Uphold
Strengths
- Easy account setup, great for beginners
- Trade between multiple asset classes (crypto, fiat currencies, metals, stocks)
- New, low-liquidity altcoins added regularly
- Transparent balance sheet, never lends out your money
- Intuitive mobile and web app
- Stake crypto to earn rewards
Weaknesses
- Lack of advanced charts
Uphold is a digital asset platform that enables people to easily access, hold, convert and transact in different types of currencies and assets The platform is available on web, iOS, and Android devices, and users can access their account from anywhere in the world. Uphold also offers a wide range of features, including real-time exchange rates, instant transfers, direct deposits, and support for multiple currencies.
Uphold is a secure, global, and open platform that makes it easy to access and transact in digital money, including cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, traditional government-backed currencies, and precious metals. Uphold is designed to be a secure, low-cost, and convenient way to access and transact in different currencies and assets.
Disclaimer: All of the content written on CoinMarketExpert is unbiased and based on objective analysis. The information provided on this page should not be construed as an endorsement of cryptocurrency, a service provider or offering and should neither be considered a solicitation to buy or trade cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrencies carry substantial risk and are not suitable for everyone. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information and consequently, any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. See further disclaimer at the bottom of the page.
| Year Established | Founded in 2013 under the brand called Bitreserve. In October 2015, it was rebranded to Uphold. |
| Founder(s) | Halsey McLean Minor Sr, an American businessman who is known for founding CNET in 1993. |
| Reputable Investors | 4 investors (Coil, Hard Yaka, Rosemoor Capital Management LLC and Venovate. |
| Headquarters | Uphold Lithuania UAB, regis |
| Available Countries | Worldwide (184+ countries) |
| Regulated | Yes – US FinCEN and UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among others. |
| Verification | KYC verification required |
| Compensation Scheme | N/A |
| Supports | Over 220 cryptocurrencies + fiat currencies and commodities |
| Deposit Fees | varies |
| Minimum Deposit | varies |
| Minimum Withdrawal | varies |
| Withdrawal Fees | varies |
Table of contents
1. Cryptocurrencies supported by Uphold
2. Uphold Deposit Methods
3. Does Uphold have any fees?
4. Is Uphold a safe platform?
5. What about counterparty risk?
6. Uphold product and features
7. How can you get started with Uphold
8. What about Uphold customer service?
9. Countries supported by Uphold
10. Our verdict on Uphold
1. Cryptocurrencies Supported by Uphold
The Uphold app supports over 220 cryptocurrencies, including:
Layer-1 chains like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Cardano (ADA), Solana (SOL), Cosmos (ATOM), Polkadot (DOT), and Dogecoin (DOGE).
Payment chains like Ripple (XRP) and Stellar (XLM).
DeFi chains like Uniswap (UNI), Chainlink (LINK), Aave (AAVE), and Compound (COMP).
Enterprise protocols like Quant (QNT), XDC (XDC), and Casper (CSPR).
2. Uphold Deposit Methods
Uphold offers a wide range of deposit methods including bank transfers, debit cards, credit cards, and various cryptocurrency transfers. Additionally, Uphold users in the United States can use bank wires and ACH transfers, and in Europe and the UK users can use SEPA transfers. Customers can also use Apple Pay and Google Pay to fund their accounts.
3. Does Uphold have any fees?
It is free to open an account and hold value with Uphold.
For trading, the price you see before you trade is the price you pay when you trade. Unlike many platforms, the prices are locked in pre-trade. They don’t add hidden fees between Preview and Transact, unlike some competitors.
Uphold charges a spread every time you trade. In the U.S. and Europe, the spread is typically 0.8 to 1.2% on BTC and ETH. In other parts of the world, the spreads on the major cryptocurrencies is typically around 1.8%. Spreads can be higher for low-liquidity cryptos and tokens including XRP, ZIL, OXT, UPT, DOGE and others. The spread for precious metals is typically 3% on top of the bid-ask prices. The spread for fiat currencies is typically 0.2% between major national currencies such as EUR, USD, and GBP. The spread for US equities is typically 1.0%.
Uphold also charges a $0.99 USD transaction fee on all transactions between assets where the amount transacted is under $100 USD in value, excluding:
– Transactions made using the Uphold Card
– The exchange of BAT from a Brave Browser-linked account to fiat
– Automated transactions (recurring / limit orders)
For credit cards, Uphold charges a 3.99% fee per deposit. For debit cards, they charge a 2.49% fee per deposit. When withdrawing to external crypto wallets, users are passed on the cost of the network fee.
All customer-to-customer transfers are completely free of all fees, costs or limitations regardless of the amounts transferred, currency or frequency.
To learn about account funding & withdrawal fees, (click here)
4. Is Uphold a safe platform?
Yes! Uphold uses a combination of state-of-the-art security technologies to protect users’ funds and personal data, including encryption, two-factor authentication, and a secure wallet system. Additionally, users are able to set up a PIN and select an account recovery option to protect their funds.
Uphold is a regulated financial platform that meets the requirements of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. This means that the platform is subject to the same standards of conduct as other financial institutions and must demonstrate to the regulator that it meets the required levels of security.
Uphold also offers a variety of customer support options, including a dedicated support team, a knowledge base, and high engagement on Twitter (@UpholdInc). This helps users quickly and easily get the help they need when they have questions or problems with the platform.
Overall, Uphold is a safe and secure platform for buying, selling, and exchanging cryptocurrencies and traditional currencies, as well as storing and transferring funds. The platform’s security measures, customer support options, and compliance with the regulations of the FCA make it a reliable choice for users looking to make digital asset transactions.
5. What about Counterparty Risk?
Uphold never uses or lends out user funds, and publishes a transparency report right to their website that provides a real-time, detailed breakdown of their balance sheet. You can view the report here. The report includes the amount of assets and obligations, the number of transactions processed, and the percentage of transaction volume per asset. The Uphold platform is always 100%+ reserved, and the company makes it clear that customer funds are held securely and are not used for any other purpose than what the customer has authorised.
In addition to its financial transparency, Uphold is also subject to a number of regulations that ensure customer funds are protected. Uphold is registered with FinCEN as a Money Service Business, and is subject to the Bank Secrecy Act and other financial regulations. Uphold is also registered as a Money Transmitter in many U.S. states, and is required to comply with all applicable state laws.
As a financial services company, Uphold is subject to financial regulations and is required to maintain customer funds in a segregated account. This means that customer funds are kept separate from Uphold’s general funds and cannot be used for any other purpose.
Overall, Uphold does not lend out customer funds and takes great measures to ensure that customer funds remain secure and protected. Uphold’s commitment to financial transparency, regulatory compliance, and security measures helps give customers peace of mind that their funds are safe.
6. Uphold Product and Features
Uphold supports the buying, selling, and exchanging of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, traditional government-backed currencies, precious metals, and US equities. The platform is designed to be easy to use and accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical proficiency. It has a simple user interface that allows users to quickly and easily access their funds and manage their accounts. Uphold offers a wide range of features that make it a powerful tool for managing and transferring value.
One of Uphold’s most popular features is its multi-currency wallet. The wallet allows users to store, send, and receive a variety of currencies, as well as convert between the currencies easily, giving users simple management tools for their funds during any market condition. They also offer users a variety of tools that can help customers manage their finances, like real-time market data and analytics, automatic recurring buys, and the ability to set up to 50 limit orders at once. Uphold also offers a variety of financial planning tools, such as budgeting and savings calculators, to help users better manage their money.
Uphold recently announced their new Uphold Card, a debit card which comes free within the app and can be spent at 90M Mastercard merchants. The card offers 4% cashback paid in XRP on every transaction, 0% foreign transaction fees, integration with Apple Pay and Google Pay, industry-leading FX rates and more. Learn more about the Uphold Card here.
7. How can you get started with Uphold?
Getting started on Uphold is easy and takes just a few steps.
Step 1: Create an Account
The first step is to create an account with Uphold. You can do this by visiting the Uphold website and clicking the “Sign Up” button. You will then need to provide some personal information, such as your name, address, and email address.
Step 2: Verify Your Account
After creating your account, you will need to verify your identity. To do this, you will need to provide a valid form of identification, such as a driver’s license or passport.
Step 3: Fund Your Account
Once your account is verified, you will need to fund your account by either linking a bank account, depositing via credit or debit card, connecting Apple Pay/Google Pay, or sending tokens from another crypto wallet.
Step 4: Start Using Uphold
Once your Uphold account is funded, you can start using it to send, receive, and store money. You can also buy and sell digital currencies and other investments.
8. What about Uphold’s Customer Service?
Uphold’s customer service is among the best in the financial services industry. They have a commitment to providing excellent customer service and have 24/7 support available. Customers can contact Uphold via their online support ticket service and also offer an extensive Help Center with how-to guides and FAQs that can help customers find answers to their questions quickly and easily. The customer service team is also available through their social media channels, including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Uphold also offers a rewards program for customers who refer friends and family to their services.
9. Countries supported by Uphold
Uphold currently supports customers in over 180 countries worldwide. These countries include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
10. Our Verdict on Uphold
Uphold is an incredibly versatile platform that offers a range of features to make the process of buying, selling, and exchanging digital assets easier and more secure. The platform’s user-friendly interface, range of supported assets, and security/transparency features make it an attractive option for users looking to get involved in the world of digital assets.