Wealthsimple Crypto
Buy and sell Bitcoin, Ethereum, and 50+ other coins right inside the same app you use for stocks and banking, no separate exchange, no external wallet. New here? Claim $25 with code _Y024Q.
For Canadians who want some crypto exposure without juggling a separate exchange, Wealthsimple Crypto is the most convenient option going. It's a regulated, Canadian platform that lives inside an app you already trust for the rest of your money.
What you can do with Wealthsimple Crypto
- Trade 50+ coins, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and a wide roster of major altcoins.
- Stake eligible assets, earn staking rewards on supported coins directly in the app.
- Deposit & withdraw crypto, move coins on-chain to and from external wallets on supported networks.
- Buy fractionally, start with a few dollars; you don't need to buy a whole Bitcoin.
- Set recurring buys, dollar-cost average automatically on a schedule you choose.
Because crypto lives in the same app as your TFSA, RRSP, and Cash, you can see your entire net worth, stocks, registered accounts, banking, and crypto, on a single screen. For most Canadians, that convenience is the whole appeal.
Supported coins
Wealthsimple supports a steadily growing list of more than 50 cryptocurrencies. The most-traded include:
- Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), the two largest by market cap.
- Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), Polygon (MATIC), Avalanche (AVAX).
- Major stablecoins and a rotating selection of established altcoins.
The exact roster changes over time as coins are added or delisted, so check the current list in the app before planning a specific purchase.
Fees & how pricing works
Wealthsimple Crypto doesn't charge a separate commission line item; instead it builds an operations fee (spread) of roughly 1–2% into the buy/sell price. So if you buy and immediately sell, you'd notice a small gap, that spread is the cost.
| Cost | Wealthsimple Crypto |
|---|---|
| Trading commission | $0 (built into spread) |
| Operations fee / spread | ~1–2% |
| Account / custody fee | None |
| CAD deposits & withdrawals | Free |
That's competitive for the convenience of an all-in-one regulated app, though dedicated crypto exchanges can sometimes be cheaper for large, frequent trades. For most casual, buy-and-hold investors, the simplicity wins.
Staking explained
For certain proof-of-stake coins (such as Ethereum and Solana), Wealthsimple lets you stake your holdings to earn ongoing rewards, effectively a yield paid in more of that coin, in exchange for helping secure the network. Rewards accrue automatically while your assets remain in your account. Note that staking returns are variable, may have unstaking/withdrawal delays set by the network, and any rewards are generally taxable.
Is Wealthsimple Crypto safe?
Wealthsimple Crypto is offered through a registered Canadian entity and is regulated as a crypto trading platform. The majority of assets are held in cold storage with an institutional custodian, with additional crime insurance on custodied assets, plus the same app-level security (2FA, biometric login, encryption) as the rest of Wealthsimple.
Important: crypto assets themselves are volatile and are not covered by CDIC or CIPF. That protection applies only to your cash and traditional investments, not to your coins, whose value can rise or fall sharply.
How crypto is taxed in Canada
The CRA treats cryptocurrency as a commodity, not currency. In general:
- Selling, trading one coin for another, or spending crypto can trigger a capital gain or loss.
- Staking rewards and crypto earned as income are usually treated as taxable income at their value when received.
- You're responsible for tracking your adjusted cost base and reporting gains, Wealthsimple provides transaction history to help.
Crypto held in a Wealthsimple Crypto account is in a non-registered account; you cannot hold coins directly inside a TFSA or RRSP. This page isn't tax advice, consult an accountant for your situation.
Get $25 to kick-start your portfolio, crypto, stocks, or both.
Sign up with code _Y024QDoes buying crypto qualify me for the bonus?
Yes. Opening a Crypto account counts as opening an eligible Wealthsimple account, and a qualifying deposit triggers the bonus. As with every product, the $25 is paid to your Cash account, completely separate from your crypto holdings. See how to claim it step by step.
How much crypto should you hold?
Most advisors suggest keeping crypto to a small, speculative slice of a diversified portfolio, an amount you could afford to lose. The bigger win for most Canadians is a low-cost TFSA or RRSP of broad ETFs, with crypto as an optional side position. Wealthsimple's advantage is that it lets you hold all of it, index ETFs, registered accounts, cash, and crypto, in one place.
Wealthsimple Crypto questions
Common questions about buying crypto on Wealthsimple and the $25 bonus.
