How to buy Bitcoin (BTC) with Interac e-Transfer

By   |   Verified by Andrew Boyd   |   Updated 21 Oct 2022

A number of crypto exchanges — both Canadian and international — support deposits made with Interac e-Transfer, making it easy to buy Bitcoin and crypto.

Follow the steps below to buy Bitcoin with Interac e-Transfer in Canada.

Unsure about what exchange to use?

Where to buy Bitcoin with Interac e-Transfer

Bitbuy

On website

Highlights

  • Get $40 bonus when you sign up via Finty.
  • Trade quickly and easily on Bitbuy Express, or use the professional tools on the all new Bitbuy Pro.
  • Get low and transparent fees with live order books for advanced users.

Pros

  • You can earn a signup bonus.
  • Competitive trading fees.
  • Assets are insured and held in cold storage.
  • User-friendly website and mobile app.

Cons

  • Deposit and withdrawal fees apply.
CoinSmart

On website

Highlights

  • Get $20 in BTC with your first deposit.
  • Trade the major coins and popular altcoins including Dogecoin, Cardano, Solana, Polkadot, and Polygon.
  • Fund your account with Interac e-Transfer, wire transfers, credit / debit cards, or crypto with access to trade funds the same day.

Pros

  • Low trading fees.
  • Deposits are cleared within the day.
  • Supports CAD, EUR, and USD.
  • Get 24/7 customer support.

Cons

  • Limited coins.
  • Fee applies to credit card and debit card deposits.
NDAX

On website

Highlights

  • Get $10 when you sign up and deposit at least $100 in your account.
  • Has the lowest fees in Canada.
  • Set up recurring buys for assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and 18 other coins so you can invest in cryptocurrency on your own schedule.
  • NDAX holds a majority of user funds in an offline, multi-signature wallet.

Pros

  • Competitive trading fees at 0.2% for both selling and buying cryptocurrencies.
  • Get 24/7 customer support.
  • Earn by referring a friend.

Cons

  • Other exchanges have a larger choice of digital assets to trade.
  • Only available to Canadian residents
VirgoCX

On website

Highlights

  • Get $10 when you sign up and get verified and an additional $20 when you deposit over $100.
  • Competitive buy and sell prices with excellent liquidity and tight spreads.
  • Enjoy commission-free trading and 24/7 live support.

Pros

  • 0% trading fees
  • Free cash deposits and withdrawals.
  • VirgoCX also offers NFTs.
  • FINTRAC registered.

Cons

  • Only accepts CAD and USD as fiat currencies.
  • Other exchanges offer more coin selection.
Newton

Highlights

  • Newton prices are on average 3x lower than a leading cryptocurrency exchange competitor.
  • Fund and withdraw from your account for free.
  • Built in Canada and is FINTRAC regulated.

Pros

  • Clean user interface.
  • No commission fees.
  • Competitive spreads.
  • Earn $25 on its referral program.

Cons

  • Only accepts CAD deposits.
  • Verification times can be slow.

First time buying?

How to buy Bitcoin with Interac e-Transfer

Step 1: Select an exchange that can support deposits from Interac e-Transfer

The first step is to set up an account at an exchange that accepts deposits via Interac e-Transfer. Practically every domestic Canadian exchange supports Interac e-Transfer, but very few of the larger international exchanges accept it. We've listed several of the top exchanges above where you can deposit with Interac e-Transfer.

Apart from support for Interac e-Transfer deposits, take into account their trading fees / spread, available coins, fees to withdraw fiat currency, as well as additional features like access to funds with a card, availability of staking and crypto loans, etc.

Step 2: Verify your identity

Confirming your identity usually takes only a few minutes. Typically it involves providing a copy of your ID. You may need to take a selfie while holding it (so they can corroborate that it is actually you signing up).

Step 3: Choose how much you want to invest

Bitcoin comes with an inherent risk since its value fluctuates so much. It's important to keep this in mind and only allocate what you can afford to lose in the event that Bitcoin's price falls after investing.

Step 4: Fund your exchange wallet

The process could differ depending on how the exchange has implemented deposits, but generally it works as follows.

In your crypto exchange dashboard, find the page to add funds and choose Interac e-Transfer. Enter the amount you want to send and submit. Look out for an email to confirm the transaction. Once confirmed, you'll be redirected to the Interac e-Transfer website. Choose the bank you wish to transfer from and proceed to log into your online banking where you can complete the transfer. Funds should appear in a few minutes (longer if the network is very busy).

Step 5: Configure an order

Market orders need almost no configuration and are the easiest to use. You may also be able to set up a trigger order (to buy Bitcoin at a certain future price) or a recurring order (to purchase more Bitcoin on a regular basis).

Step 6: Buy

With funds in your verified account and your order configured, submit the order and buy Bitcoin. Once bought, your Bitcoin will be available in your exchange wallet.

Still not sure?

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Fast. Deposits made with Interac e-Transfer are typically cleared into your account at the exchange within minutes (or less).
  • Widely supported. All the top Canadian exchanges support Interac e-Transfer deposits.
  • Cheap. It's one of the cheapest ways to fund your crypto exchange account.

Cons

  • Not widely accepted by international exchanges. Most of the big international crypto exchanges do not accept Interac e-Transfer to add funds.

Extra help

FAQs

How long does it take for funds to transfer using Interac e-Transfer?

It normally only takes a few minutes for funds to clear into your exchange account. At busy times, it can take up to an hour to process.

Can I buy Bitcoin with Interac e-Transfer anonymously?

Some peer-to-peer exchanges such as Paxful — which you can use without verification — accept deposits made with Interac e-Transfer.

Can I buy other cryptocurrencies with Interac e-Transfer?

Yes, you can buy other cryptocurrencies with Interac e-Transfer. Once funds have cleared into your account, set up an order for whatever cryptocurrency you want and buy it.