada
- Supports 50+ cryptocurrencies
- Free fiat deposits and withdrawals
- Free deposits and withdrawals on most cryptocurrencies
- 24/7 support available via live chat and email
- User-friendly for both beginners and more advanced traders
- 95% cold storage policy keeps your crypto extra secure
Cost
- Account Opening: Free
- Cash Deposits: Free
- Cash Withdrawals: Free
- Crypto Deposits: Free
- Crypto Withdrawals: Free for all major coins
- Spreads on trades: 0.5% – 0.95%
Signup Bonus
$20 when you fund your account with $100 or more using this link.
Best For
Investors looking for the lowest fees in Canada.
In Summary
Wealthsimple Crypto is a cryptocurrency exchange run by Wealthsimple. It uses a third-party custodian for increased security, charges zero deposit or withdrawal fees, and has a user-friendly interface, but due to two main drawbacks—terrible customer support and high trading fees—I can't recommend using Wealthsimple Crypto in good faith.
CoinSmart is the favourite among knowledgeable Canadian crypto investors, both for its high level of security and for its ease of use. It also has extremely low trading fees, so if you're looking for a secure, cost-effective way to buy and sell crypto in Canada with a $50 signup bonus (available until June 7, 2023), I can't recommend CoinSmart highly enough.
Wealthsimple Crypto FAQs
How to withdraw from Wealthsimple Crypto?
To withdraw funds from your Wealthsimple Trade & Crypto account, all you need to do is follow these steps:
1. Web Browser
- Sign in to your Trade & Crypto account.
- Select the “Move funds” option on the top menu bar.
- Click on the “Withdraw funds” option.
- Select the account that you want to withdraw funds from.
- Choose the bank account that you want to move your funds into.
- Choose a withdrawal amount.
- Click Continue.
- Review the withdrawal details and click Submit withdrawal.
2. Mobile App
- Sign in to your Trade & Crypto account using the Wealthsimple Trade app.
- Tap the Move tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose the “Withdraw funds” option.
- Select the account that you want to withdraw funds from.
- Choose a withdrawal amount.
- Choose the bank account in which you will receive the funds.
- Review the withdrawal details and click Submit withdrawal.
Is Wealthsimple Crypto safe?
Yes. For starters, Gemini Custody, a cryptocurrency exchange and custodian that is licensed by the New York State Department of Financial Services, holds Wealthsimple Crypto's digital assets.
Wealthsimple Crypto is also offered through the CSA's Regulatory Sandbox under a time-limited regulatory approach, which makes it even safer.
However, considering your crypto funds are not covered by the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) or Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CIDC), you will not get any reimbursements if Wealthsimple Crypto were to become insolvent.
Is Wealthsimple Crypto legal in Canada?
Yes. Wealthsimple Crypto is offered under a time-limited regulatory approach by the CSA's Regulatory Sandbox, which means that it is legal to use in Canada.
Is there a Wealthsimple Crypto referral code?
You don't need a Wealthsimple Crypto referral code to get your $25 signup bonus: you just need to open your account using a referral link. Still, we recommend opening a CoinSmart account instead while its $50 signup bonus still lasts (offer ends June 7, 2023).
Does Wealthsimple Crypto report to the CRA?
Yes, Wealthsimple Crypto is offered under a time-limited regulatory approach by the CSA's Regulatory Sandbox. As a result, it must disclose large transactions to the CRA at the end of the fiscal year.
