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CoinSmart Review: A Customer-Centric Crypto Exchange

CoinSmart Review: A Customer-Centric Crypto Exchange

With the advent of cryptocurrency exchanges, it’s never been easier for Canadians to trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and many other crypto coins. One of the more popular exchanges is CoinSmart. Founded in Toronto in 2018, CoinSmart has a lot to offer beginner crypto traders. In this CoinSmart review, I’ll cover everything you need to know, including CoinSmart fees and how to open an account. Ready? Let’s dive in!

CoinSmart: Key Features

  • Eleven available coins
  • Customer service smart guarantee
  • Transparent, competitive pricing
  • Low deposit fees
  • Instant ID verification is available for new accounts
  • Same day payment processing
  • Cold storage security

Getting Started with CoinSmart

CoinSmart makes opening an account easy. They offer instant ID verification, which lets you start trading within minutes of activating your account. Here’s the 5 step process to get started:

  1. On the CoinSmart homepage, select the “Create an Account” or “Get Started” button located in various locations on the page.
  2. Provide your email address and a password. CoinSmart will then send you a confirmation email.
  3. Once your email is verified, you’ll be redirected to a page to confirm your identity. CoinSmart has partnered with Equifax, Canada’s leading credit bureau, to instantly verify your identity. If successful, you’ll be ready to fund your account and begin trading. If not, you’ll have an opportunity to verify your identity by providing the following documents:
  • Recent utility bill displaying your name and address
  • Copy of government-issued ID (passport, DRL)
  • A picture of yourself holding your ID (dated)

4. Once your account is verified, you can deposit Canadian dollars via Interac e-Transfer, wire transfer, bank draft, or debit/credit card.

5. With money in your CoinSmart account, you can begin trading crypto.

What Crypto Coins Are Supported

CoinSmart supports eleven different crypto coins, including major coins like BitCoin and Ethereum and altcoins, like Ripple (XRP) and Stellar (XLM). Here’s the full list of available currencies:

  • Bitcoin (BTC)
  • Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
  • Cardano (ADA)
  • EOS
  • Ethereum (ETH)
  • Litecoin (LTC)
  • NEO
  • QCAD
  • Ripple (XRP)
  • Stellar (XLM)
  • Tether (USDT)

What Are CoinSmart’s Fees?

CoinSmart is very transparent about their fees, with a dedicated page that can be accessed from the main menu of their website home page. Here’s a breakdown of deposit and withdrawal fees, and trading commissions:

Deposits

Funding OptionFee (min-max) Processing Time
Interac e-Transfer1.5% on $100-$1999
0% on $2000-$3000
Same day received
Wire Transfer
0% ($10,000-$5,000,000)Same day received
Bank Draft0% ($500 - $5000)Same day received
Credit/Debit CardsUp to 6% ($100-$5000)Instant processing

Withdrawals

Funding OptionFee (min-max) Processing Time
Electronic Funds
Transfer (EFT)
1% / minimum $15
($50-$15,000)
up to 5 days
Wire Transfer 1% / minimum $15
($10,000 - $1,000,000)
up to 5 days

Trading Fees

Buy/Sell

  • 0.20% single trade / 0.30% double trade

Crypto Withdrawal Fees

CoinSmart has recently changed some of its crypto withdrawal fees:

  • Bitcoin 0.00025
  • Bitcoin Cash 0.0001
  • Cardano 0.30
  • EOS 0.0005
  • Ethereum 0.005
  • Litecoin 0.001
  • Ripple 0.002
  • Stellar 0.00003
  • Tether 15.00

CoinSmart OTC

CoinSmart offers Over-The-Counter (OTC) services for premium traders placing large orders. OTC customers receive discounted pricing, same-day settlement, a dedicated CoinSmart Premium Account Manager, and VIP access to CoinSmart events, among other benefits.

CoinSmart Customer Service SmartGuarantee

CoinSmart is committed to customer service, evidenced by their SmartGuarantee, which you can read about in the Features section of their website. Here’s a synopsis of what’s covered:

  • Deposits will be credited to clients account on the day they are received
  • Cash withdrawals processed within 5 business days
  • Account verifications processed the same day

They continue by letting you know what will happen if they miss their SmartGuarantee. For example:

  • If a deposit is not credited on the day it’s received, you will be reimbursed for the deposit fee.
  • If your withdrawal is not processed within 5 business days, you will be reimbursed for the withdrawal fee
  • If your account is not verified on the same day it’s opened, you won’t be charged for your first deposit

Is CoinSmart Safe?

When comparing cryptocurrency exchanges, it’s important to know the steps each one is taking to protect the privacy and security of its customers. With that in mind, is CoinSmart a safe place to invest your coins?

The answer is yes. For starters, CoinSmart is registered with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), which searches for and detects money laundering and terrorist financing activities.

When you open a CoinSmart account, you are required to set up two-factor authentication (2FA), which acts as an additional layer of security when logging into your account.

As I mentioned earlier, CoinSmart can offer instant ID verification by using Equifax databases. This helps to prevent fraudsters from opening accounts with fake addresses, birthdates, etc.

Lastly, CoinSmart offers offline, cold storage for all of the coins offered on its platform via a digital wallet.

CoinSmart Pros and Cons

CoinSmart has some excellent features that make it a great all-around crypto exchange. To summarize, I’ve compiled the following list of pros and cons:

Pros

  • Offers a large number of coins (11)
  • A trading platform designed for crypto traders of all levels
  • Transparent pricing, free Canadian dollar deposits $2000 and up
  • Trading fees are competitive
  • 24/7 customer support is better than other exchanges
  • No longer a Canadian-only exchange – available in 15 countries worldwide

Cons

  • Mobile app iOS only
  • Fiat deposits Canadian dollars only.
  • Long processing time for withdrawals – up to 5 days

Final Thoughts on CoinSmart

In my mind, there are four or five what I would consider “top-tier” crypto exchanges in Canada. In other words, there are no glaring holes or flaws. They offer a good selection of coins, slick trading platforms, competitive pricing that’s also transparent, along with a solid customer service track record. While it’s not our top-rated exchange (that title belongs to Bitbuy), CoinSmart ranks near the top. It’s a great all-around Canadian-based exchange with features that will satisfy traders of all levels.

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