Who sets the rules for digital assets near you

Many countries split oversight between a national level and a regional one. A state, province or similar body may run its own register of firms or its own consumer warnings, while a national office sets tax guidance. Knowing which level answers your question saves time.

Many bodies publish a register or warning list for their area. A register shows what a business is registered to do; it does not say whether the business is safe. These pages are general information and cannot say which rules apply to you, so a qualified professional is the right source for a specific case.

In Canada, securities regulation sits with the provinces and territories. In Ontario, the securities regulator is the Ontario Securities Commission; its website is the place to look for investor information and warnings. The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) supervises anti-money-laundering rules for money services businesses, including those that deal in virtual currency, and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) publishes tax guidance for crypto-assets. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) takes fraud reports.

• Financial and securities regulators oversee firms and offerings
• Tax authorities publish guidance on reporting digital assets
• Consumer bodies take reports of scams and unfair practices
• Canada in detail: the Ontario Securities Commission (Ontario), FINTRAC, the CRA and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre