Crypto30 July, 20262 min read
Ontario Securities Commission Survey Finds 25% of Canadians Own Crypto in 2026
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25% of Canadians owned crypto in 2026, up from 10% in 2023. Ontario Securities Commission surveyed Canadians in late 2025 and early 2026.
Canada crypto adoption jumps
Crypto ownership in Canada rose to 25% in 2026 from 10% in 2023, according to research from the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC). The OSC surveyed 2,360 Canadians aged 18 and over between December 2025 and January 2026, finding that 59% of respondents were aware of crypto assets and 25% reported owning cryptocurrencies.
“25% of Canadians owned crypto in 2026, up from 10% in 2023.”
Naizam Kanji, the OSC’s executive vice president of strategic regulation, said, "Crypto markets continue to evolve, and Canadians are participating in them more than ever before." The survey also found that about 50% of crypto owners reported checking whether a platform was registered before using it, even as regulators warn that many investors misunderstand platform protections and industry rules.
Confusion over protections
While awareness reached 59% in the OSC survey, the regulator found that knowledge of crypto protections remained limited, including misunderstandings about regulation, insurance protections, and transaction capabilities. About 50% of crypto owners said they check whether a platform is registered before opening an account or completing a transaction, but the OSC reported that many respondents still had "some misunderstanding" around key issues.
U.Today also said the survey showed that many Canadians still misunderstand how crypto works, especially in areas including regulation, investor protection, and insurance coverage. In the OSC findings, the gap matters because crypto holdings typically do not receive the same protections as deposits kept at regulated banks, and blockchain transactions can be difficult or impossible to reverse after funds are sent to a fraudulent address.
Ottawa moves to restrict
As ownership rises, Canada’s federal government outlined plans to prohibit crypto ATMs nationwide in its Spring Economic Update 2026, describing the machines as a frequent tool for scammers seeking to collect money from victims or process illicit cash. The OSC survey’s adoption-and-understanding split arrives alongside Ottawa’s legislative direction, including a bill introduced in March that would restrict cryptocurrency donations to political groups.
“Ottawa considers tougher restrictions on some uses of digital assets.”
Crypto News | Other reported that officials described investigations in which crypto ATMs were cited as a channel through which fraud victims are instructed to transfer funds, and that payments sent through these machines can be difficult to recover once completed. The same policy package would create a sharper divide in Canada’s approach to crypto by continuing to allow regulated ownership and financial products while restricting channels viewed as vulnerable to fraud, hidden funding, or illicit activity.