KOHO launches crypto trading in Canada for app users

KOHO has launched KOHO Crypto in Canada, adding digital asset trading to the app used by more than 2.5 million people.

The product lets users buy, hold and manage cryptocurrencies within the existing KOHO app, rather than moving money to a separate platform. Offered through a partnership with Canadian crypto exchange Ndax, it provides access to more than 20 coins, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana.

Trading fees start at 0.5% per transaction for members on KOHO's Everything plan, rising to 1% for Extra and Essential members and 1.5% for non-members. Users can start with as little as CAD $1, fund purchases directly from their KOHO balance and deposit Bitcoin from external wallets.

All transactions are priced in Canadian dollars, with no foreign exchange fees or hidden spreads, according to KOHO. The product also includes price alerts, recurring purchases and in-app educational tools.

Market access

The launch comes as financial technology groups look for ways to bring crypto trading into mainstream consumer banking apps. In Canada, interest in digital assets has continued despite volatility in crypto prices and broader concerns about cost, trust and the complexity of using specialist exchanges.

By placing the service inside its main app, Toronto-based KOHO is targeting users who already use the platform for spending, saving and credit-building tools. Founded in 2014, the company has built its business around fee-based memberships and app-based personal finance services.

Ndax provides the exchange infrastructure behind the service. The majority of assets are held with qualified custodians through Ndax's regulated set-up, according to KOHO.

Chief Executive Officer Daniel Eberhard said the launch responds to consumer demand for broader options in managing their finances.

"Access has been one of the biggest barriers for the average Canadian to dive into crypto," Eberhard said.

"We're also seeing growing demand from people who want more flexible ways to build wealth, especially at a moment when financial pressure and instability are high. By bringing crypto into an environment Canadians already trust, we're making that access more practical and aligned with how people actually manage their money," he added.

Competitive field

The move places KOHO in a crowded yet still-developing market for consumer crypto services in Canada. Specialist exchanges have long offered direct access to digital assets, but app-based finance providers are increasingly adding crypto to their broader product mix.

For companies such as KOHO, the strategy can deepen engagement by keeping more financial activity inside a single app. For users, the appeal may lie in simpler funding, familiar account management and pricing in local currency.

At the same time, crypto remains a higher-risk asset class than many mainstream savings and investment products. Price swings can be sharp, and regulators continue to examine how platforms present digital assets to retail customers.

KOHO framed the launch as an effort to lower barriers that have discouraged some Canadians from entering the market, including the need to move funds between platforms, uncertainty about fees, and concerns about the reliability of lesser-known providers.

Recurring purchases are available to support dollar-cost averaging, a common approach retail investors use to spread purchases over time. Users can also set alerts for price movements within the app.

KOHO has expanded beyond its original prepaid spending card model to offer a broader range of personal finance products, such as savings features, overdraft protection, and credit-building services. Adding crypto further broadens that offering, placing digital assets alongside its day-to-day money management tools.

The service is aimed at Canadians who want access to crypto without leaving the app they already use for routine financial activities. Users can start trading with CAD $1.