How to buy Solana (SOL) from Canada

By   |   Verified by Andrew Boyd   |   Updated 21 Oct 2022

  • Solana is a third generation cryptocurrency renowned for its speed.
  • Solana's token, SOL, has experienced strong growth in value.
  • Get details on exchanges where you can quickly and safely buy Solana.

Get a step-by-step guide through the process of buying Solana from Canada.

In this guide

In this guide

Where to buy Solana

Bitbuy

On website

Bitbuy

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.
NDAX

On website

NDAX

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
Crypto.com

Crypto.com

Highlights

  • Earn up to 8.5% p.a. on your crypto, and up to 14% p.a. for stablecoins.
  • Spend with the Crypto.com Visa Card and get up to 8% back.
  • Shop with Crypto.com Pay and receive up to 10% back, paid in CRO.

Pros

  • Get access to additional features including lending, borrowing, debit cards, and more.
  • Start trading with just $1.
  • Interest-earning deposits are available.
  • There is a $2,000 referral bonus.

Cons

  • Lack of educational resources.
Coinbase

On website

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Coinbase

Highlights

  • Buy and sell popular digital currencies, keep track of them in the one place.
  • Invest in cryptocurrency slowly over time by scheduling buys daily, weekly, or monthly.
  • Crypto stored on Coinbase servers is covered by its insurance policy.

Pros

  • Get access to a wide variety of altcoins.
  • Start trading with as little as $2.
  • Offers Coinbase card which allows you to spend crypto anywhere.

Cons

  • Fees are higher compared to other exchanges.
Wealthsimple Crypto

Wealthsimple Crypto

Highlights

  • Sign up in minutes with $0 minimums.
  • No fees to deposit or withdraw.
  • Coins are held by Gemini Trust Company LLC™, a regulated crypto custodian with $200M in cold storage insurance coverage.

Pros

  • No commission.
  • No fees for transferring funds.
  • Availability of educational resources.
  • Perfect for beginners.

Cons

  • Accepts only 2 fiat currencies.
  • High spreads may apply.

Step 1: Choose an exchange where you can buy Solana

Solana is listed on a growing number of crypto exchanges, which is probably the easiest way to buy the token. When comparing exchanges, consider what fees are charged for trades (maker and taker, or a spread), if there is a fee to deposit fiat currency, what order types are available, etc.

Step 2: Get verified

When you open an account on a crypto exchange, you will be asked to provide some personal details such as your name, phone number, email address, etc.

You will then be required to verify your identity for tax purposes. You can authenticate your identity using a valid form of photo ID like your driver’s licence or passport. The verification process takes approximately five minutes. Once your identity has been verified, you can fund your account and start trading.

Step 3: Set a budget

You should only ever invest what you can afford to lose, especially with something as volatile as crypto.

Step 4: Fund your account

You can fund your exchange account with fiat (CAD) transferred from a bank account, debit or credit card. Interac e-Transfer and PayPal may also be accepted. If you use a debit or credit card to deposit funds in your account, you will probably have to pay a transaction fee. If you already have an account on a crypto exchange, you can trade stablecoins and other crypto tokens for SOL.

Note that some exchanges only support crypto-to-crypto purchases.

Step 5: Buy Solana

Use a market order if you want to buy Solana as quickly as possible and don’t mind slippage in the price you pay. At most exchanges it’s also possible to configure an order that will be automatically executed when Solana hits a certain target price.

Depending on the exchange you are using, you may have the option of setting up a recurring order which automatically buys more Solana, for example, every week or month so you can take advantage of dollar cost averaging over time.

Where to store your Solana

For easy access to your SOL tokens, store them in the hot wallet at the exchange where you bought them. You can always transfer them out to a hot wallet you control at a different exchange at a later date. Keep in mind that hot wallets, being connected to the internet, are the less secure option and are vulnerable to hacking, theft, and malware.

Cold wallets are specially designed devices that are not connected to the internet. They are the safer way to store your SOL tokens.