Canada Crypto Ownership Surges to 25% as Regulatory Fears Persist
Crypto ownership in Canada has seen a significant surge, with 25% of Canadians owning cryptocurrencies by 2026, up from just 10% in 2023. This increase represents a 15-percentage-point gain over roughly three years, indicating that digital assets are becoming more mainstream.
The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) surveyed 2,360 Canadian adults between December 2025 and January 2026, finding that 59% of respondents were aware of cryptocurrencies. However, only about half of crypto owners checked whether their trading platform was registered before opening an account or completing a transaction.
This knowledge gap is concerning, as crypto holdings typically do not receive the same protections as deposits kept at regulated banks. Blockchain transactions can be difficult or impossible to reverse after funds are sent to a fraudulent address.