Canada's Crypto Ownership Doubles to 25%: OSC Survey

Canada's crypto market is maturing faster than most. A new survey from the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) found that 25% of Canadians now own cryptocurrency or crypto-related investment products, more than double the 10% recorded in 2023.

The jump comes as the country pairs early regulatory clarity with growing institutional participation and rising interest in stablecoins and tokenized assets.

The OSC's survey of 2,360 Canadian adults found 38% are likely to buy crypto within the next 12 months. Meanwhile, 22% of Canadians consult a financial advisor before investing, up from 13% in 2023.

Nearly 39% of advised investors said their financial advisor recommended digital assets, a sign of growing confidence among traditional wealth managers. At the same time, 50% of respondents said they verified whether a crypto platform was registered before investing, underscoring the importance of regulated market infrastructure.

Canada's digital asset ecosystem is also more diverse. The OSC found 34% of Canadians are familiar with stablecoins, while 11% reported holding or using one in the past year.

Among stablecoin users, 38% used them to trade other cryptocurrencies, 36% converted them into cash, 30% earned yield, and 24% used them for payments. Interest in tokenized assets is emerging too: 74% of respondents familiar with tokenization said they would consider investing in tokenized government bonds or money market funds if offered by their bank or investment firm.

Trading activity remains robust. Canada accounted for an estimated $340 billion in on-chain cryptocurrency value received between July 2024 and June 2025, according to Chainalysis' latest Geography of Cryptocurrency report. That's well below the U.S., but the country still ranks among the world's leading jurisdictions for regulated crypto activity and institutional adoption.

The adoption surge comes as Canada continues refining its regulatory framework. Earlier this year, the federal government unveiled its proposed stablecoin framework, outlining rules on reserve backing, redemption rights, governance, and oversight for payment stablecoins.

Beyond regulation, Canada was the first country to approve spot Bitcoin ETFs and now hosts multiple regulated Bitcoin and Ethereum investment products. It is also home to publicly listed firms such as WonderFi, Coinsquare, and Hut 8, which continue expanding the country's digital asset ecosystem.

The findings land as the U.S. moves forward on its own crypto legislation. Senator Cynthia Lummis confirmed the CLARITY Act will get a Senate floor vote next week, ahead of the August recess. That bill's progress, or lack of it, could shape whether Canada's regulatory head start turns into a lasting competitive edge.

Canada's stablecoin framework, if finalized, would give issuers a clear path to operate legally, a contrast with the patchwork of state-level rules in the U.S. The OSC survey suggests Canadians are already responding to that clarity: the share of investors checking platform registration has climbed, and advisors are increasingly comfortable recommending digital assets.

One open question is whether the growth in ownership translates into deeper liquidity for Canadian platforms. The $340 billion in on-chain value received is a measure of activity, not necessarily of domestic trading volume. Still, the combination of rising retail ownership, advisor participation, and institutional products puts Canada in a position few other countries match.

The OSC plans to release further data from the survey in the coming months. The next concrete marker is the Senate vote on the CLARITY Act, scheduled for next week.