Crypto.com Secures Restricted Dealer License in Canada—While Quietly Sidestepping US Regulatory Headaches
Crypto.com just pulled off a regulatory hat-trick north of the border, landing restricted dealer registration in Canada. The move comes as the exchange continues its global expansion—conveniently avoiding the SEC’s enforcement-happy jurisdiction.
Canadian crypto traders now get another ’compliant’ playground, complete with all the KYC paperwork and half the innovation of DeFi. Meanwhile, US investors are left watching from the sidelines—unless they fancy VPNs and regulatory arbitrage.
Another day, another exchange playing hopscotch with global regulators while traditional finance clutches its pearls. At least someone’s keeping the compliance lawyers employed.
The strict measures of Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA)
In August 2022, Crypto.com agreed to a Pre-registration Undertaking with both the CSA and the OSC. This made it the first crypto trading site to do so. From that point on, Crypto.com has been in talks with Canadian regulators to meet the standards for being named a restricted dealer.
According to CSA, restricted dealer registration is “a special kind of dealing registration used for firms that do not quite fit under any other category.” Regulators set individual requirements for firms with this standing.
Legal information source JD Supra says that international dealers can’t trade with Canadian customers in debt or equity securities from Canadian issuers other than the government for Canadian issuers.
Crypto.com’s new license in Canada is not the first big move by the crypto exchange in the country. The platform has unrestricted licenses with different US Money Transmitter Licenses, US Designated Contracts Market and Derivatives Clearing Organization licenses, a Major Payment Institution license in Singapore, a UK Electronic Money Institution license, a VIRTUAL Asset Service Provider license in Dubai, and a MiCA license in the EU.
According to the requirements, local crypto trading platforms should comply with stricter custody standards, restrictions on the use of leverage, and a ban on trading stablecoins without prior written consent from the CSA.
Joe Anzures, President of Crypto.com Custody Trust Company, said, “Crypto.com Custody Trust Company looks forward to providing secure custody services to the Canadian market and […] operate in accordance with the high standards established by Canadian securities regulators.”
Crypto.com Exchange Joins Lynq Network
On the same day it was licensed, Crypto.com Exchange joined the Lynq network as its first exchange partner. It has embraced real-time settlement and yield-on-transfer capabilities. According to the exchange, the partnership enables it to enhance how capital flows through crypto markets by reducing risk and improving efficiency for institutional clients.
🚨 Breaking: @cryptocom has joined the @Lynq_Network network as a launch partner, becoming the first digital asset exchange to integrate with our real-time, yield-bearing settlement platform.
The future of institutional settlement starts now. 🔗 https://t.co/MFE4x0rgyz
#Lynq… pic.twitter.com/JIbzaWkqqG
— Arca (@arca) May 8, 2025
Through integration, Crypto.com joins a group of banking and crypto companies that includes B2C2, Galaxy, Wintermute, and US Bank. Using Lynq’s infrastructure, Crypto.com institutional users can now fund trade accounts or settle positions faster with just one click. This prevents the delays that come with older settlement systems.
“Joining Lynq aligns with Crypto.com’s commitment to driving innovation and fostering greater efficiency within the digital assets ecosystem,” said Eric Anzaini, President and COO at Crypto.com. “We believe that Lynq will offer significant benefits to the institutions we serve, and we are proud to be the first digital asset exchange to leverage this technology.”
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