How to buy Optimism (OP) in Canada

With a market cap of $573,792,349.00 USD, Optimism ranks as the 143^rd largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization in the world. It is currently trading at a price of $0.30 USD per coin and trades using the cryptocurrency code OP.

Optimism is a highly volatile asset capable of major price swings in a single day. So before you buy Optimism, make sure you understand these unique risks as well as its tax and legal status in Canada.

If you want to buy Optimism in Canada or track its performance, keep reading to see the latest OP price, market cap and trading volume along with a step-by-step guide on how to invest in OP crypto in Canada.

Optimism (OP) summary

Current price	$0.30
All-time high	$4.84
All-time low	$0.25
1-year price change	▼ -79.54%
Market cap	$573.79M
Market cap rank	#143
Total volume (24h)	$63.95M
Circulating supply	1,944,092,497
Max supply	4,294,967,296
Where to buy OP	Buy on Kraken

All monetary values in this table are in USD and were last updated on January 28, 2026.

How to buy Optimism in 5 steps

The whole process of buying OP can take as little as 15 minutes, and all you need is a smartphone or computer, an internet connection, photo identification and a means of payment. Follow these five steps to learn how to buy Optimism in Canada:

1. Compare crypto exchanges

   The easiest way to buy Optimism is through a cryptocurrency exchange. Choose an exchange that offers low fees, a user-friendly platform or 24-hour customer support. You can easily see top picks in our guide to the best crypto exchanges in Canada, or compare options below.

2. Create an account

   To create an account on an exchange, you will need to provide an email address, come up with a strong password and verify your identity through a process called KYC, which requires government-issued photo ID.

3. Make a deposit

   Once verified, you can deposit CAD using the payment method that best suits you. Common methods like Interac e-Transfer, bank wire and debit card payments are widely accepted on Canadian-friendly exchanges.

4. Buy Optimism

   You can now exchange your funds for Optimism. On beginner-friendly exchanges, this is as simple as searching for the coin name (Optimism) or its crypto code (OP), entering the CAD or OP amount you want to purchase and clicking "Buy."

5. Secure your Optimism

   Consider transferring your OP to help protect against hacks, scams, platforms going bankrupt and other risks of keeping crypto on an exchange.

Dive deeper: Our guide to how to trade crypto

Where to buy Optimism in Canada

We've curated a list of legitimate crypto exchanges below where you can buy Optimism in Canada to help you compare deposit methods, supported fiat currencies and fees.

Optimism price

The recent Optimism (OP) price is $0.30 USD per coin, which is -0.82% lower than the previous day's trading price of $0.30 USD. Over the past 30 days, OP's price has changed by +8.16%, from $0.27 USD to the current price of $0.30 USD. Compared to this time last year, Optimism's price has seen a decrease of -79.54% to its value as a cryptocurrency.

What is Optimism's all-time high?

Optimism reached its all-time high of $4.84 USD on March 6, 2024. After that, it dropped by -94.80% to its all-time low of $0.25 USD on December 26, 2025. It has since climbed back up to its current price of $0.30 USD.

Historical Optimism price chart

You can use this chart to track OP price performance over time.

Can I buy Optimism in Canada?

Yes, you can buy Optimism in Canada. Simply open an account with a crypto exchange that operates in Canada and supports Optimism—like the ones in our curated list above—and place a "buy" order. For example, Kraken supports Optimism and is a registered crypto exchange in Canada.

Because Optimism is decentralized, it isn't tied to any single country. That means you can buy and sell it from anywhere in the world, including Canada, as long as you have internet access.

What will I need to buy Optimism?

To create an account with your chosen crypto platform, you only need an email address or mobile number. This will usually allow you to deposit cryptocurrency, but not CAD.

If you want to buy Optimism with Canadian dollars, you'll need to pass a Know Your Customer (KYC) check.

This is a standard security procedure for most exchanges in Canada and requires you to upload government-issued photo ID, and, in some cases, a selfie with today's date.

KYC is usually approved instantly, but in rare cases, you may have to wait a few hours or days.

Can I buy Optimism with a credit card?

Several crypto exchanges in Canada accept credit cards as an instant purchase method. However, before buying Optimism with a credit card, you should be aware of the additional cost and risks involved.

For instance, credit card fees are usually higher than bank transfers or e‑Transfers. Some card issuers may even block cryptocurrency transactions or treat them as cash advances, which are more expensive. Plus, if you don't pay off your credit card within your statement period, you may end up paying interest on your card balance and losing money if the price moves quickly.

For example, if you were to use a credit card to buy Optimism, you could end up paying this:

• Price of OP: $0.30 USD
• Purchase amount: 1000 OP
• Estimated exchange fee (3%): $8.86 USD
• Total cost: $304.16 USD

If it took you three months to pay off your Optimism purchase at a credit card interest rate of 19.99% APR, you would pay an additional $15.20 USD in interest on top of what you originally paid to buy Optimism.

This example can help you compare the relative cost of buying Optimism with a credit card versus other lower‑fee methods like Interac e-Transfers.

You can check the table of Canadian crypto exchanges above to see which ones accept credit cards for buying Optimism, or visit our guide on buying crypto with a credit card for more details.

Can I buy Optimism with a debit card?

Yes, it is possible to buy Optimism with a debit card, as most Canadian crypto exchanges accept debit cards as an instant payment method.

To buy Optimism with a debit card, you'll typically need to go through the standard steps to purchase crypto on your preferred platform and then select debit from the list of payment options (e.g. Interac e-Transfer, debit card, credit card) before completing your purchase.

Just note that there are often higher fees for crypto purchases with cards (both debit and credit) compared to paying with Interac e-Transfer or with another cryptocurrency.

Is buying Optimism crypto a good investment?

Like any cryptocurrency, buying Optimism can be risky. But there are precautions you can take to help mitigate risk. Consider these general factors before investing in Optimism:

• Price volatility: Optimism's price is largely based on speculation, meaning it can rise or fall quickly. For example, Optimism's price has decreased by -5.77% in just the last seven days.

• Transactions can't be reversed: Once you submit a transaction to the crypto network, it can't be cancelled or reversed. Double-check the receiving address before submitting a Optimism purchase order or moving Optimism off an exchange. One good way to do this is to verify the first and last four digits of the wallet address before sending. There is no way to refund Optimism sent to the wrong address.

• Regulatory uncertainty: The regulatory environment for Optimism and other cryptocurrencies is constantly changing. It's important to understand how international rulings have the potential to impact Optimism's future—for better or worse.

Dive deeper: Learn about common crypto scams and legit exchanges in Canada

Where to store your Optimism once you buy it

There are two main options for storing Optimism once you've bought it—keep it on an exchange or store it in your own personal wallet. Take a look at our guide to the best crypto wallets in Canada to see our top picks.

While it can be more convenient to leave your Optimism on an exchange, you're vulnerable to risk if the exchange gets hacked or compromised in another way.

It's generally much safer to store your crypto on a software or hardware wallet, which gives you full control and custody of your coins.

How is Optimism taxed in Canada?

Like all crypto, Optimism is considered a commodity for tax purposes by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). That means it will be taxed similarly to other investments like stocks and ETFs.

Money you get from selling Optimism can be treated as income or capital gains. That said, the CRA will tax crypto profits differently if you're a casual Optimism buyer than if your crypto profits are classified as business income.

You can learn more about how crypto taxes work in our guide to crypto tax in Canada.

Bottom line

Keep in mind that buying Optimism can be risky. But if you decide to invest in Optimism, look for a regulated crypto exchange in Canada that supports OP, and make sure to store your crypto securely.

Once you've bought Optimism, think about your short and long-term goals. Crypto markets can be very volatile, so keep an eye on Optimism's price over time to decide whether to keep it on an exchange, sell it or move it to your wallet.

Frequently asked questions about buying Optimism in Canada

• How do I buy Optimism instantly?

  You can quickly purchase Optimism on trading platforms like Kraken or Paybis. If you already have a funded account with an exchange like this, then you can buy Optimism instantly.

  Otherwise, many crypto exchanges also offer an "instant buy" feature using a credit card. However, be warned that this comes with higher fees and other added risks. Use our list of exchanges to look for a platform that offers various types of deposits to get started.

• What is Optimism worth today?

  Optimism is currently worth $0.30 USD today. For some context, it was worth -79.54% less a year ago.

• How are crypto exchanges regulated in Canada?

  Crypto exchanges operating in Canada are required to register with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC). This agency safeguards the Canadian financial system by working to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes.

  Many crypto trading platforms in Canada have taken the added step of registering with the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), which creates and enforces policies designed to help protect investors from unfair and fraudulent market activity.

  Exchanges that are registered with the CSA and FINTRAC are:

  • Subject to federal regulation and laws
  • More likely to offer regional customer support
  • More likely to support CAD transactions and local payment methods like EFTs and bank transfers