1Bitcoin vs Newton:

Newton advertises zero trading fees, which is accurate — they don’t charge a commission per trade. However, Newton generates revenue through the spread embedded in every price shown to users.

How Newton’s spread works:

When you see a buy price in Newton, it’s higher than the current market price. When you see a sell price, it’s lower. The difference is Newton’s revenue on each transaction. Based on public information and user reports, Newton’s spread for Bitcoin is typically 0.5–0.7%, though this can vary.

What this means for buyers:

A 0.5–0.7% spread is reasonable and competitive with many global exchanges. The issue for Canadian buyers isn’t the rate — it’s the lack of transparency. You cannot easily see exactly how much you’re paying because the cost is embedded in the price rather than shown as a separate line item.

1Bitcoin.ca shows the full cost of your purchase before you confirm. There’s no spread to calculate — what you see is what you pay.

Newton offers access to over 70 cryptocurrencies alongside Bitcoin. For some users, this is a feature. For long-term Bitcoin investors, it’s often a distraction.

The case against altcoin platforms for Bitcoin buyers:

The majority of cryptocurrencies that have existed since 2015 have declined significantly in value relative to Bitcoin. Platforms that offer many cryptocurrencies have financial incentives to promote trading activity across their entire catalogue, not just Bitcoin accumulation.

When you buy from a Bitcoin-only platform, there’s no upsell, no competing asset, no reason to push you toward anything other than what you came for: Bitcoin.

For the diversified crypto investor: Newton is a reasonable choice. For the Bitcoin-focused investor, a Bitcoin-only platform eliminates the temptation and noise of altcoin speculation.

Newton is a custodial platform. When you buy Bitcoin through Newton, it sits in Newton’s custody until you withdraw it to your own wallet.

Newton’s custody practices:

Newton has publicly stated that it uses a combination of hot and cold storage for customer assets. Cold storage (offline) is generally considered more secure against hacking. Newton has not been subject to a major security breach as of 2026.

The important distinction:

Responsible custody doesn’t eliminate custodial risk — it reduces it. If Newton faces regulatory action, financial difficulty, or a sophisticated security breach, your Bitcoin could be affected. Non-custodial platforms remove this risk entirely by never holding customer Bitcoin.

Newton received registration from the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) as a Restricted Dealer in 2024, making it one of the first Canadian crypto platforms to achieve this status. This is a meaningful compliance milestone.

FINTRAC registration and OSC registration serve different purposes:

– FINTRAC (Money Services Business): Anti-money laundering and financial crime compliance

– OSC Restricted Dealer: Securities regulation, investor protection, and reporting requirements

Both 1Bitcoin.ca and Newton are FINTRAC-registered. Newton’s OSC registration is an additional layer of regulatory compliance that demonstrates commitment to Canadian securities law

Scenario 1: The active crypto trader

Newton wins. Access to 70+ assets, competitive spreads, and a well-designed app make it suitable for users who want to trade multiple cryptocurrencies.

Scenario 2: The Bitcoin accumulator

1Bitcoin.ca wins. Bitcoin-only focus, transparent pricing, non-custodial delivery, and no distractions from other assets.

Scenario 3: The first-time buyer researching Canadian options

Both are legitimate options. The decision comes down to whether you want Bitcoin only, or broader crypto exposure.

Scenario 4: The DCA investor

Either works, but 1Bitcoin.ca’s transparent fee structure makes it easier to calculate your true cost basis for tax purposes — important for accurate CRA reporting.