Which Canadian Banks Allow Cryptocurrency? 2026 Guide

Which Canadian banks allow cryptocurrency in 2026? None of the big banks sells crypto directly. None of the ones we checked publishes a rule on Interac e-Transfers to crypto platforms either. The written rules we found are about cards and accounts. RBC says its credit cards can't be used for crypto transactions, Tangerine says crypto can't be bought or sold with any of its accounts, and Neo declines crypto purchases on its Neo Money card. What the banks do offer is crypto ETFs. RBC, TD, CIBC and National Bank say you can buy them through their brokerages.

Want the coins themselves? Buy from a registered platform or an app such as Wealthsimple, KOHO or Shakepay. On tax, the rule hasn't changed: half of a capital gain is taxable. The proposed move to a two-thirds inclusion rate on gains above $250,000 was cancelled on March 21, 2025. An earlier version of this guide said it took effect in 2026. It didn't.

We checked each bank's, app's and regulator's own pages on October 16 and 17, 2026, and where we couldn't find a page, we say so rather than guess. For the apps in more detail, see our guide to crypto-friendly banks and apps in Canada.

Do Canadian banks allow cryptocurrency in 2026?

Mostly yes, but only indirectly. No big bank sells you bitcoin, and most of their crypto rules aren't published. We searched the sites of RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC, National Bank, Desjardins, Simplii and EQ Bank. We found no page on any of them that sets a policy on e-Transfers to crypto platforms. These are the written rules we did find:

• RBC: credit cards can't be used "for transactions involving cryptocurrency".
• Tangerine: buying or selling crypto "can't be done" with Tangerine accounts.
• Neo Financial: crypto purchases "will be declined" on the Neo Money card, because "fraudsters sometimes use gambling and crypto purchases as part of a scam".
• Scotiabank: Scotia iTRADE says "We currently do not support crypto trading."
• CIBC and National Bank: neither offers crypto accounts or direct crypto trading, but both let you trade crypto ETFs through their brokerages.

Two older card bans come from press reports. TD halted credit card crypto purchases in February 2018. BMO stopped retail crypto purchases on its Mastercard credit and debit cards in March 2018. We couldn't find a current page from either bank, so treat both as possibly still in place.

How do Canada's big banks handle crypto?

The banks differ mainly in what their brokerage arms let you buy. None of them sells coins. Among the Big Six, RBC is the only one with a current, public credit card ban that we found, and Tangerine blocks crypto on all its accounts.

What does RBC's crypto notice actually say?

Just one thing. "RBC will no longer be allowing the use of RBC credit cards for transactions involving cryptocurrency." That's all. The notice is undated and says nothing about debit cards, e-Transfers or wires. RBC's cash-advance explainer also lists "foreign or virtual currencies" among cash-like transactions, and says cash advances "typically apply" to them. Cash advances start charging interest immediately, with no grace period.

Earlier versions of this guide said two more things: that the notice mentioned higher e-Transfer limits, and that RBC tightened its crypto rules in late 2025. We found no RBC page or press report for either, so both are gone. For ETF buyers the news is better. RBC Direct Investing says bitcoin ETFs trade in your existing brokerage account. They can be held in TFSAs and RRSPs.

Did TD and BMO ban crypto purchases?

They did in 2018, according to The Canadian Press. On February 23, 2018, TD said it was halting the use of its credit cards to buy cryptocurrency while it reviewed "the evolving market". On March 16, 2018, BMO said it "no longer allows retail consumers to buy cryptocurrencies using Mastercard-branded credit or debit cards". The same February report said Scotiabank was "closely reviewing" its policy.

We couldn't find a current page from either bank on these rules, and the list of cash-like transactions in BMO's current cardholder agreement doesn't include crypto. TD is clearer on ETFs. TD Direct Investing says crypto ETFs "can be bought and sold in all accounts", registered ones included, and that covers both Canadian and US-based crypto ETFs.

Can you send an Interac e-Transfer to a crypto exchange?

Usually. Canadian platforms such as Shakepay take e-Transfer deposits. But no bank we checked publishes a rule about it. Unless you ask, you may not know your bank's stance until a transfer goes through or gets held. So send a small test amount first.

Interac's own pages explain the mechanics. More than 250 financial institutions take part in the network, and each one sets its own limits. Interac says consumer limits are typically $2,000 to $3,000 per transaction. Transfers are "almost instant, but can take up to 30 minutes depending on your bank or credit union", and Autodeposit times can vary "because of routine fraud checks". An earlier version of this guide credited that 30-minute window to CIBC. It's Interac's general timing, not a CIBC feature.

The platform sets limits too. Shakepay, for example, takes e-Transfers of $5 to $10,000 for free. Interac can't reverse a deposited transfer. Check that the platform is registered before you send anything. Our best crypto exchanges in Canada guide compares e-Transfer fees at the exchanges it ranks.

Which apps sell crypto if your bank won't?

Several Canadian money apps sell crypto through registered dealers. None of them is a bank. Three of them also give you an everyday account with a card: Wealthsimple, KOHO and Shakepay.

Can you buy crypto on Wealthsimple? Yes. Its crypto page lists Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and 170+ other coins at a flat 0.5% fee plus a spread. An earlier version of this guide quoted a 2% basic-tier fee. The page's fee FAQ now gives a flat 0.5% fee plus a spread for all crypto trades. In August 2020 Wealthsimple's crypto arm became what the OSC called the first crypto asset platform registered with Canadian securities regulators, under time-limited sandbox relief. Robinhood and Webull also sell crypto in Canada, and our crypto-friendly banks page compares all five apps.

Is crypto at a bank or app covered by CDIC or CIPF?

No, neither one does. The CDIC lists "Cryptocurrencies, including stablecoins" among the products it doesn't insure, and ETFs are on that list too. The CIPF says crypto assets held by a member firm for a client aren't eligible for its coverage.

What CIPF can cover, if a member firm fails, is cash in your crypto trading account and crypto ETFs held with the member, and even then it returns missing property rather than guaranteeing its value. The apps handle your cash differently. Wealthsimple isn't a bank or a CDIC member. It places chequing cash in trust with up to 10 CDIC members, for up to $1 million combined. KOHO says balances not earning interest aren't eligible for CDIC protection. Shakepay says funds on its card aren't insured by the CDIC.

How is crypto taxed in Canada in 2026?

Half of a capital gain is taxable, at every amount. The CRA doesn't treat crypto as currency. Selling it, swapping it, spending it or giving it away is usually a disposition. Moving coins between your own wallets isn't. If your trading looks like a business, the whole gain is income instead.

What happened to the 66.67% inclusion rate?

It never took effect. The plan was to raise the inclusion rate from one-half to two-thirds on capital gains above $250,000 a year, starting January 1, 2026. The CRA still described that plan in January 2025, and in the same notice it said it had "reverted to administering the currently enacted capital gains inclusion rate of one-half". On March 21, 2025, the Prime Minister announced that the government "will cancel the proposed hike in the capital gains inclusion rate".

Later CRA pages agree. Its capital losses page says "The inclusion rate for 2025 is 50%." The crypto guidance says you "must include half of your capital gains". Its worked example turns a $5,600 crypto-for-crypto gain into $2,800 of taxable gain. Budget 2026 hadn't been tabled by mid-October 2026, so we'll recheck the rate when it is.

The CRA can also get records from Canadian platforms. According to press reports, the Federal Court authorized it in 2021 to demand records on large Coinsquare accounts, and a similar order against Dapper Labs in September 2025 covered 2,500 users. Our Canada exchanges guide covers the tax rules in more depth.

Can you buy crypto through your bank's brokerage?

Yes, as ETFs. RBC Direct Investing, TD Direct Investing, CIBC Investor's Edge and National Bank Direct Brokerage all say you can buy crypto ETFs. RBC and TD say they can go in registered accounts such as a TFSA or RRSP, and since an ETF is just another listed security to your bank, there's no transfer to a crypto platform to get held up.

Costs vary a lot. FBTC's MER is 0.35%, while EBIT's is 1.57%. Fees come from each issuer's fund page or fund documents, checked October 17, 2026. All five hold bitcoin itself, not futures, according to their issuers, and all five say their units can go in registered accounts. One caveat from Evolve's prospectus: Budget 2024 opened a consultation on whether crypto-backed assets are appropriate as qualified investments for registered plans, so that rule could change. The MER adds the fund's other costs to the management fee, so it's the better number to compare. Before you buy, check that your brokerage lists the fund and charges no extra commission on it.

Canada got there early. The Purpose Bitcoin ETF began trading on the TSX on February 18, 2021. The exchange billed it as "the world's first bitcoin exchange traded fund". Purpose says the fund holds its bitcoin in cold storage and is eligible for TFSAs and RRSPs. Dynamic, part of Scotiabank's 1832 Asset Management, launched the Dynamic Active Multi-Crypto ETF (DXMC) on Cboe Canada on March 4, 2026. It gets its bitcoin, ether, solana and XRP exposure by holding 3iQ's single-coin ETFs, plus a small slice of crypto-related stocks. Scotia iTRADE's help page doesn't say whether its clients can buy it.

The trade-off is simple. An ETF unit tracks the price, but you can't withdraw it to your own wallet. ETF units held at a CIPF member can fall under CIPF's coverage if the firm fails. Coins on a crypto platform can't.

What did the Stablecoin Act change?

Nothing has changed yet. The Stablecoin Act became law on March 26, 2026, through Bill C-15, but the Justice Laws text marks it "not in force". Finance Canada expects the framework to take effect in 2027, once the regulations are written.

Once it applies, the Bank of Canada will supervise issuers of fiat-backed stablecoins and keep a public registry of them. The Act's main rules for issuers:

• Hold reserves worth at least the par value of the coins outstanding, in the reference currency or high-quality liquid assets in that currency, with a qualified custodian.
• Redeem at par value, under a published policy that sets out timing and fees.
• Pay no interest or yield to holders, "directly or indirectly".

It reaches further than earlier versions of this guide said. Finance says the framework covers domestic and foreign issuers that make fiat-backed stablecoins available to Canadians, and that it "does not distinguish" Canadian-dollar coins from foreign-currency ones such as USDC and USDT. Financial institutions are excluded. Subject to the regulations, the Act doesn't apply to an issuer that is a financial institution (s. 12), and Finance says the framework will regulate issuance only "by non-financial institutions". For now, the OSC lists CSA undertakings for Circle's USDC (December 2024) and the Canadian-dollar coin QCAD (November 2025). USDT isn't on that list.

What is CADD?

CADD is a Canadian-dollar stablecoin that went live on May 4, 2026. The issuer is Tetra Trust Company, an Alberta trust company. Tetra describes CADD as Canada's first CAD-backed stablecoin issued by a financial institution. Its launch consortium includes National Bank of Canada, ATB Financial, Wealthsimple, Shakepay, Purpose Unlimited, Shopify and Urbana. Tetra's CADD page says Alberta's Minister of Treasury Board and Finance approved the coin, and that Canadian-dollar reserves held with Canadian Schedule 1 banks and regulated financial institutions back it 1:1. It pays no interest. Because Tetra Trust is a provincially regulated trust company, and the federal Act excludes financial institutions, CADD's issuer may stay outside the Bank of Canada's regime. The regulations will settle it. Read more in our stablecoin guide.

How do you check that a crypto platform is registered?

Look it up first. The OSC keeps a list. Its crypto businesses page, updated October 15, 2026, lists platforms that are registered or have exemptive relief. Wealthsimple Investments, Ndax, Shakepay, Coinbase Canada, Kraken's Payward Canada and Crypto.com's Foris DAX CAN are all on it. Since an announcement on August 6, 2024, the CSA no longer accepts new pre-registration undertakings, and new crypto trading platforms apply directly to CIRO.

Registration matters because of what happened without it. QuadrigaCX stopped operating in 2019 owing more than 76,000 clients a combined $215 million, and those clients lost at least $169 million, according to an OSC staff review. Staff found it "did not register with any securities regulator". A registration claim can be faked, though. The OSC warned in 2026 that scammers use "fake credentials and fabricated licensing numbers". It also says it doesn't contact people to recover funds.

Which route fits you?

Pick the route first, then the bank account to fund it:

• You want crypto in a TFSA or RRSP. Buy a crypto ETF through a brokerage. RBC Direct Investing and TD Direct Investing say crypto ETFs can go in registered accounts, and CIBC Investor's Edge and National Bank Direct Brokerage also sell them. You get price exposure, not coins.
• You want coins with the least setup. Use an app such as Wealthsimple, KOHO or Shakepay, and compare the fee and spread before you buy.
• You want coins in your own wallet. Fund a registered exchange by e-Transfer, then withdraw to one of the best crypto wallets for Canadians. KOHO doesn't allow transfers out yet, so check before you buy.
• You bank with Tangerine or pay with a Neo Money card. Fund your purchases from another account, since both block crypto.
• You were going to use a credit card. Check your card's terms first. RBC blocks it, and RBC says cash advances, which charge interest from day one, typically apply to virtual currency purchases.

Correction, October 17, 2026: an earlier version of this guide said a 66.67% capital gains inclusion rate applied to gains above $250,000 from January 1, 2026. That increase was cancelled in March 2025, and the rate is one-half. We also removed unsourced claims about RBC, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC and National Bank policies, an unsourced crypto ETF asset total and a CIRO capital figure, corrected the Stablecoin Act's scope, CADD's "first" claim and the Purpose Bitcoin ETF's custodian, and updated Wealthsimple's fees.