Wealthsimple Crypto Fees In Canada: 2024 Analysis & Reviews

Noah Edis
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Reviewed by Kristina Knight, Journalist , BA
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  • Cost Value
  • Customer Service
  • Ease of Use
  • Included Features

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Wealthsimple is a Canadian-based financial services company that provides automated investing and saving solutions for Canadians. In 2020, they expanded to offer cryptocurrency trading through their Wealthsimple platform.

Pros

  • No Fees and Commissions
  • No Minimum Balance
  • Free Deposits and Withdrawals

Cons

  • Bad customer service
  • Supports CAD only
  • 55+ cryptocurrencies
  • $0 fees for deposits and withdrawals
  • Third-party custodian (Gemini)
  • Offers stocks and ETFs too

Wealthsimple Crypto is a Canadian cryptocurrency trading platform that allows users to buy and sell popular cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Litecoin.

It was founded in 2020 as an offshoot of Wealthsimple Invest Inc., a well-established online investment firm based in Toronto. The platform has quickly become one of the most trusted crypto trading platforms in Canada due to its low fees, user-friendly interface, and advanced security measures.

Wealthsimple Crypto Fees In Canada

Wealthsimple Crypto is a Canadian cryptocurrency trading platform designed to make it easier for Canadians to invest in crypto assets. It provides users with a simple and secure way to buy, sell, store, and trade crypto coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The Wealthsimple app also offers insights into the crypto markets and educational resources for those new to the space. Wealthsimple Crypto fees are competitive compared to other Canadian exchanges, but some differences should be considered before signing up.

This review will look at Wealthsimple Crypto’s fee structure in 2022 and other factors, such as security features, customer support options, ease of use, and more. We will also compare Wealthsimple Crypto to other popular Canadian cryptocurrency exchanges to give you a better understanding of which platform is best for your needs.

Wealthsimple Crypto Fees Advantages

Wealthsimple Crypto is popular among traders because of its no-fee structure.

$0 For Deposit or Withdrawal

Wealthsimple Crypto doesn’t charge any fees for making deposits or withdrawals. That makes it one of the cheapest exchanges in Canada for transferring funds.

No Hidden Fees

Wealthsimple Crypto also doesn’t charge any hidden fees. All costs associated with trading are clearly outlined, so you don’t have to worry about surprise charges.

No Account Minimums

The Wealthsimple platform doesn’t have a minimum account balance. That means you can start trading with as little as $1.

Wealthsimple Crypto Fees Analysis

 Wealthsimple Crypto offers competitive trading fees for Canadians, as shown below.

1.5-2% Per Buy/Sell Crypto Order

Wealthsimple Crypto charges are uncomplicated. The platform only charges a 1.5-2% trading fee per transaction. This means that regardless of whether it’s a buy or sell order, the operations fee remains the same. It is applied on top of the prices that buy or sell orders execute. 

Deposit or Withdrawal

Other cryptocurrency trading platforms charge fees for deposits and withdrawals. Wealthsimple Crypto is one of the few that allow them for free. You only need to use Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to deposit or withdraw funds from your bank account to your Wealthsimple account. Users also have the option to deposit crypto. Unfortunately, crypto withdrawals are not yet supported. 

There is one limit to take note of. Wealthsimple sets a maximum of $50,000 only per deposit. This can be a downside for high-volume traders.

Commission, Minimum Balance, And Transferring Funds For 0$ Fees

Wealthsimple Crypto stays true to its no-fee promise. First, it does not charge commission fees and allows account opening with no minimum balance, unlike other crypto trading platforms that require high minimum deposits. Second, funds transfers to and from other accounts also come at no cost. Lastly, there are no fees for electronic statements and trade confirmations.

Wealthsimple Crypto Account: Both Stocks & Crypto Trading

There are no fees associated with account opening and account closing. So you can try the platform out at no cost. Unfortunately, the only fiat currency Wealthsimple Crypto currently supports is Canadian dollars. If you use USD to fund your Wealthsimple account, they will automatically convert to CAD.

Crypto is just one of the Wealthsimple products available. Stocks and ETF trading are also offered. All these assets are available through Wealthsimple Trade, meaning you can make a Wealthsimple Trade account for either crypto or stocks.

This makes Wealthsimple Crypto a great choice if you’re looking for an all-in-one platform to invest in both stocks and crypto assets. 

Wealthsimple Crypto Quick Overview

Wealthsimple Invest

4.4 stars

Best Overall Value

  • No Fees and Commissions
  • No Minimum Balance
  • Free Deposits and Withdrawals

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Wealthsimple Crypto Fees Customer Reviews

Reviews for Wealthsimple Crypto are mixed. While users praise the platform for its simplicity, others wish for more features and an improvement in the user interface. Here are some reviews gathered from Trustpilot and the Google Play Store.

Very simple app to use and no fees which is great for people with low capital. I wish it had support for options trading and reporting tool/view to help rebalance your portfolio.

P-L

So disappointed. Wealthsimple’s infamous 5-day holds are in fact 7-day holds. They say “5 working days,” which is technically accurate enough to claim that they are not being misleading but there is no day of the week you can make a deposit where a 7-day hold does not apply. It doesn’t matter if the transfer is being made from a Schedule 1 Canadian bank, as far as WS is concerned all its clients are from Azerbaïdjan. If you want to take advantage of a good price on a stock, ETF, or coin, make sure that you keep a ready-to-trade cash balance in your WS account or you’re SOL. Also, there is a maximum of $5,000 per day that you can transfer to an external wallet from your crypto account. I have never had a similar limit imposed on me from any other exchange. Oddly no such limit is imposed on you when you transfer in from an external wallet. 2-stars max. Wealthsimple is just an extension of the archaic Canadian financial system that thinks that they own their client’s money.

Mike

Best choice for Canadian trade. What I would like to see in the app is more flexibility on the graphs so we can navigate it. Also, add more research tools and a news page! Overall, amazing app and easy to use for new investors, like myself.

Kostas

The UI has somehow managed to get worse over time. It’s less clear, gives worse information, does not filter correctly and the things that have improved are aesthetic but serve no real purpose.

Adhi

Wealthsimple Crypto Review

Wealthsimple Crypto Fees in Canada

Review of Wealthsimple Crypto

Overall Pricing and Value
89%
89%
Cost Value
95%
95%
Customer Support
80%
80%
Ease of Use
90%
90%
Included Features
90%
90%

Now that we’ve explored the fees offered by Wealthsimple Crypto, it’s time to review other aspects that are just as important to traders.

Is Wealthsimple Crypto Right For You?

Wealthsimple seems promising due to the outstanding fees it offers. But advanced traders may find it lacking in other parts. That being said, Wealthsimple Crypto works if:

  • You’re looking for a simple way to buy, sell, and store digital currencies
  • You’re just getting started in the crypto space and want some educational resources
  • You don’t need advanced charting tools or other features found on more sophisticated platforms
  • You want to gain access to stocks and crypto in one platform

However, this may not be the right crypto exchange for you if:

  • You are not a Canadian citizen or are not currently residing in Canada
  • You want access to crypto coins other than the 55+ digital assets on Wealthsimple
  • You want to use more advanced trading tools
  • You highly value customer support

Cost Value 

While the fixed operations fee of 1.5% to 2% is high compared to trading fees offered by a regular cryptocurrency exchange, you still get a fair value for your money when trading crypto on the platform. Wealthsimple Crypto does not charge additional fees when you withdraw or deposit funds. You can also start trading for just $1, making the platform highly appealing for beginner crypto investors.

Customer Service

Wealthsimple’s customer support is not its strongest suit. The platform does have a few support channels, namely email, live chat, and phone. However, the response times are often slow, and your queries may not be answered adequately. So, If you value quality customer service, you may want to look elsewhere.

Ease of Use

Wealthsimple is generally known for its easy-to-use interface, and the same can be said for its cryptocurrency trading platform. The app is designed with a simple layout that allows users to easily navigate between features like buying, selling, trading, and educational materials. 

Included Features

Security 

Wealthsimple Crypto is the first regulated crypto trading platform, offered through CSA’s regulatory sandbox under a time-limited regulatory approach. So users can rest assured that their funds are secure and fully protected.

All coins are stored in Wealthsimple’s third-party custodian, Gemini, which the New York State Department of Financial Services regulates. This regulated crypto custodian has $200 million in cold storage insurance coverage, meaning users’ funds are protected in case of theft or other loss. 

2-factor authentication (2FA) is available for extra security on your Wealthsimple accounts. All these factors help keep trading on Wealthsimple Crypto safe.

55+ Cryptocurrencies

Wealthsimple is a decent choice for those looking to buy crypto or sell digital assets in Canada. It offers a selection of 55+ cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, for users to trade on its platform. If you’re only planning to buy or sell Bitcoin, here is a good start.

Overall

Wealthsimple Crypto is a decent choice for those who want to trade Bitcoin or any other digital asset immediately since you don’t need a large number of funds to start buying and selling. Although the trading fees are high, you don’t have to worry about any other fees on the platform. 

Beginners will benefit most from Wealthsimple Crypto as it simplifies the crypto trading process. The user interface is also easy to understand. It doesn’t require a learning curve. 

2 Top Wealthsimple Crypto Alternatives

QuestradeBinanceWealthsimple Crypto
Minimum Balance$1,000$0$0
Transaction Fees0% Fee for buying ETFs
$0.01/share (min. $4.95 to max. $9.95) for selling ETFs
0-0.1% Ttrading fee
Withdrawal fees vary
$0 Deposit fee
1.5-2%
Rating4.54.84.4
DetailRead Review Read Review Read Review
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Questrade

Questrade is a Canadian brokerage platform that provides access to cryptocurrency exchanges. It has competitive fees and allows users to manage their crypto investments alongside traditional stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs. 

Binance

Binance is a globally recognized cryptocurrency exchange that offers users access to multiple coins and tokens, as well as low trading fees, advanced security features, and a dedicated customer support team.

Read more: Best Crypto Exchanges In Canada 2024

Conclusion

Wealthsimple Crypto is a competent trading platform with an impressive no-fee structure. It may be ideal for new traders or those looking for a cost-effective option. But advanced traders who want access to more cryptocurrencies and trading tools may not find Wealthsimple attractive.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the difference between Wealthsimple Crypto and Wealthsimple Trade? 

Wealthsimple Crypto simply refers to the digital currency trading aspect of the Wealthsimple platform. Wealthsimple Trade generally caters to stock and ETF trading. You can open a crypto account and a stock account on the Wealthsimple Trade app.

What is Wealthsimple Digital Assets, Inc.?

It is a subsidiary of Wealthsimple Financial Corp. It is the entity responsible for operating Wealthsimple Crypto and holds the requisite licenses to operate in Canada to buy, sell, store and trade digital currencies on behalf of its users.

What is Basic Attention Token?

BAT is an Ethereum-based asset that is used to reward users for their attention. It is used on the Brave browser and can be bought and sold on Wealthsimple Crypto.

Does Wealthsimple offer crypto wallets?

Yes, Wealthsimple Crypto offers a secure wallet to store your cryptocurrency assets. The wallet is built on industry-leading security protocols and provides users with top-notch protection against malicious attacks or data breaches.

What is the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation?

The Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) is a federal Crown corporation in Canada that protects eligible deposits at its member institutions up to $100,000 per depositor. Wealthsimple Crypto is not a member of the CDIC.

What is the Canadian Investor Protection Fund?

The Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) is a not-for-profit organization that protects investors in the event of insolvency at a CIPF member firm. Wealthsimple Crypto is not a member of the CIPF.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Noah Edis
Noah Edis, BA
Business & Binary Advisor
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Noah Edis is a writer and entrepreneur with a wealth of experience in online businesses and marketing. When he's not working on his latest project, you can find him playing competitive dodgeball or pursuing his personal interest in business process automation.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Kristina Knight-1
Kristina Knight, Journalist , BA
Content Writer & Editor
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Kristina Knight is a freelance writer with more than 15 years of experience writing on varied topics. Kristina’s focus for the past 10 years has been the small business, online marketing, and banking sectors, however, she keeps things interesting by writing about her experiences as an adoptive mom, parenting, and education issues. Kristina’s work has appeared with BizReport.com, NBC News, Soaps.com, DisasterNewsNetwork, and many more publications.

+ 6 sources

Bizreport Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards avoids using tertiary references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research. To ensure the accuracy of articles in Bizreport, you can read more about the editorial process here.

  1. Wealthsimple: The simple way to buy and sell crypto in Canada. www.wealthsimple.com. Accessed January 3, 2023. https://www.wealthsimple.com/en-ca/invest/crypto
  2. Bitcoin Exchange | Cryptocurrency Exchange | Binance. Binance. Published 2017. Accessed January 3, 2023. https://www.binance.com/en
  3. Questrade | Keep More of Your Money. Questrade.com. Published 2019. Accessed January 3, 2023. https://www.questrade.com/home
  4. Home. cdic.ca. Accessed January 3, 2023. https://www.cdic.ca/
  5. Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Default. Accessed January 3, 2023. https://www.cipf.ca/
  6. Cryptocurrency Exchange to Buy Bitcoin and Ether. Gemini. Accessed January 3, 2023. https://www.gemini.com/
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