Crypto & Digital Assets - Canada

RegulatedDual federal-provincial regime: provincial/territorial securities regulators coordinated through the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) plus self-regulatory oversight by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) for the securities/conduct side; FINTRAC (under the PCMLTFA) for AML registration as a Money Services Business dealing in virtual currency.

Canada regulates crypto exchanges/VASPs on two tracks. Any platform serving Canadians must register with FINTRAC as a Money Services Business (or Foreign MSB) for AML/CTF purposes, and—because the CSA treats most platform-held crypto and crypto contracts as securities/derivatives—must also register with provincial securities regulators and obtain CIRO investment-dealer membership. The earlier interim 'restricted dealer' path and pre-registration undertakings are being wound down, with platforms now expected to obtain full investment-dealer registration and CIRO membership.

Machine-assisted translation · verified 5/23/2026 · orientation, not legal advice. English version →