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ARTICLE · 07 JULY 2026

The Latest Developments In Ontario’s Jurisdictional Quagmire With Global Crypto Asset Platforms

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Recent Ontario court decisions are reshaping how Canadian courts establish jurisdiction over foreign cryptocurrency platforms and service providers. When a crypto trading platform is accessible from Ontario but operates globally without a physical presence, can Canadian courts exercise authority over disputes involving Ontario residents?

CanadaLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Laura Cloutier
Laura Cloutier
Tushar Sharma
Tushar Sharma
Courtney Wong
Courtney Wong
Simone Grimaldi
Simone Grimaldi
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Overview

The court’s jurisdiction in the crypto asset space has become a timely and widely debated issue, with several recent decisions shaping this rapidly evolving area of law.

Previously, the Court of Appeal for Ontario weighed in on this issue in Shirodkar v. Coinbase Global, Inc.,1 confirming that the ability to access a foreign trading platform within Canada may not be, alone, enough for a court to exercise its jurisdiction over a foreign defendant. You can find our previous comment on Coinbase here.

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has now revisited this issue in Iakovlev v. ePayments.2 The decision in ePayments highlights that the ability to access a service provider from Ontario will not automatically mean that the Court can or will exercise jurisdiction over particular claims or a foreign defendant.

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