Bitbuy vs Safetrade: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Bitbuy and Safetrade This side-by-side comparison reveals total cost (fees + spreads), security & licenses, coins/derivatives, deposits/withdrawals, and app quality. In 2 minutes you’ll see who wins for beginners, active traders, and long-term holders. Clear pros/cons, a quick verdict, and safe links to get started.

Last updated on August 16, 2025

Bitbuy

Safetrade

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United Kingdom

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United States

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Europe

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Latin America

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India

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China

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Canada

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United Kingdom

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Bitbuy is ideal if:

Great for Canadian beginners — Bitbuy offers a secure, intuitive Express platform that makes getting started with crypto fast and simple.
Suitable for semi-experienced traders — The Pro Trade interface delivers advanced charting and order tools without overwhelming complexity.
Strong regulatory and security setup — Built for reliability, it operates under Canadian oversight with features like cold storage and third-party auditing, giving peace of mind.

Safetrade is ideal if:

Great for altcoin explorers If you're keen to trade lesser-known or emerging cryptocurrencies, SafeTrade offers a broad variety of altcoins alongside popular ones, making it a good match.
Ideal if low fees matter With a straightforward, flat trading fee structure that’s competitively lower than many industry standards, it's a smart choice for cost-conscious traders.
Suited for users valuing interface and support The platform features a beginner-friendly design and offers responsive support via channels like email and Discord, simplifying your trading journey.

Bitbuy isn’t ideal if:

Not for global users — Bitbuy serves only Canadian residents, so anyone outside Canada won’t be able to access the platform.
Limited coin selection — Only offers a curated set of well-known cryptos, making it unsuitable if you want exotic or niche altcoins.
No advanced or passive tools — Lacks features like derivatives, leverage, margin, staking, or investment programs for more dynamic strategies.

Safetrade isn’t ideal if:

Regulatory safety is a must If you need the legal protection of a regulated exchange, SafeTrade’s lack of oversight may leave you exposed to unnecessary risk.
You prefer fiat trading options If entering via your local currency is important, SafeTrade’s predominantly crypto-only pairs can be limiting for newcomers.
You trade large volumes or need liquidity For high-volume trades or deep order books, SafeTrade’s thinner liquidity may result in unfavorable price slippage or delays.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

Bitbuy does not offer tiered pricing or native-token discounts; Express trades use a built-in spread instead of explicit fees, while Pro trades have a simple flat maker/taker rate around half a percent each.

SafeTrade applies a flat trading fee of around 0.1 % for both maker and taker orders regardless of volume, with no tiered discounts or benefits tied to holding a native token like SAFE.

Futures/Derivatives

Bitbuy doesn’t support any futures or derivatives trading, so maker, taker, or funding costs for these aren’t applicable.

SafeTrade does not offer futures or derivative contracts, so there are no associated maker/taker or funding costs to consider.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

While Bitbuy doesn’t list spreads in conventional terms for those USD-pegged pairs, its Express trades embed a typical markup in the range of mid-single digits in basis points, reflecting the convenience rather than live order-book spreads.

While SafeTrade uses direct crypto-to-crypto pairs, spread data isn’t formally published, and anecdotal experience shows reasonable execution on major pairs with moderate slippage for small to mid-sized trades due to lighter liquidity.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Fiat deposits are free via Interac e-Transfer or bank wire, and withdrawals via Interac normally cost a modest flat amount and arrive within 1–2 business days, with wires carrying a small percentage markup.

SafeTrade does not support fiat deposits or withdrawals; you must deposit using cryptocurrencies only, so there are no fiat-based funding channels, fees, or timeframes to manage.

On-chain Withdrawals

Withdrawals of crypto like BTC and ETH use dynamic fees tied to network demand, while certain assets—such as XRP, LTC, BCH, XLM—are free to withdraw on-chain.

Withdrawal costs on SafeTrade follow variable blockchain network fees depending on the asset (e.g. BTC, ETH, TRX), so these on-chain charges are dynamic and not fixed by the platform itself.

Hidden Costs

Bitbuy applies an FX spread when converting between CAD and USD-denominated coins, charges no inactivity fees, and doesn’t upsell expedited KYC—a fairly transparent cost model overall.

There are no hidden penalties; SafeTrade doesn’t charge for account inactivity, KYC speed upgrades, or fiat conversion—most extra costs are simply the blockchain fees for crypto withdrawals.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

If you purchased €500 worth of BTC via Express Trade, your cost would include the embedded spread (~0.5–1.5 %), then a dynamic on-chain network fee at withdrawal—so you’d pay the spread margin plus the miner fee at the time, with no extra platform markup.

If you deposit €500 worth of BTC via another platform and transfer it in, you’d pay SafeTrade’s ~0.1 % trading fee when buying BTC, incur standard spread/slippage in the BTC/USDT pair, and finally pay only the normal network withdrawal fee—no additional markup.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

Bitbuy lists approximately 60 cryptocurrencies, offering a modest selection that includes major coins but lacks deep altcoin variety; around 28 trading pairs are active, dominated by top-volume assets like BTC, ETH, ADA, SOL, DOT, and MATIC.

SafeTrade lists approximately 44–50 cryptocurrencies across about 70–80 trading pairs, with the top 20 by volume typically featuring assets like QUBIC/USDT, QTC/USDT, BTC/USDT, ETH/BTC, and others—reflecting modest but focused coverage.

Product Range

Bitbuy supports only spot trading and a staking product—no margin, perps, options, ETFs, lending, copy trading, grid bots, or automatic DCA features are available.

The platform offers spot trading only, with no support for margin, perpetuals, options, ETFs, copy trading, or bots—though it does provide staking in a simplified form, earning users passive rewards on holdings.

Liquidity

While exact figures aren’t publicly available, the platform’s primarily Canadian user base suggests moderate liquidity with sufficient depth for typical retail trades in BTC and ETH, though volume trails large global exchanges.

SafeTrade logs sub-1 million USD daily trading volume, led by a few pairs like QUBIC/USDT; its liquidity remains light, meaning deeper trades may face noticeable slippage due to limited order book depth.

Tools

Bitbuy’s Pro Trade interface includes limit and market orders (plus OCO-style functionality via stop/limit combos), integrated TradingView charts, and API access—but it doesn’t offer price alerts or native WebSocket streaming.

You’ll find basic limit and market orders, with no margin, OCO, advanced charting, alerts, API/WebSocket, or native TradingView support—simplifying the interface at the cost of advanced functionality.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

All Bitbuy services—including staking and spot trading—are exclusively available to Canadian residents; no products or features are offered to users living outside Canada.

There are no specific geographic restrictions disclosed per region, but given the absence of regulated derivatives and full licensing, complex products like futures likely remain unavailable regardless of your location.

Innovation

Bitbuy doesn’t provide launchpad or launchpool services, and its staking setup follows a locked model tied to network bonding and unbonding periods, with no flexible-earn alternatives in place.

SafeTrade does not currently support launchpads, launchpools, or differentiated staking structures—staked assets earn simple rewards, with no flexible vs. locked variations or new token launch mechanisms.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

The platform operates under Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd (CCML), a Canadian CIRO-regulated brokerage, and Bitbuy Technologies Inc. is also overseen by the Ontario Securities Commission—all anchored in Toronto since around 2016.

SafeTrade operates under a centralized corporate entity founded around 2018, officially headquartered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with some references also linking it to Canada.

Licenses/Registration

Bitbuy holds a Money Services Business (MSB) registration with FINTRAC, CIRO dealer and marketplace member status via CCML, and limited dealer approval from the OSC—making it one of Canada’s most formally regulated crypto platforms.

The platform operates without licensing from major financial authorities and lacks formal VASP or MiCA regulation, meaning it is essentially unregulated by top-tier or regional crypto oversight frameworks.

Custody

own vs third-party; Proof of Reserves; audits; cold storage

User assets are primarily held in cold storage with internal custody; there’s no public proof of reserves or third-party audit reports verifying holdings or cold-storage percentages.

Insurance & Protection Funds

They leverage BitGo’s institutional insurance, hold a financial institution bond over fiat deposits, and carry additional crime-theft coverage atop the standard custody insurance.

There is no mention of insurance coverage or dedicated protection funds to compensate users in case of loss, hack, or operational failure.

Incident History

Bitbuy has not suffered any known hacks or major security breaches, nor has it faced regulatory sanctions—indicating a clean operational track record to date.

There are no widely confirmed reports of large-scale hacks, platform suspensions, or regulatory penalties, though user complaints exist; however, no official incident disclosure or transparency report is available.

Risk Controls

The platform enforces strong protections including two-factor authentication, ISO/SOC-compliant infrastructure, routine audits, and closed-source core systems; it also supports API access with granular controls.

SafeTrade supports standard two-factor authentication (2FA), and employs cold storage and encryption; there’s no indication of advanced measures such as withdrawal whitelists, anti-phishing tools, sub-accounts, or granular API permissions.

Transparency

Bitbuy publishes a Trust Centre showing daily asset balances and trading volumes, delivers annual Proof-of-Reserves audits, and offers access to financial summaries upon request—providing a high level of openness.

The platform does not publish regular transparency reports, dedicate a public wallet explorer, or offer service-level agreements; overall visibility into operations and system integrity remains limited.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Bitbuy accepts CAD via Interac e-Transfer (minimum around $20, processed typically within 24 hours) and bank wire transfers (higher minimums around $10,000 with 2–3 business days for processing); deposits by e-wallets or cards aren’t supported.

SafeTrade does not currently offer fiat deposit options—no transfers, cards, or e-wallets are supported; you’ll need to deposit cryptocurrency instead, and specifics on deposit thresholds or timing are not outlined on platform.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

Bitbuy requires full KYC from all users—there’s no tier without verification; limits are applied based on investor classification (Basic, Retail, Eligible, Accredited), where only certain tokens or profiles are exempt from annual purchase caps.

SafeTrade requires KYC verification to activate trading, but details on tiered verification levels, or account limits tied to KYC status, are not clearly laid out—so expect a single-step process without published thresholds for trading limits.

Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals are allowed across various networks with dynamic network-based fees; fiat withdrawals via Interac and wires follow the relevant limits and timelines, with no support for TRC20/BEP20 network options.

Withdrawals are processed on-chain with support for networks like BSC, Tron, and Ethereum—with BSC and Tron being faster and cheaper; exact daily limits or withdrawal lead times vary by asset and are not standardized publicly.

Customer Support

Bitbuy offers support via email and ticket system accessible through their Help Center, generally responding within a day—but there’s no live chat or phone support channel.

They offer support through email, support tickets, Telegram, and occasionally live chat; there’s an FAQ and announcements hub, but response times vary according to user feedback—some praise responsiveness on Discord, while others report delays.

Languages & Localization

The interface is natively English; fees are displayed solely in CAD—there’s no EUR or USD display option, and all operations comply strictly with Canadian regulatory standards.

The interface and customer communications are primarily in English, fees are displayed in crypto or US dollars, and there’s no strong indication of local regulatory alignment or multi-currency display beyond that.

App Quality & Stability

The Bitbuy mobile app for iOS and Android is well-regarded for its ease of use and timely updates, though some users report occasional performance or stability concerns on Android.

SafeTrade offers mobile-friendly access without native iOS or Android apps, and while the web interface is generally smooth and stable, there are user-reported occasional bugs and no public data on crash rates or recent update frequency to assess overall app reliability.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

Bitbuy offers a streamlined “Express” mode that’s ideal for novices thanks to its simplicity, while the “Pro Trade” interface unlocks advanced tools and charting—making it easy for users to transition from basic to more sophisticated trading as they grow in confidence.

SafeTrade delivers a clean and minimalistic interface with a very gentle learning curve—no Lite/Pro toggle, just a straightforward, uncluttered trading view that makes it feel welcoming for newcomers and efficient for casual users.

Performance

The platform is known for a stable experience with minimal delays on routine trades; though during peak volatility or bull-market surges, users have occasionally observed minor order latency and extended verification waits, especially during high signup spikes.

Trading on SafeTrade generally sees fast order execution and prompt deposit/withdrawal processing, even during spikes; there are no widely reported system crashes or KYC bottlenecks, suggesting functional resilience under load.

Education

Bitbuy furnishes a rich educational hub featuring guides, tax breakdowns, and security tutorials, yet lacks a hands-on demo or simulator environment, and all materials are presented primarily in English without Spanish-language support.

SafeTrade doesn’t currently offer a dedicated academy, demo environment, or Spanish-language educational materials; its support comes through FAQs and announcements rather than structured learning or simulation tools.

Community

Bitbuy maintains a referral program to reward users for bringing in new traders, but it doesn’t foster a public community hub, nor does it host official Discord or Telegram groups—relying instead on its blog and support channels for outreach.

SafeTrade fosters an active community presence via its official Discord channel and supports an affiliate referral program, allowing users to engage directly and participate in platform discussions or growth initiatives.

Integrations

The Pro interface is baked with native TradingView charting for technical analysis, plus API access for external bots and automations, though there’s no direct integration with tax preparation or accounting platforms.

Integration options are minimal—SafeTrade does not embed TradingView charts or support third-party bots or tax/accounting tools; its ecosystem remains lightweight and self-contained.

Who Each One Is Best For

Bitbuy is a standout choice for Canadian investors who value regulatory clarity, security, and intuitive progression from beginner to advanced trading, but it may fall short for power users seeking demo tools, multilingual instruction, deeper integrations, or broader community engagement.

SafeTrade is well-suited for a casual or beginner trader seeking a clean, no-frills interface for spot trading of familiar cryptocurrencies—less ideal for professionals, power users, or those needing advanced tools or rich educational resources.