Looking into buying Avalanche cryptocurrency in Canada? Whether you’re an experienced cryptocurrency enthusiast or you’re just getting started in the exciting world of crypto trading, this guide is for you. We’re excited to teach you about Avalanche itself and answer all your questions about buying, storing, and using it!
Avalanche is a multi-faceted blockchain platform with rapid transactions, low fees, and smart contract functionality for building decentralized apps (dApps), blockchain gaming, and NFTs, offering a potential alternative to Ethereum. However, Avalanche has other features that set it apart. It can handle over 4,500 transactions per second in less than two seconds. Users can also contribute to the platform’s development by creating custom blockchains, tokens, and fee structures on its network.
AVAX is the crypto used to power transactions in the Avalanche ecosystem. Avalanche can complete transactions in less than two seconds, surpassing Ethereum’s one-minute transaction finality. Moreover, it can handle a lot of traffic without getting shut down. This is crucial for a platform that wants to be widely used.
And this is because of the way Avalanche runs. It has three blockchains: the X-Chain, C-Chain, and P-Chain. Digital assets can be distributed across these chains to carry out different tasks within the ecosystem.
Avalanche is linked to proof-of-stake (PoS) census because of its staking practices for validator incentives and security. But Avalanche has its special way of doing things. It’s like a combination of proof-of-work (PoW) and proof-of-stake (PoS), but it’s different. It runs through Avalanche’s unique consensus protocol, making it neither purely PoS nor PoW.
In 2018, a team of developers led by blockchain expert Ermin Gün Surer, developed the Avalanche protocol. Surer also founded Ava Labs, the tech company that will manage the blockchain network they developed. However, the original concept behind this project was inspired by a mysterious white paper shared on the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) network by an anonymous group called “Team Rocket.” The goal of Avalanche is to be more affordable, secure, versatile, accessible, and fast.
However, the team needed to raise funds for the project. That’s why AVAX were sold in early 2019 through a seed sale, followed by a private sale in May 2020. Ava Labs finally launched Avalanche to the public in September 2021. In November 2021, the AVAX crypto price reached an all-time high of $144.96 and made it to the top ten cryptocurrencies.
The maximum AVAX supply is capped at 720 million tokens, 50% of which were distributed for staking rewards. The rest were distributed to private and public sales, community funds, incentive programs, and airdrops. AVAX tokens are permanently burned with each transaction, reducing the supply over time.
AVAX can be used to pay transaction fees, and transact between Subnets and tokens created on the Avalanche platform. Did you know that you can also generate passive rewards with Avalanche? Yes, that’s right! You can do this by staking your AVAX tokens to keep the Avalanche network safe and running smoothly. You lock up your AVAX coins for as long as you want, like a few weeks or a year. You’ll receive rewards as new blocks of transactions are added to the blockchain. The longer you stake your tokens, the higher your rewards will be as rewards are paid frequently.
Additionally, the fun part about Avalanche crypto is that it is compatible with Ethereum. You can use the Avalanche Bridge to transfer AVAX crypto from Ethereum to Avalanche. You can even deploy Ethereum smart contracts on Avalanche.
Avalanche is a lightning-fast blockchain platform that’s gaining traction. Unlike many others, it can handle thousands of transactions in seconds, making it a more efficient choice. You can build all sorts of digital projects on it, from online games to financial tools. If you’re looking to invest in a fast and efficient blockchain, Avalanche and its AVAX crypto token are definitely worth considering.
And remember, Coinsquare makes it easy to buy and sell AVAX in Canada. Just sign up with cryptocurrency platforms like Coinsquare and you can be on your way!
If you’re ready to buy Avalanche crypto, Coinsquare is ready to help. Here’s the fastest (and easiest) way to dive in. Want more information? Skip this section and keep reading below.
You will need to go through a few sub-steps to open your account; verify your identity and answer a few onboarding questions.
You’ll use these funds to buy your Avalanche (AVAX)
In this step, you can check the Avalanche price and convert Avalanche (AVAX) to CAD or USD as desired.
You’ll be able to see the list of currencies Coinsquare accepts on this list.
Welcome to Avalanche ownership! The currency is now yours to hold or trade!
When you’re considering investing in something novel like Avalanche (AVAX) cryptocurrency, you might automatically think of big trading platforms in the USA or Europe. Here’s why it’s smart to buy from a Canadian source:
Crypto trading platforms that sell Avalanche (AVAX) in Canada are just as active as the platforms in any other country or international platform. You don’t need to worry that you’re missing out on key opportunities or that you won’t get the best rates or prices.
Platforms registered with the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) are subject to local regulatory oversight and accountability. Always check with the CSA and CIRO for their list of registered crypto trading platforms as well as their banned platforms.
Customer service operates within Canadian time zones and provides service in both official languages to answer any questions about your Avalanche (AVAX) transactions.
Avalanche (AVAX) transactions can be done in CAD, which saves money on currency exchange rates and makes it less complicated to see the value of your assets.
Local funding options like Interac e-transfers can be used to purchase Avalanche (AVAX). There’s no need to set up offshore accounts or use payment services that you’re not familiar with.
There are no deposit fees when you use local banks and local payment methods like Interac e-transfer, giving you security and peace of mind that your money isn’t going through offshore financial institutions.
Deposit and withdrawal times are faster because you’re not relying on international transfers. You want your valuable assets working for you full-time without delay!
Legal recourse and dispute resolution are easier. It’s much simpler to research Canadian regulations and laws concerning your crypto assets and to find local representation for your concerns.
Tax reporting of your Avalanche (AVAX) profits is simpler, and the platform you use may help you with reporting requirements. You only have to concern yourself with Canadian taxation rules.
Now that you’ve got them, what do you do with them? Here are some common uses for cryptocurrency:
If you need to transfer money internationally, you may be able to do it more quickly and with lower fees compared to going through your bank. Peer-to-peer transactions can also be simpler with Avalanche (AVAX) cryptocurrency.
Some online retailers might accept Avalanche (AVAX) along with other cryptocurrencies as payment for goods and services, and some physical stores also accept crypto. You may also be able to pay utility bills, rent, or other recurring expenses, as well as use Avalanche cryptocurrency for travel expenses.
Additionally, you might be able to use cryptocurrency for in-game purchases and other digital assets in some platforms, such as NFTs.
It’s become mainstream for investors to hold cryptocurrency in anticipation of a price increase, the same way you might hold stocks or bonds. This requires knowledge and familiarity with the way crypto markets work, including their inherent and dynamic risks.
You can also trade Avalanche (AVAX) for other cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin and many other crypto coins. These transactions are straightforward on the Coinsquare platform.
Decentralized finance (DeFi) involves financial services and applications that operate on blockchain networks without relying on traditional financial organizations such as banks or individuals like brokers.
As cryptocurrencies become increasingly accepted as currency, their uses will continue to grow. If you’re a cautious investor, you can always start small and continue to educate yourself on the ins and outs of trading Avalanche (AVAX) and other cryptocurrencies. Coinsquare offers you the opportunity to get into crypto investing and trading in an easy, accessible way, with plenty of support!
You have plenty of options for buying Avalanche (AVAX) cryptocurrency. Here are some places you can make your first purchase:
There are Canadian-based platforms as well as international ones. Some international crypto platforms offer support for Canadian dollar transactions; check on this before you sign up if you plan to use Canadian funds. Look for a platform that has a user-friendly interface high security, and that allows you to make your purchases in the currency of your choice. Keep in mind that transacting on non-Canadian platforms can involve additional fees and mark-ups on exchange rates, as well as investor protection risks. Choosing a Canadian platform like Coinsquare means that you can avoid these currency exchange fees and mark-ups, and make sure that your accounts are safely maintained to the highest security standards as any other financial institution in Canada.
P2P platforms allow you to buy, sell, and trade digital assets like Avalanche (AVAX) crypto directly with other people without the involvement of an intermediary like a bank or a centralized platform.
To use a P2P platform for trading cryptocurrencies like Avalanche, you may need to invest time to learn how they work, and you should be prepared to spend more time on each transaction due to the manual work involved.
You can find cryptocurrency ATMs in major cities across Canada. You can use these machines to buy Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies using cash or debit. There are numerous websites and smartphone apps that you can use to locate these machines.
Cryptocurrency brokerage services serve as intermediaries between buyers and sellers. They provide services for both beginning traders, experienced traders, and everything in between.
Brokerage companies are designed to be user-friendly, and many of them provide educational resources such as tutorials and customer support. They can be a valuable resource for people who are short on experience, knowledge, or time.
These services also offer custodial functions such as storage and insurance for assets they hold for their clients. They may also offer portfolio management, similar to other investment service providers.
Unsurprisingly, it can be more expensive to use a brokerage than to trade directly on a trading platform. Users also relinquish some control over their funds and their private keys.
Crypto apps are smartphone applications that give you access to trading platforms but also provide additional functionalities to help you manage your holdings and stay up to date when you’re on the go. Many of these apps also have desktop versions for your convenience. Some of the additional functions of crypto apps are wallet services, portfolio management, and news alerts.
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are pooled investments that can be bought and sold the same way stocks can. ETFs are not actively managed the way mutual funds are because their function is to track the performance of the underlying group of assets rather than trying to outperform it. You might think of it as similar to an index fund, but ETFs can be traded throughout the day, whereas index funds can only be traded once a day after the market closes.
Crypto ETFs use one or more cryptocurrencies, such as Ethereum or Bitcoin, as the underlying asset. They are traded on regular stock exchanges and, therefore, subject to the same regulatory oversights as other assets traded on that exchange.
Although you don’t directly own the cryptocurrency when you invest in an ETF, the additional liquidity, ease of tax reporting, regulatory oversight, and added security make them an attractive option for many investors.
As of August, 2024, Avalanche is not approved for ETFs. Fortunately, there’s always Coinsquare when you want to purchase AVAX in Canada.
Storing cryptocurrency securely is crucial for protecting your digital assets from theft, hacking, and loss. With the increasing use of cryptocurrencies, these threats are ever more prevalent.
When you store cryptocurrency yourself, you are given two keys. The first is your public key, which is used to generate your public address. This key can be shared with others, like an account number. The second key is your private key, a secret alphanumeric code that allows you to access your cryptocurrency. Your private key is similar to a password. The private key is what you are safeguarding in storage because access to your private key means access to your funds.
Storing your Avalanche in your Coinsquare wallet is easy and straightforward. Coinsquare does all the heavy lifting in terms of security and keeping your crypto safe in cold storage. You’ll even benefit from a comprehensive insurance policy on your crypto holdings.
Hot wallets store private keys on devices that are connected to the Internet. Hot wallets are suitable for frequent transactions, but they are more vulnerable to hacking and malware and should not be used exclusively. Hot wallets can be web-, app-, desktop- or hardware-based (held on an external storage device such as a USB).
Cold wallets are offline and, therefore, more secure. They are also called offline wallets or hardware wallets. In general, the safest way to transact with your Avalanche holdings is to keep them in a cold wallet and transfer the amount you need to a hot wallet just before you plan to use it. A special type of cold wallet is the paper wallet, which entails recording your private key manually on a piece of paper (carved in a rock, engraved in a ring, etc), but this has obvious vulnerabilities. Paper wallets should be securely stored in multiple locations.
Custodial wallets are provided by third-party services that store your cryptocurrency on your behalf. Custodial wallets make it easy to buy, sell, and store your Avalanche cryptocurrency, but it means giving a third party your private key. You must be certain of the security measures the third party uses before storing your cryptocurrency with them.
Non-custodial wallets, in contrast, are wallets that don’t involve a third party. Non-custodial wallets can be either hot or cold.
If you choose not to store your AVAX in your Coinsquare wallet where it is protected in cold storage and insured, there are a few things you’ll need to do to increase the security of your digital assets.
Here are some important tips that will help keep your Avalanche holdings safe and secure:
Ready to dive in with your first Avalanche purchase? Coinsquare offers a user-friendly platform that gives you access to over 55 cryptocurrencies, no fee deposits, free withdrawal options, and unmatched customer support. We are the most trusted crypto trading platform in Canada, built by Canadians for Canadians.
With the Coinsquare trading platform, you can start transacting with cryptocurrency in as little as five minutes. Download our app from the Apple App Store or Google Play today and join the exciting world of cryptocurrency trading!
