These six brokers are internationally regulated and funded primarily through global rails — cards, wire transfer, e-wallets and (on most) cryptocurrency — rather than Canadian-specific options like Interac. Here's how the common methods compare.
| Method | Speed (deposit) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Debit / credit card | Instant | Quick top-ups; supported by all six brokers |
| Bank wire transfer | Same day–3 business days | Larger deposits; withdrawal fees often apply (e.g. StarTrader $25, Bullwaves €10 under €100) |
| E-wallets (Skrill, Neteller) | Instant–hours | Fast deposits and withdrawals; typically 1–2% provider fees on receipt |
| Cryptocurrency (BTC, USDT) | Minutes–1 hour | Available at VT Markets, PU Prime, Bullwaves and Kudotrade |
Withdrawals: what actually matters
Every one of these brokers returns funds by the method you deposited with first, up to the deposited amount (standard anti-money-laundering practice), so your deposit choice determines your withdrawal speed too. Card withdrawals are typically fastest to process but must return to the originating card within a set window (often 90 days). Reported withdrawal timelines varied most for the newer brokers on this list — Bullwaves and Kudotrade — where we'd recommend testing a small withdrawal early rather than waiting until you need a large one back.
A note on bonus credit and withdrawals
If you accept a deposit bonus, remember the credit itself is not withdrawable. Most brokers deduct a proportional share of your remaining bonus credit if you withdraw part of your deposit or profits, so a bonus can quietly restrict how freely you move money out. Factor this in before opting in, not after.
Currency conversion costs
Most of these brokers denominate accounts in USD by default; if you fund from a CAD bank account, your bank or card network will apply its own conversion spread — typically 1–3%. Where a broker offers multi-currency accounts, opening in USD and converting at your bank's best rate before funding is usually cheaper than letting the broker convert CAD on deposit.
Broker-by-broker minimum deposits
| Broker | Minimum deposit | Deposit methods | |
|---|---|---|---|
| VT Markets | $50 (Standard/Raw ECN) · from $0.01 on Cent accounts | Card, bank transfer, Skrill, Neteller, BTC, USDT | Open Account |
| StarTrader | $50 (Standard, Pro/ECN and Islamic accounts) | Card, bank transfer, e-wallets, crypto (select entities) | Open Account |
| PU Prime | $20 (Cent) · $50 (Standard) · $1,000 (Prime/ECN) | Card, bank transfer, Skrill, Neteller, USDT-TRC20 | Open Account |
| Axi | $0 on Standard and Pro accounts | Card, bank transfer, e-wallets | Open Account |
| Bullwaves | $100 (Classic) · $3,000 (VIP) · $5,000 (ECN) | Card, wire transfer, e-wallets | Open Account |
| Kudotrade | $50 (Standard) · $5,000 (Pro) | Card, bank transfer, cryptocurrency | Open Account |