Bitget Stock Futures vs US Stock Trading in Canada

Canadian investors who want exposure to US markets often see two main paths. They can buy shares through Canadian brokers on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and US exchanges, or they can trade USDT based stock futures on Bitget. This article explains what each option means so readers can decide which route fits their goals.

How Canadian users usually trade US stocks

Most Canadian investors start with domestic brokers. These firms route orders to the TSX for Canadian shares and to US venues for foreign stocks.

Trading hours

The TSX regular session runs from 09:30 to 16:00 Eastern Time, Monday to Friday, similar to the NYSE and Nasdaq.

Reference: TSX trading hours and TD Direct Investing explainer

Outside these hours, regular on market trading is closed.

Settlement

Canada uses a T+1 settlement cycle for most equity trades. This means trades settle one business day after the trade date. Canada moved from T+2 to T+1 in May 2024 to align with the US.

References:

Canadian securities regulators on T+1

RBC Investor Services T+1 FAQ

Fees and FX

- Brokers charge commission per trade or use tiered plans.

- Buying US stocks usually involves converting CAD to USD.

- Some accounts add platform or data fees.

Tax handling

Canada taxes capital gains and investment income under federal and provincial rules. Key points for individuals:

- Only a portion of a capital gain is taxable. Historically this has been 50 percent, with recent changes increasing the inclusion rate for large gains and some entities.

- The taxable portion is added to income and taxed at the investor's marginal rate.

References:

CRA guide to capital gains

CRA overview of investment income

RBC article on taxes and investments

When users invest through Canadian financial institutions, they receive T5 slips and other reports that help with tax filing. When they use foreign platforms, they remain responsible for tracking gains and reporting them to the Canada Revenue Agency.

This route fits long term investors who want to hold shares, receive dividends, and rely on local reporting.

What Bitget stock futures offer

Bitget stock futures track the price of leading US companies through USDT margined perpetual futures contracts. Users trade contracts that follow stock linked indices instead of buying the shares directly. Margin and settlement use USDT.

Key points:

- Trading is open 24 hours a day, five days per week.

- PnL updates in real time inside the futures account.

- Margin and settlement use USDT.

- Leverage is available on selected stock futures pairs.

- Users gain price exposure only, with no dividends or voting rights.

For more detail, see:

Bitget lists US stock perpetual futures

Mastering Bitget stock futures

What this difference means for Canadian users

If your goal is short term price movement

Bitget stock futures serve active strategies. They give Canadian users the ability to:

- Trade US stock prices during US sessions and outside regular TSX hours.

- React to earnings releases and macro data in the evening.

- Keep all futures activity in USDT inside the platform.

For users who open and close positions over shorter periods, this flexibility can matter more than holding the underlying shares.

If you want leverage

Bitget stock futures offer higher leverage on selected pairs, up to 25x in many cases. This lets experienced users control larger notional exposure with less capital posted as margin, but it also raises liquidation risk. Position sizing, stop levels, and clear rules for risk are important.

If you focus on trading costs

Canadian brokers charge commissions per trade, apply FX conversion on US assets, and may add platform or account fees.

Bitget charges percentage based futures fees. There are no custody fees for open stock futures positions, and promotional campaigns can reduce standard maker and taker fees at times.

Reference: Bitget futures fee schedule

For active traders who place frequent orders, fee structure and FX handling can change the total cost of a strategy.

Using USDT for stock futures when based in Canada

One base currency inside Bitget

Once funded with USDT, users can:

- Trade stock futures, crypto futures, and other USDT margined products in the same currency.

- Avoid repeated conversions between CAD and USD for each futures trade inside the platform.

Funding and withdrawal still involve FX steps when moving between bank accounts and the exchange. Inside Bitget, USDT is the common unit for margin and PnL.

Responding to US market events

US earnings, macro reports, and policy news often arrive while Canadian markets are open but can also move prices outside regular TSX hours. With Bitget stock futures:

- Users can open or close positions when news breaks.

- They do not need to wait for the TSX open or rely only on extended hours sessions from a broker.

This suits traders who follow US markets closely and want to act in real time.

Taxes still apply

Trading in USDT on Bitget does not remove Canadian tax obligations. For most residents:

- Gains from stock futures fall under capital gains or investment income rules.

- Profits should be converted into CAD terms for reporting.

- Foreign platforms do not usually issue Canadian slips or withhold Canadian tax at source.

Users should keep detailed records of trades and consult a tax professional if they are unsure how to report.

Quick comparison

Who should use which route

Choose a Canadian broker if your main goal is to build a long term portfolio of US shares, collect dividends, and use local statements and slips for tax.

Choose Bitget stock futures if your focus is active trading, USDT based exposure, extended trading hours, and flexible use of leverage. This requires more attention to risk and detailed tax records.

Many users may use both paths. They build a long term share portfolio through Canadian brokers and use Bitget stock futures for short term ideas.

Final note

Both paths give Canadian users access to US market price movement. The right choice depends on time horizon, risk tolerance, and how involved the user wants to be in day to day trading and tax reporting.

Leverage can increase both gains and losses. Users should size positions with care and keep full records of all trades for Canadian tax reporting.