⚡ Newton Crypto in a nutshell
- 🆓
$0 commission on all crypto trades. Newton charges no commission — revenue comes from the spread (typically 0.5–1% round-trip). Among the lowest total cost for buying/selling crypto in Canada.
- 🍁
Canadian-regulated crypto — FINTRAC + OSC. Newton is registered with FINTRAC (Canada's financial intelligence unit) and with the Ontario Securities Commission — one of the most comprehensively regulated crypto platforms in Canada.
- ₿
70+ cryptocurrencies — Bitcoin, Ethereum and altcoins. Broader selection than some Canadian competitors. Including major coins (BTC, ETH, SOL, ADA, DOT) and a range of altcoins.
- ⚠️
Spread-based pricing — not truly "free". The $0 commission comes with a built-in spread (typically 0.5% each way). On a $1,000 trade, you're paying approximately $5–$10 in spread — transparent but not highlighted.
- 🔒
Cold storage and multi-signature security. Newton stores the majority of customer assets in cold storage with multi-signature signing requirements — standard security practice for reputable crypto exchanges.
⚠️ What to watch out for
- ⚠ Spread of ~0.5–1% per trade (not a true $0 cost — the spread is the fee)
- ⚠ Crypto is uninsured in Canada — no CDIC, no CIPF protection on crypto holdings
- ⚠ No staking or yield products (unlike Coinbase or Kraken)
- ⚠ Advanced trading tools minimal — simple buy/sell interface only
- ⚠ CAD/crypto only — no USD deposits
WhichBrokr Category Ratings
Overview
Newton was founded in 2018 in Toronto and has grown to be one of the largest Canadian crypto exchanges, processing billions in trading volume. It is registered with FINTRAC as a Money Services Business and has registered with provincial securities regulators including the OSC. This positions Newton as one of Canada's most compliant crypto platforms.
The zero-commission model has made Newton the default choice for many Canadian retail crypto investors — no per-trade fee, clean mobile and web interface, and CAD-in/CAD-out without USD conversion required. The spread (typically 0.5% each way) is the actual cost — transparent on the trade screen.
Newton's limitations are deliberate: it's a simple buy/sell platform, not a professional trading terminal. No advanced order types, no staking or yield, no fiat yield on idle Canadian dollars. For investors who want a clean, regulated entry point into Canadian crypto without complexity, Newton serves the purpose well.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- $0 commission — spread-only pricing (transparent)
- FINTRAC registered + OSC compliant — most regulated Canadian crypto platform
- 70+ cryptocurrencies including major coins and altcoins
- No minimum deposit
- CAD-denominated — no USD conversion needed
- Clean, simple buy/sell interface
- Newton Earn — crypto rewards program
❌ Cons
- Spread (~0.5–1%) is the actual cost — not literally free
- Crypto is uninsured — no CDIC or CIPF protection
- No staking or yield products
- Basic platform — no advanced order types or charts
- No USD accounts
- Customer support rated slow
🔍 Broker Audit Report
A structured assessment across 5 pillars — regulation, tax/legal, costs, features and platform accessibility. Updated July 2026.
🛡️
1. Legal Entity & Capital Protection
Newton's Canadian regulatory registrations
Entity
Newton Crypto Ltd. — Money Services Business registered with FINTRAC. Registered with OSC (Ontario Securities Commission) and other provincial regulators.
Regulatory Registrations
FINTRAC MSB · OSC · BC Securities Commission and other provincial securities regulators.
Crypto Asset Insurance
❌ Not insured Crypto assets at Newton are not CDIC or CIPF insured. Loss from Newton insolvency or theft is not covered by any Canadian government insurance scheme.
Cold Storage
Majority of assets in cold storage with multi-sig signing. Standard insurance-backed custodial arrangements.
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2. Tax Notes
Canadian crypto tax treatment
Crypto Tax (Canada)
Cryptocurrency is treated as property in Canada. Gains taxable at 50% capital gains inclusion rate (same as stocks). Crypto-to-crypto trades are also taxable events.
Tax Reporting
Newton provides annual transaction history export for tax filing. Canadian investors must file crypto gains with CRA.
No TFSA/RRSP
Crypto cannot be held in TFSA or RRSP through Newton. Use Wealthsimple Crypto for regulated crypto via TFSA (where available).
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3. Total Cost of Ownership
Newton's spread-based pricing
Commission
$0 stated commission
Spread
Approximately 0.5% per side (1% round-trip). On a $1,000 BTC purchase: ~$5 spread. Displayed transparently on trade screen.
Deposit / Withdrawal
CAD deposits via Interac e-Transfer: $0. CAD withdrawal via EFT: $0. Crypto withdrawals: network fee only.
Newton Earn
Crypto rewards on select assets held — rates vary by asset and market conditions.
📈
4. Asset Catalogue
70+ cryptocurrencies
Total assets
70+ — major and mid-cap coins. Check newton.co for full list.
Stablecoins
USDC and other select stablecoins available
DeFi / NFT exposure
❌ No DeFi integration or NFT marketplace
🖥️
5. Platform
Simple buy/sell interface
Mobile App
✅ iOS 4.3★ / Android 4.1★ — clean, simple
Web Platform
✅ Browser-based trading — simple buy/sell
Advanced Charting
⚠ Basic only — not suitable for technical traders
Order Types
Market orders only — no limit or stop orders
Customer Support
Email and chat — rated slow for complex issues
Fees 4.1 / 5
Newton's effective cost is the spread (~1% round-trip). Competitive for a regulated Canadian exchange — compare Wealthsimple Crypto (1.5% spread) and Bitbuy (varies).
| Fee type | Newton Crypto | Market Average |
|---|
| Commission | $0 | $0–$15/trade |
| Spread (BTC/CAD) | ~0.5% each way | 0.5–1.5% |
| CAD deposit (Interac) | $0 | $0–$5 |
| CAD withdrawal | $0 | $0–$5 |
| Crypto is insured | ❌ | Not standard in Canada |
Safety & Regulation 3.8 / 5
| Regulatory status | FINTRAC MSB, OSC registered |
| Crypto insurance | ❌ None — not CDIC/CIPF |
| Cold storage | ✅ Majority of assets |
| Company type | Private — VC-backed |
| Founded | 2018 (8 years) |
| Jurisdiction | Canada only |
Products & Asset Catalogue 3.4 / 5
| Bitcoin | ✅ |
| Ethereum | ✅ |
| Altcoins (70+) | ✅ |
| Stablecoins | ✅ USDC etc. |
| Staking/yield | ❌ |
| DeFi/NFT | ❌ |
What investors say about Newton Crypto
Community voice — strengths & concerns
Most praised
- $0 commission (spread-based) is most competitive pricing for Canadian retail crypto
- FINTRAC + OSC registration praised for regulatory clarity
- Simple interface praised by beginners — "easiest Canadian crypto platform to use"
- Free CAD deposits and withdrawals (Interac) praised
Common complaints
- Spread not zero — "it says free but I'm paying 1% round trip in spread"
- No staking or yield compared to Kraken or Coinbase
- Customer support slow — "waited 3 days for a simple question"
- Advanced traders better served by international platforms
Based on user reviews on Trustpilot, Reddit, App Store and Google Play ratings. Data collected Jan–Jun 2026.
Verdict
WhichBrokr's Take
Newton is the best entry point for Canadian retail crypto investors who want a regulated, simple, low-cost platform. The FINTRAC + OSC registrations provide meaningful compliance assurance in a sector where regulation is rapidly evolving. The spread-based pricing (~1% round-trip) is competitive for the regulated Canadian market.
Advanced crypto investors wanting staking, DeFi, or professional trading tools should use Kraken or Coinbase alongside Newton (or as a replacement). Newton serves the simple buy-and-hold crypto investor best.
Best for: Canadian retail investors buying and holding major crypto in a regulated, simple environment. Not ideal for: Active traders (no limit orders), stakers (no staking), or DeFi participants.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Is Newton Crypto safe? | Newton is FINTRAC registered and OSC compliant. Cold storage for majority of assets. However, crypto is not CDIC or CIPF insured in Canada — there is inherent risk in any crypto exchange. |
| How does Newton make money if commission is $0? | Newton earns via the bid-ask spread on each trade — approximately 0.5% per side (1% round-trip). This is displayed on the trade screen before confirmation. |
| Can I hold crypto in a TFSA through Newton? | No — Newton is not a registered securities dealer and cannot hold registered accounts. Use Wealthsimple Crypto for TFSA crypto exposure (where available). |
| Does Newton offer staking? | No — Newton does not currently offer staking or yield products on crypto holdings. Newton Earn offers some rewards on select assets — check newton.co for current offers. |
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$0 commission on crypto · 70+ assets · Earn crypto rewards · FINTRAC registered
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Crypto assets are highly volatile and not covered by CDIC or CIPF. Capital at risk.