Real-time prices, institutional market data, and honest risk education — everything you need before making a decision.
Publicly reported data from the world's largest financial institutions. Factual market context — not a signal to buy or sell.
Commonly cited factors in Bitcoin market analysis. Understanding them helps you form your own informed view.
Chart showing Bitcoin's full cycle including peaks and severe crashes. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
⚠️ Past performance does not predict future results. Bitcoin has experienced 70–85% drawdowns multiple times. You could lose everything.
Approximate 10-year returns (2015–2025). Bitcoin's gains came with extreme volatility — including crashes exceeding 80%.
All exchanges linked from Financial Chronicle are FINTRAC-registered or internationally regulated. Verify before depositing.
Open Your Account →Before investing anything, understand what you're actually buying. Below is a factual overview of the main assets.
Bitcoin is the world's first decentralized digital currency, created in 2009 by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto. It operates without a central authority — transactions are verified by a distributed network of computers and recorded on a public blockchain. Its fixed supply of 21 million coins is enforced by code, making it deflationary by design. Bitcoin is often called "digital gold" and is primarily used as a store of value rather than a medium of exchange.
What you're actually buying: You are buying a unit of a cryptographic protocol. There is no government backing, no physical asset, and no central authority. The value is driven entirely by what others are willing to pay.
⚡ Live price fetched from Binance API every 15 seconds. Always verify on your chosen exchange before transacting.
Ethereum is a programmable blockchain platform that allows developers to build decentralized applications (dApps) and "smart contracts" — self-executing code that runs without intermediaries. It is the foundation of most DeFi (Decentralized Finance) protocols and NFT marketplaces. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum has no fixed supply cap, though its issuance rate has been reduced significantly after the 2022 "Merge" upgrade to Proof-of-Stake.
Key difference from Bitcoin: ETH is not just a currency — it is a utility token required to pay for computational operations on the Ethereum network ("gas fees"). Its value is tied to the usage of the Ethereum ecosystem.
⚠️ ETH is typically more volatile than BTC and carries additional smart contract risk on top of standard crypto risk.
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a stable value, typically pegged 1:1 to the US dollar. USD Coin (USDC) is backed by actual cash and short-term US government bonds held in reserve. Tether (USDT) is similar but has faced scrutiny over its reserves. They are commonly used by traders to park funds without exiting the crypto ecosystem.
Important — stablecoins are NOT risk-free: TerraUSD (UST) collapsed in May 2022, wiping out $40+ billion in value in days. That was an algorithmic stablecoin with no real backing. Even fiat-backed stablecoins carry counterparty risk (the issuer could fail), regulatory risk, and de-pegging risk in market stress events.
*"Lower volatility" compared to BTC/ETH does not mean safe. Always research the reserve backing of any stablecoin before using it.
DeFi refers to financial services built on blockchain networks — lending, borrowing, trading, and earning yield — all without banks or traditional intermediaries. Instead of a bank approving your loan, smart contract code executes it automatically. Popular platforms include Uniswap (decentralized exchange), Aave (lending), and Compound (yield).
How it works: You deposit crypto as collateral, and the smart contract manages the loan automatically. "Yield farming" involves moving funds between protocols to maximize returns. Liquidity providers earn fees from traders using the pools.
The risks are extreme: Smart contract bugs have cost users billions (Ronin hack: $625M, Poly Network: $600M, Wormhole: $320M). There is no customer support, no CDIC insurance, no way to reverse transactions. You are interacting directly with code. One wrong click can mean permanent, unrecoverable loss.
⚠️ DeFi is suitable only for technically sophisticated users who deeply understand what they are doing. Not recommended for beginners.
Custodial wallets (exchanges): When you buy on Kraken or Coinbase, they hold your crypto on your behalf. You have a login, they hold the actual private keys. This is simpler but means you trust the exchange — and exchanges can be hacked, go bankrupt, or freeze withdrawals (as FTX did in 2022, costing users $8B+).
Non-custodial wallets (self-custody): You hold your own private key — a 12–24 word "seed phrase" that gives access to your funds. Examples: Ledger hardware wallet, MetaMask (browser extension). "Not your keys, not your coins." If you lose your seed phrase, your funds are gone forever — there is no recovery option.
Hot vs Cold wallets: Hot wallets are connected to the internet (mobile/browser apps) — more convenient but more vulnerable. Cold wallets (hardware devices like Ledger Nano) are offline — far more secure for large amounts.
💡 Beginner advice: Start on a reputable, FINTRAC-registered exchange (custodial). Consider self-custody only after thoroughly researching the risks of managing your own keys.
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Cryptocurrency is highly speculative. These are not just disclaimers — these are real outcomes that happen to real people every day.
If your crypto investment went to zero tomorrow, would it affect your rent, food, bills, or family? If yes — you cannot afford to invest in crypto. Never borrow to invest. Never invest emergency funds. Only risk money you are truly prepared to never see again.
Only use exchanges registered with FINTRAC (Canada's financial intelligence unit). This is your primary protection.
Yes, but regulated. FINTRAC requires all crypto exchanges operating in Canada to register as Money Services Businesses (MSBs). Provincial securities commissions also oversee certain crypto activities. Always use FINTRAC-registered platforms.
Most regulated exchanges allow deposits starting at $10–50 CAD. You can buy fractional Bitcoin — you do not need to buy a whole coin. However, never invest more than you can afford to lose entirely, regardless of the amount.
Nobody can reliably answer this. Bitcoin has existed since 2009 and has had multiple boom-and-bust cycles. Some entered at $69,000 in 2021 and waited years to recover. Others entered during crashes and profited. There is no "right time" — only the time you are comfortable with the risk.
The CRA treats cryptocurrency as a commodity. Every disposal (sale, trade, or using crypto to buy something) is a taxable event. You must report capital gains or losses. If you received crypto as income (mining, staking), it's taxable as income. Consult a Canadian tax professional familiar with crypto.
It depends on the exchange's insurance and policies. CDIC does not cover crypto. Some exchanges like Coinbase have crime insurance. FTX's collapse in 2022 left users with pennies on the dollar. This is why choosing a FINTRAC-registered, reputable exchange matters — and why self-custody via hardware wallet is recommended for large holdings.
Report immediately to: the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501), your local police, FINTRAC, and your bank if fiat was involved. Crypto scam losses are extremely difficult to recover. Prevention is the only reliable protection — never send crypto to anyone you don't fully trust in person.
All exchanges we link to are FINTRAC-registered or internationally regulated. Read the risks section first. Only invest what you can afford to lose.
Open Your Account Safely →Not financial advice. Cryptocurrency involves significant risk of loss.