Will Canada Lead on Digital Assets?

With Canada's federal election less than one week away, Canadians are closely watching how political leaders intend to address digital assets. Millions of Canadians hold, use, or work in crypto, making it a growing focal point for economic growth and innovation. This politically prominent and growing community is shaping conversations about the future of finance, with voters signaling cautious openness, not to ban or ignore crypto, but to responsibly integrate it into Canada’s financial system with clear protections, accountability, and forward-looking Skurka is a speaker at Consensus 2025, in Toronto May 15, appearing with Kevin O'Leary on Mainstage.
Canada’s leadership in digital assets isn’t theoretical. It has evolved through first-of-its-kind milestones, homegrown innovation, and meaningful regulatory advancements, including:
Canada installed the world’s first Bitcoin ATM in Toronto in 2013;Ethereum, co-founded by Canadian Vitalik Buterin, began in Canada in 2015;Vancouver’s Dapper Labs introduced groundbreaking NFT platforms like NBA Top Shot, which launched in 2020;The Ontario Securities Commission and Canadian Securities Administration introduced a novel regulatory framework for crypto trading platforms in 2021; andRegulatory initiatives such as Alberta's fintech sandbox and blockchain innovation hubs actively support industry growth, which launched around 2022.
Voter Momentum and Public Sentiment
The pro-crypto voter base is large, diverse, informed, and engaged. According to a survey bu Nanos Research for the Canadian Web3 Council:
Younger Canadians and those with direct investment experience tend to view crypto favourably, indicating a generational and experiential shift in sentiment.60% of Canadians surveyed support the federal government working with industry experts to develop cryptocurrency regulations and protect public interest. Only about one in five surveyed were opposed.48% of Canadians say the government should implement a strategy for a “more accessible, inclusive, and effective financial ecosystem” that includes digital assets.
This engaged voter base, the majority being under 50, represents a significant political force. The election and subsequent administration offer policymakers a chance to support voters’ eagerness for clarity around Canada's digital future.
In 2022, the (pro-crypto) Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre made headlines for advocating financial freedom through Bitcoin and decentralized finance, calling for less control from politicians and bankers and more power in the hands of individuals. He said he wanted to make Canada “the blockchain capital of the world,” allowing people to “opt out” of inflation by using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.