Many cryptocurrency exchange platforms are straightforward and convenient to use from both beginner’s point of view and professional traders. But very few offer a reliable platform to trade assets among various popular cryptocurrencies, national (fiat) currencies, and precious metals – all under a single platform.
Uphold is one of those trading platforms that has emerged and is ruling the crypto world with unique and innovative features. In this Uphold review, we will look in-depth at the offerings, trading fees, Uphold Cashcard, mobile app features, customer service, and much more.
Uphold Summary
| Official Website | https://uphold.com/ |
| Headquarters | New York, USA |
| Found in | 2015 |
| Native Token | None |
| Listed Cryptocurrency | 230+ |
| Trading Pairs | 1000+ |
| Supported Fiat Currencies | 27 |
| Supported Countries | 184+ |
| Minimum Deposit Fees | $10 |
| Deposit Fees | 0%, Spread fees charged |
| Transaction Fees | Depends on Currency |
| Withdrawal Fees | 0%, Spread fees charged |
| Application | Yes |
| Customer Support | Mail & FAQs Customer Support |
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Uphold Review: Key Points
- Allows for direct cross-asset trade from “anything to anything.”
- Uphold fee structure is open and transparent (no hidden trading fees).
- Supports 27 fiat currencies and 230+ digital currencies, 50 US stocks, and 4 precious metals.
- It provides an easy-to-use trading system.
- Cross-trading between multiple, different asset classes is possible.
- Uphold offers free BTC trading.
- Uphold offers the best staking offer, free from very high APY. Users can earn up to 13% on their staked crypto.
- Uphold offers limit orders and automated trading transactions.
- Uphold doesn’t charge higher spread fees on lower-volume assets. Their spread is capped at 1.2% on crypto.
What Is Uphold?
Uphold is a cloud-based cryptocurrency trading platform founded in 2014 by American entrepreneur Halsey Minor. The platform is licensed in the US and Europe, thus making it suitable for working with a regulated cryptocurrency trading website. Also, it holds a UK FCA crypto license. The platform was initially named Bitreserve, after which the company rebranded itself and was relaunched as Uphold in November 2014.
Since then, Uphold has offered a robust trading platform for 230+ cryptocurrencies and utility tokens, 27 fiat currencies, 50 US stocks, forex trading, four precious metals, and other asset classes.
The Uphold website is a virtual wallet for both fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies. It is designed to store and trade multiple assets quickly, send funds to other Uphold clients settled worldwide, and instantly exchange currency.
This automatic currency conversion is the most exciting feature of the platform that attracts crypto investors worldwide. Moreover, users can use the platform as a digital crypto wallet and exchange fiat money for cryptocurrencies like BTC, LTC, ETH, BCH, etc.
Uphold uses a 100% redundancy model that helps the crypto exchange subsidize all its clients’ assets in a 1:1 ratio from its reserve funds. With this, Uphold became the first-ever financial service company to share its reserve holdings in the current market publicly. Currently, Uphold’s services are used by millions of active users based in over 184+ countries worldwide.
The cryptocurrency exchange combines a platform app model and a robust payment connectivity system to offer a global crypto market unique and affordable financial services. The full Uphold payment service protects its users from the volatile crypto space, allowing them to safely, instantly, and profitably convert digital currencies into dollars, euros, or other currencies.
Uphold is available in English and Spanish. But there has yet to be a Russian and Chinese translation added to the platform. The services can be explored in both desktop and iOS or Android versions. Besides this, the Uphold website claims that the platform allows its registered users to access seven other Blockchain networks.
How Does Uphold Work?
Uphold crypto exchange reduces the transaction costs involved in the exchange of cryptocurrencies. The trading platform matches the cryptocurrency buyers and sellers against a trading fee and a spread fee that includes all prices.
Uphold Exchange Features
Uphold offers the following advanced trading features to its clients:-
Uphold Staking
Crypto Staking is a feature deemed beneficial to every trader, new and experienced. The staking rewards and interests earned are benefits every crypto trader seeks in the crypto market. The Uphold Staking Software is one of Uphold’s most robust features available.
Customers worldwide can earn up to 25% on crypto staked in Uphold, a neat way to earn passive income. Crypto Staking is flexible. Hence, it is easy to place and remove a stake anytime without being concerned about lock-in periods.
The List of Assets available for Staking its Annual Percentage Yields is as follows:
| Token | Reward (APY) |
|---|---|
| Kava (KAVA) | 25% |
| Kusama (KSM) | 18% |
| Polkadot (DOT) | 12% |
| Cosmos (ATOM) | 12% |
| Mina (MINA) | 12% |
| Band Protocol (BAND) | 10% |
| Polygon (MATIC) | 09% |
| Livepeer (LPT) | 08% |
| Flow (FLOW) | 07.5% |
| Audius (AUDIO) | 07.5% |
| Solana (SOL) | 06% |
| Tron (TRX) | 06% |
| Avalanche (AVAX) | 05.5% |
| Cardano (ADA) | 05% |
| Tezos (XTZ) | 05% |
| The Graph (GRT) | 03.5% |
| Algorand (ALGO) | 01% |
More Accessible and Faster Sign-Up Process
Opening an Uphold account is pretty simple, even if the users have never had a brokerage account. They must fill out a registration form with their email address, choose their location, and set a strong password. After quickly verifying the email address, the Uphold account would be ready to trade on in a few minutes making it a fast account setup.
AutoPilot Feature
The AutoPilot feature is a unique feature offered by Uphold. It enables users to buy their favorite cryptocurrencies daily/ weekly /monthly by scheduling recurring transactions. For example, users can set up a protocol to buy $100 worth of Bitcoin monthly to coincide with their paycheck.
Instant Transfers
An instant transfer is another convenient and compelling feature that impresses Uphold customers. Users can send money to their family or friends within a few seconds, which can be done by linking to another account or email.
Moreover, the instant transfer feature also permits users to transfer cash in any currency of their choice; they can even send cryptos this way which is an added advantage to Uphold users. And the cherry on the cake is that it is 100% free, whether users transact in US dollars or Bitcoins.
Customizable Tile Desktop
When a trader creates an account on Uphold, he will receive his tile desktop platform that can be further customized to fit his needs by simply clicking on different asset classes to access the following menu and selecting the preferred trading option.
Intuitive Account Funding and Account Purchase Option
This feature allows active traders to fund accounts and begin trading from their custom desktops. To do this, traders must click on the tile they want to trade cryptocurrency. Then, fund their personal accounts with their preferred currency or asset directly from their credit card or bank. Traders can also fund their accounts with a currency without using it as a base currency.
For example, if traders primarily fund their accounts through a U.S. bank account and then purchase euros, they don’t need to convert USD to EUR after the transfer, and they can directly transfer euros from their U.S. bank. This makes it more cost-effective for traders to purchase crypto, national currencies, or precious metals without paying a substantial conversion fee at each step.
One Step Ordering
Most leading crypto exchanges and precious metals markets require their users to place 2-step orders, which means that they need to fund their account with either a credit card purchase or a wire transfer, then again convert their user funds into the current equivalent value of the asset or the currency that they wish to own.
With Uphold, the ordering process is simple; it allows users to purchase a wide range of digital assets, foreign currencies, and even precious metals without waiting for their funds to clear into their trading accounts. Over 1,000 crypto transfer pairs on Uphold make the order-placing process relatively easy.
* U.S. stock trading is unavailable in the U.S., U.K., and other countries.
The Uphold Card
The Uphold card, available for US users only, is a Mastercard debit card that permits cardholders to spend anything from gold to cash to Bitcoin. The card is accepted at over 50 million merchants and almost all ATMs around the globe. For UK users, the Uphold Card will be available by next year.
Automatic Currency Conversion
With this innovative feature available on the Uphold crypto exchange, users can transfer money to anyone they wish to, in their preferred major currencies; they can send in whatever currency they conveniently use. The recipient will receive what they need. If A sends Bitcoin to B, and B needs Euros, the Bitcoin will be automatically converted into Euros and credited to B’s wallet as Euros.
Similarly, users can give the QR code associated with their linked bank account (like a USD sub-account). If someone sends a Bitcoin, it will be converted into USD before reaching the user’s wallet.
Other Innovative Products
Uphold offers innovative products like Universal Gold (UPXAU) tokens, making crypto investing more manageable and accessible. The Universal Gold (UPXAU) tokens circumvent all the drawbacks people face while investing in precious metals like gold. These drawbacks include low spending ability, large liquidation spreads, and substantial storage costs.
UPXAU Tokens are equivalent to 1 Troy ounce of pure physical gold held at the Perth Mint in Western Australia and can be spent on a debit card. In the process, the token holders will incur zero custody fees. The tokens can be instantly liquidated into 27 national currencies, the most exciting part of the UPXAU token.
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Moreover, these tokens are easily transportable, and the underlying gold in these tokens can also be physically delivered to Australia and the US.
Is Uphold Regulated?
Yes, Uphold is regulated by the U.S. Department of Treasury and the FinCEN (U.S. Treasury Department for Financial Crimes Enforcement Network) and thus operates as a regulated financial services provider. In Europe, Uphold also partners with the Authorized Payments Institute, which reports to the United States Financial Regulatory Authority.
Uphold Exchange Pros and Cons
Let’s have a look at some of the pros and cons of using Uphold –
| Pros | Cons |
| Highly customizable and user-friendly interface. | The Educational section is less organized. |
| Supports users to trade multiple assets and facilitates direct cross-asset trading. | |
| Low minimum deposit. | |
| There are no trading commissions on all supported assets. | |
| Accepts debit cards and helps traders earn crypto as cashback. |
How Do I Open an Uphold Account ?
Uphold is one of the few cryptocurrency exchanges that allow users to buy and sell stocks, digital currencies, and precious metals and trade national currencies and commodities all on a single platform. Getting started with Uphold is relatively easy; thus, the platform is excellent for beginners without any crypto trading experience. Account opening on Uphold is pretty simple; users must visit the official Uphold website to create an account.
The signup process is simple and only takes a few minutes to complete for individuals. Once the users land on the account creation page, they will be asked to select whether they want to create an individual or business account. However, business account creation may take longer as users need additional verification documents.
For every location where Uphold is available, users will likely go through an ID verification process to become verified members of the crypto exchange when the cumulative value of their lifetime transactions exceeds $1,000 US dollars.
During registration, the cryptocurrency exchange collects personal information like the user’s date of birth, email, and phone number. For residents of China, users will have to submit a government-issued ID number.
To become a verified member, users must provide the following three items- current residential address (any utility will do), government-issued ID (passport, national ID card, or driver’s license), and a clear photo holding any of these documents in hand.
After the verification process, an auto-generated email with the activation link will be sent to the user’s email address. They will have to click on the activation link to verify and activate their account on Uphold.
How User-Friendly Is Uphold?
Uphold is one of the most user-friendly cryptocurrency exchanges that impresses customers with advanced features like easy signups, auto-pilot features, intuitive purchase and funding options, automatic currency conversions, instant transfers, and the Uphold card, among other advanced trading features.
How to Deposit/Withdraw Funds on Uphold ?
To replenish the trading account on the Uphold wallet, users need to click on the “Add Funds” tab in the upper right corner of the page, choose a top-up method on the Uphold system, and then click on the “Add Funds” tab again to depositing money into the Uphold crypto wallet finally. Uphold also allows users to top up their wallets with cryptocurrency. Users must select a cryptocurrency and generate a wallet address to send funds globally.
To withdraw funds, users need to click on the “Use Funds” tab from the menu bar, where they will be given options for selecting the method they prefer to withdraw funds from the platform Uphold card, best crypto wallet, bank account, etc.
In case they want to use the external crypto wallets, they would need to select the cryptocurrency that they want to withdraw, enter the wallet address, preferred amount, and message (optional), etc., after which the funds will be sent to the external wallet address provided by the user.
There are various deposit methods for Uphold users to trade on the platform. Bank Transfers, Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Google Pay, and Apple Pay are deposit methods traders can utilize on Uphold. Currently, USD, CAD, GBP, and EUR are among the 30 fiat currencies accepted by Uphold.
One of the easiest ways to trade crypto on Uphold is via deposit from either a Credit Card or Debit Card. Below is a table that brings an understanding of the charges, fees, and limit orders:
| Deposit Method | Deposit Limit | Withdrawal Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Credit Card / Debit Card | Min: $10 Max: $1500 / week |
None |
| Bank Transfer ACH | Min: $10 Max: $2500 / day |
Min: $5 Max: $10,000 / day |
| Bank Transfer SEPA | Unlimited | Min: $10 Max: $50,00 / day |
| US Wire Transfer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Uphold Fees
According to the information on Uphold Exchange’s official website, Uphold charges a trading fee and withdrawal fees and thus is not a free service. Uphold does not charge any trading commissions from its clients on cryptocurrency trades, withdrawals, or depositing money into the account.
Still, a small fee is charged from residents of a few countries for specific activities like withdrawing funds to private wallets on various crypto networks or to banks through payment services like the Swift network. To move fiat funds (off-platform) via bank transfer, they are charged no fees, and third-party costs may apply in some cases, like bank wire costs in some geographical locations, such as crypto network fees.
However, withdrawals to European banks through payment services like SEPA and US banks through ACH are free. Crypto trading fees for fiat currencies, metals, and cryptocurrencies vary greatly. The lowest fee is 0.65% for USD, GBP, and EUR, while the highest fee is 3.95% for Platinum (XPT). Apart from this, Uphold includes small spread fees in the price of any crypto asset bought by the customers.
According to the various Uphold reviews available online, the following card usage fees were found on the Uphold exchange:-
- Domestic purchase is free of charge.
- Foreign exchange is also free of charge as foreign transaction fees are not levied.
Uphold Trade Limits
- The maximum spend is fixed at $10,000 per day.
- Cash withdrawal is set at $1,500 per day.
- Cash withdrawal per transaction is fixed at $500.
However, for more details on the Uphold fee structure, check here.
Uphold App Features
The Uphold mobile app is easy to use and straightforward, with the same user interface as its desktop version, prioritizing ease of use and “Anything-to-Anything” transfers. The Uphold app is available for free download from the Google Play Store or Apple Store and is compatible with iOS and Android devices. Some of the unique features of the simple app are listed below:-
Two-Click Exchanges
As in the desktop version of the crypto exchange, the app provides users an easy platform to place an order quickly. Users must click on the “transact” tab, choose their funding method (from linked bank accounts, credit cards, or crypto networks), and place their order transactions, which will be executed in less than 30 seconds.
From and To Interface
This feature allows users to pull money from their credit or debit card and put it straight into the asset class they want to buy. The proximity of funding and trading on a single screen makes these mobile apps a very convenient platform to trade cryptocurrencies.
Comprehensive Market Data
Uphold serves its customers with ‘up-to-the-minute’ market data for everything ranging from cryptocurrencies to precious metals. In most cases, price data is calculated up to the 5th decimal, enabling users to make the most accurate calculations.
Full Desktop Functionality
Apart from investing on the Uphold platform, novice, and advanced traders can also monitor their account portfolio and have any money transfer completed to family or friends just on the go.
Uphold Supported Currency & Countries
According to the official website of Uphold, the exchange supports 27 fiat currencies, so the platform enjoys a competitive advantage over other crypto exchanges. Most major fiat-to-crypto exchanges don’t support national currencies outside of EUR, USD, GBP, and CNY. Moreover, Uphold supports the trading of 4 precious metals- Gold (XAU), Silver (XAG), Platinum (XPT), and Palladium (XPD).
Uphold supports 230+ leading cryptocurrencies like BTC, ETH, LTC, DASH, BCH, BTG, LBA, Basic Attention Token, and XRP and supports over 1,000 crypto trading pairs. Uphold is available globally except for Cuba, the Central African Republic, Iran, Libya, Somalia, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria.
Uphold Security
The security of clients’ funds and data is the utmost priority for the Uphold team. The company employs sophisticated encryption mechanisms and layered defenses to protect user funds and clients’ data against potential cyber-attacks to maintain the platform’s integrity. The team also ensures that their products undergo regular security audits by experienced cybersecurity professionals to eliminate loopholes in their security systems.
The Uphold Security Operations Centre also does 24/7 monitoring to check potential threats. Moreover, Uphold also offers a bug bounty program and awards anyone contributing to reporting any security vulnerability on the platform. There is also 2FA (two-factor authentication) and private key encryption employed on the platform to provide an extra layer of security to protect clients’ accounts.
Customer Service
Uphold offers unique customer services for its clients in the following ways:-
Users can email the Uphold customer support team at ‘[email protected]’ for general inquiries. If customers want to introduce themselves to the Uphold team or for a non-urgent query/simple question about the customer service team, they can contact them at ‘[email protected]’.
Social Media
To get in touch with the team via Twitter, users can send a private message or tweet to ‘@AskUphold.’
Apart from these, Uphold also offers a special in-app help section that allows professional and active traders to quickly browse the platform’s FAQ section and find relevant answers to the most commonly asked queries.
Uphold Exchange Review: Conclusion
Uphold is a great option for crypto investors looking to trade with a wide range of trading currencies and tokens. Foreign currencies can also be exchanged on the website. Multiple assets can be transferred without converting to fiat currency, such as exchanging Bitcoin for gold.
Uphold is a cloud-based cryptocurrency trading platform that allows users to trade, convert, or send money anywhere in the world with just a few clicks. It’s a fast and no-hidden trading fee structure and a secure leading crypto exchange platform with many unique features that let traders exchange almost all major currencies.
Stocks and precious metals are added advantages for which the platform enjoys a competitive advantage over similar cryptocurrency exchange platforms.
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Uphold platform’s appealing “anything to anything” transactions provide more than a great trading experience. Overall, Uphold is a good cryptocurrency trading tool that can assist anyone thinking about investing in popular cryptocurrencies to make informed and safe decisions.
FAQs
Is Uphold Safe and Legit?
Uphold is a 100% safe and legitimate platform that employs robust security measures to protect its clients’ money and other supported assets. Uphold offers industry-standard security measures, including KYC verification and two-factor authentication. Funds are mainly stored offline in cold storage, ensuring a more secure way to store funds than in hot wallets.
Does Uphold Offer a Wallet?
Yes, Uphold offers a safe and convenient wallet that allows users to store their Bitcoin crypto holdings and seamlessly trade between crypto coins, local currencies, and precious metals. The Uphold wallet is available on iOS and Android platforms and on the web.
How Does Uphold Cloud Money Work?
Uphold is a cloud-based financial service provider that allows individuals to move securely, hold, convert, and transact various customer assets.
Is Uphold Free?
No, Uphold is not a free platform- Uphold charges spread fees every time a trade is executed.
Uphold Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency investing within the EU/UK by Uphold Europe Limited and USA by Uphold HQ Inc. Asset availability is subject to region. All investments and trading are risky and may result in capital loss. Crypto assets are largely unregulated in most regions.
We do not offer any high-risk investment advice. You should know that the risk of loss in trading or holding crypto assets can be very high. As with any asset, the value of crypto assets can go up or down, and there can be a substantial risk that you lose all your money buying, selling, holding, or investing in supported assets.
Your digital assets are not subject to protection. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding crypto assets suits you in light of your financial condition.