Netcoins

Netcoins is a fully regulated Canadian cryptocurrency exchange that has served retail and institutional clients since 2014. Built around Canadian regulatory requirements from the start, the platform offers self-directed trading, staking, over-the-counter (OTC) services, and — as of mid-2026 — embedded crypto-backed lending. It is operated by Surge Digital Inc. (TSXV: SRGE), a publicly traded holding company that rebranded from BIGG Digital Assets Inc. on August 26, 2026, alongside a seven-for-one share consolidation.

Regulatory Foundation

Netcoins distinguishes itself among Canadian crypto exchanges through its compliance infrastructure. The platform is registered with FINTRAC as a Money Services Business (registration #M15560893) and holds a Restricted Dealer registration with provincial securities commissions across Canada. The Canadian Securities Administrators issued an Amended Decision covering Netcoins on September 29, 2025. Asset custody is handled through institutional-grade partners Fireblocks and BitGo, and the platform completed a SOC 2 Type 1 audit in September 2025.

This regulatory depth is deliberate. Canadian securities regulators applied stricter rules to crypto trading platforms than most jurisdictions after 2022, requiring exchanges operating domestically to register or exit the market. Netcoins positioned its compliance posture as a competitive advantage, summarized in its tagline: "Built for Canadians. Backed by Trust."

Products and Services

The core offering is a self-directed trading platform supporting 60-plus cryptocurrencies, accessible via web, iOS, and Android. Trading carries a flat 0.5% fee with no charge for account funding through Interac e-Transfer or bank wire — a deliberate design choice to lower the friction cost for Canadian retail investors. Limit orders, price alerts via SMS, email, and push notification, and a portfolio dashboard round out the self-directed experience.

Beyond retail trading, Netcoins operates an OTC desk for large-volume institutional transactions, API access for programmatic traders, and custody solutions for enterprises. Staking is available on proof-of-stake assets including Ethereum, Solana, and Cosmos, with advertised yields reaching up to 15% annually depending on the asset and network conditions.

The most significant product expansion came in July 2026 when Netcoins launched crypto-backed lending in partnership with APX Lending, making it the first embedded crypto lending product available within a Canadian exchange. APX Lending holds exemptive relief from the Canadian Securities Administrators — the first crypto-backed lender in Canada to receive this designation, granted on April 1, 2025. The feature allows Netcoins users to borrow against Bitcoin or Ethereum collateral, with loans starting at CAD 10,000, up to a 60% loan-to-value ratio, terms ranging from three to sixty months, and interest rates starting at 9.99%. Loan proceeds are disbursed in Canadian dollars with same-day funding once collateral is received.

Solana Staking Infrastructure

Netcoins' connection to the Solana ecosystem is primarily through its staking product. In October 2025, Netcoins selected SOL Strategies Inc. as its Solana staking validator partner. SOL Strategies — the first publicly traded company combining a Solana treasury with a validator business — operates four validators serving over 15,000 unique wallets, with institutional clients accessing the infrastructure through BitGo and Crypto.com as custodians.

The partnership was framed around regulatory compliance as much as yield. As SOL Strategies COO Andrew McDonald described it, "Regulated exchanges like Netcoins need industry leading partners who can provide high yielding tech within institutional compliance frameworks." Netcoins transitioned its Solana staking operations to SOL Strategies' validator infrastructure following the announcement, giving retail customers access to enhanced staking yields while keeping the arrangement within the constraints of Canadian securities regulations.

Growth Trajectory

Netcoins processed approximately CAD 830 million in trading volume in 2024, with more than 27,000 new user registrations that year and CAD 205 million in assets under custody. The platform accelerated sharply in 2025: Q1 trading volume reached CAD 334 million, a 26% increase over the prior year, and the full-year 2025 trading volume surpassed CAD 1.068 billion — more than doubling the 2024 figure. By Q3 2025, trading and staking revenue reached CAD 2.8 million for the quarter, with the platform holding approximately CAD 18 million in cash and digital assets and more than CAD 225 million in assets under custody.

The parent company's rebrand from BIGG Digital Assets to Surge Digital Inc. effective August 26, 2026 signals a strategic pivot in corporate identity, though Netcoins continues to operate under its own brand. Surge Digital also owns Blockchain Intelligence Group, a blockchain analytics and compliance firm, and TerraZero, a metaverse infrastructure company — a portfolio that reflects a broader digital assets thesis.

Canadian Market Context

Canada's crypto exchange landscape thinned considerably after the Canadian Securities Administrators began enforcement in 2023, requiring platforms serving Canadian residents to register with provincial regulators. Several international exchanges exited rather than comply. Netcoins' domestic focus — Canadian dollar funding rails, Canadian customer support around the clock, and registration with provincial regulators — positioned it to capture users migrating away from exchanges that exited or restricted Canadian access.

The embedded lending launch in July 2026 extended this positioning into a segment of crypto finance largely unavailable to Canadian retail investors prior to APX Lending's regulatory approval. Allowing users to access liquidity against crypto holdings without triggering a taxable sale is a meaningful capability for longer-term holders, and Netcoins became the first retail platform to offer it within a fully regulated Canadian framework.

With over a billion Canadian dollars in annual trading volume, institutional-grade custody through Fireblocks and BitGo, Solana staking infrastructure through SOL Strategies, and a freshly launched lending product, Netcoins occupies a distinct position in the Canadian crypto market: a retail-accessible exchange built from the ground up for domestic regulatory requirements rather than retrofitted to meet them.