Kraken
With a market cap of $2,949,227,176.00 USD, Polkadot ranks as the 45th largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization in the world. It operates on the Polkadot blockchain network. It is currently trading at a price of $1.79 USD per coin and trades using the cryptocurrency code DOT.
Polkadot is a highly volatile asset capable of major price swings in a single day. So before you buy Polkadot, make sure you understand these unique risks as well as its tax and legal status in Canada.
If you want to buy Polkadot in Canada or track its performance, keep reading to see the latest DOT price, market cap and trading volume along with a step-by-step guide on how to invest in DOT crypto in Canada.
| Current price | $1.79 |
|---|---|
| All-time high | $54.98 |
| All-time low | $1.77 |
| 1-year price change | ▼ -78.29% |
| Market cap | $2.95B |
| Market cap rank | #45 |
| Total volume (24h) | $220.07M |
| Circulating supply | 1,646,482,158 |
| Network | Polkadot |
| Where to buy DOT | Buy on Paybis |
This is not an endorsement of cryptocurrency or any specific provider, service or offering. It is not a recommendation to trade or use any services.
The whole process of buying DOT 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 Polkadot in Canada:
The easiest way to buy Polkadot 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.
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.
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.
You can now exchange your funds for Polkadot. On beginner-friendly exchanges, this is as simple as searching for the coin name (Polkadot) or its crypto code (DOT), entering the CAD or DOT amount you want to purchase and clicking "Buy."
Consider transferring your DOT to help protect against hacks, scams, platforms going bankrupt and other risks of keeping crypto on an exchange.
We've curated a list of legitimate crypto exchanges below where you can buy Polkadot in Canada to help you compare deposit methods, supported fiat currencies and fees.
To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Supported coins, account fees and features across 28 cryptocurrency trading platforms are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score, the better the exchange—simple.
The recent Polkadot (DOT) price is $1.79 USD per coin, which is -1.92% lower than the previous day's trading price of $1.82 USD. Over the past 30 days, DOT's price has changed by -35.37%, from $2.77 USD to the current price of $1.79 USD. Compared to this time last year, Polkadot's price has seen a decrease of -78.29% to its value as a cryptocurrency.
Polkadot reached its all-time high of $54.98 USD on November 4, 2021. After that, it dropped by -96.78% to its all-time low of $1.77 USD on December 18, 2025. It has since climbed back up to its current price of $1.79 USD.
Yes, you can buy Polkadot in Canada. Simply open an account with a crypto exchange that operates in Canada and supports Polkadot—like the ones in our curated list above—and place a "buy" order. For example, Paybis supports Polkadot and is a registered crypto exchange in Canada.
Because Polkadot 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.
DOT is the native token of the Polkadot network.
Polkadot is a unique network that allows the transfer of data, money and assets between different blockchains.
Polkadot is different from other networks such as Ethereum because it uses various blockchains instead of smart contracts, allowing developers a more granular approach to design. DOT tokens are the native currency of the Polkadot ecosystem and are used for proof of stake and governance.
At Polkadot's core is a universe of blockchains, both public and private, that can all interact with each other through a process known as interoperability. Instead of using smart contracts to run applications, Polkadot uses parallel blockchains, known as parachains, to serve a similar purpose. Whereas a developer on Ethereum would use a collection of smart contracts to program a dapp, developers on Polkadot use parachains instead.
By programming individual blockchains to host dapps instead of smart contracts – which are bound to the parent blockchain's rules – developers are able to exercise greater control over design, including key features such as speed, fees and whether data is public or private. Smart contracts are still supported on Polkadot, although they must exist within a parachain.
For example, a bank might want to host customer data on a private blockchain that only employees can alter. Customers could then access this data using a third-party payments app that operates on a public blockchain. Permission to access either parachain could be moderated by a digital ID held on a smart contract parachain.
Tying these parachains together is the relay chain, which can be thought of as the central blockchain within Polkadot. By managing a network of parachains from a central relay chain, friction is reduced, enabling a faster and more efficient network for both the user and those that operate it.
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 Polkadot 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.
Several crypto exchanges in Canada accept credit cards as an instant purchase method. However, before buying Polkadot 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 Polkadot, you could end up paying this:
If it took you three months to pay off your Polkadot purchase at a credit card interest rate of 19.99% APR, you would pay an additional $0.46 USD in interest on top of what you originally paid to buy Polkadot.
This example can help you compare the relative cost of buying Polkadot 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 Polkadot, or visit our guide on buying crypto with a credit card for more details.
Yes, it is possible to buy Polkadot with a debit card, as most Canadian crypto exchanges accept debit cards as an instant payment method.
To buy Polkadot 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.
The Web3 Foundation, responsible for developing Polkadot, has stated that the DOT token is primarily used for the following, which may influence whether or not you wish to add Polkadot to your portfolio
For instance, token holders may vote on things like protocol upgrades and changes to the relay chain. Votes are proportional to the amount of DOT token a user has staked.
In the event that a DOT token holder does not exercise their right to vote, their stake will be allocated to a special council of 6-24 members who are elected to vote on behalf of absent DOT holders.
Staking can be performed in one of two ways, either by acting as a nominator or a validator. Both nominators and validators receive rewards for their participation.
Nominators will be the most common type of stakers on Polkadot, as their role is essentially limited to electing validators. Validators on the other hand perform a critical role in the health of the network.
Validators run a node which operates 24/7 to validate transactions on the network and ensure its efficient operation. Additional tokens will also operate on the Polkadot network, similar to how Ethereum supports tokens such as the famous ERC-20 token standard.
DOT can be used to launch new blockchains on the network, known as parachains. In order to launch a parachain, DOT must be deposited in a process known as bonding.
If a parachain is retired, DOT tokens are returned.
There are two main options for storing Polkadot 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 Polkadot 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.
Like all crypto, Polkadot 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 Polkadot can be treated as income or capital gains. That said, the CRA will tax crypto profits differently if you're a casual Polkadot 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.
Keep in mind that buying Polkadot can be risky. But if you decide to invest in Polkadot, look for a regulated crypto exchange in Canada that supports DOT, and make sure to store your crypto securely.
Once you've bought Polkadot, think about your short and long-term goals. Crypto markets can be very volatile, so keep an eye on Polkadot's price over time to decide whether to keep it on an exchange, sell it or move it to your wallet.
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrencies are speculative, complex and involve significant risks – they are highly volatile and sensitive to secondary activity. Performance is unpredictable and past performance is no guarantee of future performance. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before relying on this information. You should also verify the nature of any product or service (including its legal status and relevant regulatory requirements) and consult the relevant Regulators' websites before making any decision. Finder, or the author, may have holdings in the cryptocurrencies discussed.
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