Canada
4.1% of Canadians own cryptocurrency
How many cryptocurrency owners are there in Canada?
It is estimated that over 1.6 million people, or 4.1% of Canada’s total population, currently own cryptocurrency.
Demographics of Canadian cryptocurrency owners
A 2022 Capterra survey of 1,000 Canadian respondents showed that cryptocurrencies use is more prevalent in younger demographics. Among the cryptocurrencies owners, 34% are between 18 and 22 while 41% are between 23 and 35. (2)
Canadians' sentiment towards cryptocurrencies
Receiving payments in cryptocurrencies is gathering interest in Canada. The same survey by Capterra found that 62% of participants are interested in being paid in cryptocurrencies over the next five years. (3)
The surveyors also found that 1 in 4 participants already owns cryptocurrencies, with 58% starting their cryptocurrency journey during the pandemic lockdowns, when they had more time to research and learn about digital assets. Of the respondents, 37% said they plan to buy cryptocurrencies soon.
Canadian regulators have also generally maintained a flexible and innovative approach to regulation, as seen from their approval of cryptocurrency-based ETFs and the creation of a workable regulatory oversight and compliance structure under provincial securities legislation. (4) The country has a relatively supportive regulatory environment for cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, which has encouraged market growth.
Cryptocurrencies’s rising popularity in Canada
- Cryptocurrencies Trading Firm Cumberland Can Trade Cryptocurrencies With Canadian Dollars – Jan 2023
Clients of Cumberland DRW – a prominent liquidity provider in digital assets – can now trade cryptocurrencies denominated in Canadian dollars. This new capability, said Cumberland in a Twitter post, will reduce friction and simplify the transaction process for its trusted large institutional customers.
- Canadian Cryptocurrencies Exchanges Coinsquare, WonderFi in Advanced Talks to Merge: Bloomberg – Jan 2023
Coinsquare Ltd. and WonderFi Technologies (WNDR) are in advanced talks to merge and become Canada’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, according to a report from Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter.
- Canada Announces Cryptocurrencies, Stablecoin Consultation in New Budget Statement – Nov 2022
The federal government plans to examine cryptocurrencies, which it said are “transforming financial systems” worldwide.