According to some sources, more than 1,000 digital crypto exchanges operate on the global crypto market at the moment. However, only a handful of these platforms stand out for their reliability and serve the lion’s share of crypto users worldwide.
In this review, we’ll take a look at one of the most popular digital trading platforms in the North American region that goes by the name of Uphold. For our examination, we will explore Uphold’s service offerings, fees, and core features to give you a better idea of what the platform is all about.
If you are interested in joining Uphold and making it the primary hub for your trading activities, we suggest you check out the article below to learn more about its operations, before making a decision.
Disclaimer: Investing in cryptocurrencies carries significant risk. Values are highly volatile. Never invest more than you can afford to lose. This site does not provide financial advice. Act based on your own research and consult with a financial professional before making decisions. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest.
Key Takeaways
- Secure, regulated, and trustworthy financial services platform
- Beginner-friendly platform that is easy to use on both mobile and desktop
- Features multi-asset support, which allows seamless trading between fiat, crypto, and precious metals
- Provides multiple custody options, staking, USD interest accounts, and other additional features
- Transparent fee structure
- Focused on long-term investments and growing wealth
Pros and Cons of Uphold Exchange
Pros
- Licensed, regulated, and secure
- Beginner-friendly and easy to use
- Multiple asset class support
- Direct trading between different asset classes
- Opportunities to earn through staking and referral program
- Transparent fee structure
Cons
- Not the widest range of cryptocurrencies supported
- Trading fees could be lower
- Limited service offerings in certain regions
- Has experienced security breaches in the past
Brief Overview of Uphold Crypto Exchange
Key Products & Services
Uphold is a financial services platform whose offerings go beyond the standard trading of cryptocurrencies. It is a multi-asset trading platform that provides additional services for enterprises and institutions, including assisted self-custody vault, staking, lending, and other services.
Our review will mainly focus on the individual service offerings and explore what you, as a trader, can expect from the platform.
Products
To get things started, let’s first explore the different types of financial products users can access on the Uphold trading platform. Namely, at this moment, Uphold’s supports three distinct asset classes:
- Digital Assets: Upholds gives traders access to more than 300 cryptocurrencies, including mainstream coins, less popular niche coins, 11 stablecoins, and five utility tokens.
- Fiat Currencies: The platform also supports 19 fiat currencies, including all the major pairs, and offers some options from popular emerging markets.
- Commodities: At the moment of writing, users can use Uphold to invest in three precious metals: silver, gold (legacy), and platinum.
It is important to point out that Uphold also supported investing in US equities, but the platform has discontinued this offering and no longer provides trading services for this asset class.
What’s great about Uphold’s multi-asset support approach is that it allows users to invest in and trade different financial products and diversify their portfolios. Moreover, it also offers custody and portfolio management services to help users secure, track, and manage their multi-asset holdings.
In addition, users can even use Uphold’s staking services to earn rewards and generate passive income from the cryptocurrencies they want to HODL. Overall, all these features combined make Uphold a great financial platform for long-term investors who wish to build a nicely diversified portfolio and slowly grow their wealth over time.
Uphold Background
Uphold is a US-based financial services platform with headquarters in New York. The platform was initially launched in 2013 as a crypto exchange named Bitreserve. In 2015, after expanding its service offerings beyond crypto, the platform rebranded into Uphold, a name that better reflected its new, multi-asset focus of operations.
In addition to its office in New York, Uphold has multiple headquarters locations, including Canada, the UK, Lithuania, and the Bahamas. The platform is registered with and licensed by several financial authorities worldwide and offers regulated services to more than 184 countries and regions.
Uphold Key Services and Features
Uphold is a multi-asset digital money platform that offers financial services to a global market. In this section, we’ll discuss the services and products that this exchange offers.
Layout and ease of use
User experience is another area where Uphold excels. The platform’s interface is expertly designed to look professional but intuitive enough to allow easy navigation between asset classes, trade execution, and portfolio management features.
Its white background gives it a clean and modern look while its menus are clear, uncluttered and present all the important information without overwhelming the user. It is fair to say that Uphold is a platform created with beginners in mind, and everything on it feels familiar, uncomplicated, and easily accessible.
Available trading pairs
As we previously mentioned, Uphold supports just north of 250 cryptocurrencies, 19 fiat currencies, and three precious metals. But what is truly exceptional about this platform is that it allows users to trade between all of these financial products in one simple step.
By using its “Anything-to-Anything” feature, Uphold users can quickly purchase crypto or commodities using fiat, swap one coin for another, or even purchase fiat currency or commodities using cryptocurrency.
To put it in simple terms, any combination of the assets supported on Uphold can be a trading pair on the platform. This makes for a straightforward and convenient experience for versatile traders who like to deal with different financial products from various asset classes.
Order types available
While Uphold caters well to beginner traders with its user-friendly interface, the platform also appeals to experienced investors by offering advanced trading tools. Namely, the platform has several different order types traders can use to execute their strategies effectively, including:
- Market Orders: The most basic order type used for purchasing an asset immediately at the current price.
- Limit Orders: A semi-advanced order type that lets the trader specify the price at which they want to purchase or sell the asset. Does not execute if the price is not reached.
- Take Profit Orders: Also a semi-advanced order type that lets the trader specify the price at which they want to sell an asset and locks the profits as soon as the trade is executed.
- Trailing Stop Orders: An advanced order type that lets the trader set a specific price at which they want to sell an asset, which can be adjusted if the price moves in their favor.
By offering a diverse range of order types, Uphold makes sure traders of all experience levels get the flexibility and control they need to navigate the markets effectively.
DeFi Wallet Features
As a financial platform, custody and storage are two aspects Uphold takes seriously in addition to trading services. This is demonstrated by the fact that the platform provides three distinct custody solutions to cater to different needs and preferences:
- Full Custody – The Uphold Wallet is a custodial wallet that allows users to store their holdings and manage transactions without worrying about private keys or security logistics. The platform takes care of everything.
- Assisted Self-Custody – The Uphold Vault is a storage solution offered by the platform to enhance security by adopting a shared responsibility model. It utilizes three keys, two of which are controlled by the user and one by the platform.
- Self-Custody – Uphold also gives users access to a DeFi wallet called UpHODL, which gives them complete control and custody over their holdings. Only users can access private keys and use the UpHOLD wallet to interact with dApps and other DeFi services.
Of course, Uphold users don’t have to choose just one of these options and have the right to create multiple types of wallets if they need to. That said, the custodial Uphold Wallet is fully integrated with the Uphold exchange, and it is the only one users can use to access the platform’s trading services, making it mandatory. It is created at the very moment the user joins the platform.
Supported Wallets
Because Uphold is a financial platform that offers its own wallets and custodial services, it does not require the user to connect an external wallet to the account. However, if the user wants to move their holdings from their Uphold wallets to a third-party storage solution, they can initiate a withdrawal and transfer their crypto to the external wallet.
Supported Coins
If you are looking for a crypto exchange with an extensive selection of cryptos, then Uphold is a top recommendation. This site supports both major and minor digital coins. It is a fantastic platform for both beginners and experienced crypto enthusiasts.
Some of the popular choices that you can explore include Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), and Litecoin (LTC). Beyond the mainstream, you can also trade less-known gems like Basic Attention Token (BAT), Dash (DASH), and Stellar (XLM).
An overview of Uphold user profiles
Unlike some other trading platforms that provide social features, like copy trading, public portfolio sharing, and community discussions, Uphold does not offer tools for social engagement or visibility into other users’ profiles or activities.
Does Uphold Offer NFT Trading?
Uphold does not offer trading NFTs. Unlike some exchanges, Uphold has no NFT marketplace where users can trade, mint, or invest in NFT arts and collectibles.
Uphold User Experience
When you're just starting with crypto, the last thing you want is a complicated platform. Thankfully, Uphold exchange features a simple interface.
How to Register at Uphold Exchange
A pleasant and comfortable user experience separates good trading platforms from great ones, and it begins at the first interaction between the platform and the user—the account creation process.
Step 1: Fill in the registration form
Go to the Uphold website or app and click on the "Sign up" button. Fill in your personal details, including your name, email, date of birth, and mobile phone number.
Your phone number is used for two-factor authentication, which helps to keep your account secure. You will receive a text message with a code to the phone number you submit. Enter the code to complete your registration.
Step 2: Verify your identity
After registering your account, you will need to verify your identity. This involves providing additional personal information and documentation, such as a government-issued ID or passport. Uphold uses this information to comply with regulatory requirements and prevent fraud.
Step 3: Organize your dashboard
Once your account is set up and verified, you can start organizing your dashboard. This involves setting up your preferred payment methods and funding your account. You can also select the assets you want to trade.
Educational resources available
Like any other reputable financial platform, Uphold provides free educational resources on its website. The Uphold Academy can be found under the Learn section on the platform where users can access numerous informative guides and tutorials.
These educational articles are well-written and cover various subject matters that can help users understand how to use the Uphold platform and learn more about cryptocurrency in general.
The academy is split into three distinct courses:
- Beginner: Lessons on the basics of blockchain, Bitcoin, introduction to crypto trading, etc.
- Intermediate: Covers more advanced topics like consensus mechanisms, advanced trading techniques, and blockchain technology.
- Advanced: This is a course for advanced students who want to learn more about the evolution of blockchain and the more complex trading techniques and strategies.
While the educational resources available on Uphold are informative and useful, they are nothing to write home about. On some other platforms, users get access to video tutorials, interactive quizzes, and games, which can make the learning process more engaging and rewarding. Overall, this is definitely an area that Uphold can improve on.
Safety and Security
One of the primary concerns every trader worries about when selecting a trading platform is security and whether the exchange can be trusted with their funds and personal information. Considering how often cyber attacks occur in the crypto industry, this is a legitimate concern and you should always opt for the most secure cryptocurrency exchanges.
Uphold provides industry-standard security measures to protect its users from potential breaches and unauthorized access, including TLS encryption, two-factor authentication, biometric verification, and cold storage. Additionally, the platform frequently conducts independent security audits to identify vulnerabilities that hackers might exploit and addresses them promptly.
Uphold’s efforts to ensure the safety of its users are recognized and widely respected in the industry. The platform holds globally recognized certifications, including SOC 2 Type 2 Certification and ISO 27001, demonstrating its commitment to user protection practices.
Uphold Trading Fees
| Type of Asset | Fees |
|---|---|
| Stablecoins and major market FX | 0.25% |
| BTC, ETH | 1.4% - 1.6% |
| Altcoins | 1.9% - 2.95% |
| Precious Metals | 1.9% - 2.95% |
Transaction fees
Transaction fees are the charges the user incurs when depositing into or withdrawing from the platform. On Uphold, these fees vary and depend on the payment method and the asset class being deposited or withdrawn.
- For Depositing Fiat: Uphold charges a 3.99% fee for deposits made with credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. For wire transfer deposits under $5,000, the platform charges a flat $20 fee, while wire transfer deposits over $5,000 are free of charge. ACH transfer deposits are also free of charge, regardless of the amount.
- For Depositing Cryptocurrencies: There are no charges for crypto deposits on Uphold.
- For Withdrawing Fiat: Uphold charges a 1.75% fee for withdrawals to a debit card, an Apple Pay account, and Instant ACH transfers. The platform does not charge a withdrawal fee for normal ACH withdrawals and ACH microdeposits.
- For Withdrawing Cryptocurrencies: Uphold charges a flat $0.99 fee when withdrawing DAG, XDC, BTG, SGB, FLR, TRX, SOLO, CSPR, COREUM, and KAS using certain blockchain networks. In addition, the regular network fees are applied.
All in all, while Uphold’s fee structure is transparent and easy to understand, the platform is definitely not one of the cheapest options. Deposit fees are nowadays waived by almost all major cryptocurrency exchanges, but Uphold still charges them.
Trading fees
While most crypto exchanges typically rely on a tiered fee structure to determine trading fees based on each trader’s trading volume, Uphold does things differently. The platform does not take the trader’s activity levels into account and does not provide discounts to frequent traders.
Instead, Uphold claims that it continuously monitors the offerings by its competitors and adjusts its trading fees to remain competitive at all times. Based on its findings, the trading fees on Uphold typically vary within the following ranges:
- Around 0.25% – For trading stablecoins and major fiat currencies
- Between 1.4% and 1.6% – For trading BTC and ETH
- Between 1.9% and 2.95% – For trading altcoins
- Between 1.9% and 2.95% – For trading precious metals
Now, we don’t know which competitors Uphold is comparing its prices with, but these trading fees are excessively high. On most major crypto exchanges, trading fees are around 0.1% and 0.2%, even without the trading volume discount. On top of this, Uphold also charges a flat $0.99 trading fee for trades under $500 in certain instances. In summary, Uphold’s service is not cheap.
Conversion fees
As a multi-asset platform that supports 19 fiat currencies, converting between different currencies must be a regular activity for Uphold users. Luckily, the platform does not charge a separate currency conversion fee when trading with multiple currencies but includes this cost in the spreads we presented in the paragraph above.
Lending, Staking, and Interest Rates
Uphold provides staking services for 19 different cryptocurrencies, including popular coins like ETH, SOL, DOT, ADA, and others. Every coin offers a different APY, ranging between 0.18% and 14%. Uphold grants the staking rewards weekly, every Thursday. It is important to note that Uphold charges a commission on the rewards, which ranges between 3% and 34%.
Another feature we’d like to highlight while discussing staking is Uphold’s USD interest accounts. This feature is available exclusively to US-based users and allows them to earn up to 4.40% APY on their USD holdings.
These accounts are FDIC-insured up to $2.5 million, require no lock-up periods, have a low deposit minimum of only $1, and are subject to no commissions or fees. We’d like to commend Uphold for adding this feature, as it can be a great alternative for US traders with no staking access.
Lending Services
Once again, we’d like to start with a disclaimer and explain that Uphold does not offer lending services, as it is not a certified lender, loan broker, or loan arranger. The lending services presented on Uphold’s website are offered by SALT Lending, which is licensed to provide crypto-backed loans in various US jurisdictions. Uphold simply refers users to this service through its website.
For more information about the loan terms, like interest rates and commission, users must make an official inquiry on SALT Lending’s website.
Restricted Countries
While Uphold is a regulated financial service platform with headquarters and licenses for operation in multiple regions, the platform is not globally present, and its services are restricted in some countries and territories. Here is a complete list of all the jurisdictions not supported by Uphold:
- Anguilla
- Antarctica
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Barbados
- Bouvet Island
- Cambodia
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Cuba
- Eritrea
- Fiji
- French Southern Territories
- Guinea
- Heard and McDonald Islands
- Iran
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Mali
- Mauritania
- North Korea
- Palau
- Samoa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- S. Minor Outlying Islands
- Vanuatu
- US Virgin Islands
Supported Deposit and Withdrawal Methods
Every trader has different preferences when it comes to deposits. It is up to the platform to support multiple payment methods and allow each user to use their favorite option when depositing. Let’s see how well Uphold fares in this regard.
On Uphold, users can make direct deposits with a number of different fiat currencies, including USD, GBP, EUR, CAD, and local currencies used in countries supported by the platform.
The variety of deposit and withdrawal methods available on Uphold depends on each user’s geographic location. Let’s break down the options:
- US-based users can deposit using ACH, credit/debit card, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and wire transfer, and withdraw using ACH, debit card, and Apple Pay.
- UK-based users can deposit using FPS, SEPA, credit/debit card, Google Pay, and Apple Pay, and withdraw using FPS, SEPA, debit card, and Apple Pay.
- EEA-based users can deposit using SEPA, credit/debit card, Google Pay, and Apple Pay, and withdraw using SEPA, debit card, and Apple Pay.
- CA-based users and users from all other supported regions can deposit using credit/debit card, Google Pay, and Apple Pay, and withdraw using debit card only.
In summary, while Uphold provides multiple options, these methods are notably limited compared to other platforms, especially when it comes to supporting users from smaller market regions.
Customer Support at Uphold
Excellent customer support is one of the hallmarks that only the best and most reliable services can brag about. As a centralized financial platform, Uphold is expected to assist its users, answer their questions, and help them with any issue they may run into.
Having said that, while Uphold’s approach to customer support certainly meets the standards, it is not something out of the ordinary. When a user needs assistance with an issue or a question, the platform support page first takes them to a FAQ section called “Self-Service.” The idea is to let the users find the answers themselves without having to rely on a support representative.
Of course, if the user cannot find the solution, they can use the Contact Us button to submit a support form to describe their issue and wait for someone to respond.
Even though, in theory, this approach potentially saves users time, in practice, it just comes off as lazy and not willing to help. Unfortunately, Uphold is not the only platform to rely on such a “support” model, and nowadays, more and more services seem to be moving away from direct communication.
Uphold Mobile
Uphold is a digital financial services platform that truly takes a mobile-first approach. It is available on both Android and iOS, and its design, interface, and overall user experience really seem to come to life when the app is run on mobile.
Don’t get us wrong, the desktop version is perfectly fine as well, but we believe that even PC traders will feel compelled to move to the mobile version once they try it out. The touch controls, taps, and swipes are just so intuitive and make navigating the app feel natural and efficient.
Its integrations with the Uphold wallet, the Vault, and the payment systems make depositing and withdrawing seamless and hassle-free. Placing orders, monitoring portfolio performance, and managing assets all feel easy and streamlined, with everything accessible in just a few taps.
To sum up, Uphold on mobile is just as good, if not better than on PC, and the designers behind the app deserve all the praise.
Why Choose Uphold Crypto Exchange
While there are several compelling arguments as to why Uphold is a great trading platform, including regulatory compliance, ease of use, multiple custodial options, working perfectly well on mobile, and similar, its bread and butter is the multi-asset support.
A platform where you can easily trade between cryptocurrencies, fiat currencies, and precious metals is not something you see every day. And even if other platforms provide a similar feature, we don’t think any competitor offers as easy and effortless trading between different financial instruments as Uphold’s “Anything-to-Anything.
Like any other platform, Uphold has several areas for improvement, and we pointed them out in our review. However, if you don’t mind paying its spreads and want to create a portfolio with the three asset classes it supports, you should definitely check Uphold out and give it a shot.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cryptocurrencies can I buy on Uphold?
Like any other service that deals with exchanging cryptocurrencies, Uphold’s supported asset list is subject to change over time. At the moment, the platform supports over 250 cryptocurrencies, including all the major coins, 11 stable coins, and five utility tokens. In the future, the platform may add new coins or even remove some that it currently supports.
How can I withdraw funds from Uphold?
To withdraw funds from Uphold, you first need to navigate to the “Withdraw” section of the app. Once there, you can select the account you want to withdraw from, choose the withdrawal method, and enter the amount you want to withdraw. Be sure to double check all the details before you confirm the transaction to make sure your withdrawal doesn’t end up in someone else’s wallet.
How secure is Uphold?
Uphold is about as secure as any digital platform can be. It is licensed from some of the most rigorous financial authorities in the world, including FinCEN, the FCA, and the FCIS. These regulatory bodies don’t hand out licenses to platforms that don’t meet stringent security criteria. Moreover, Uphold additionally holds OC 2 Type 2 and ISO 27001 certifications, which further demonstrate its commitment to security practices.
How does Uphold compare to Coinbase?
While both platforms are US-based, regulated, user-friendly, and secure, comparing Uphold to Coinbase is a bit like comparing apples to oranges. Coinbase is a leader in the crypto exchange market and excels at providing crypto trading services. Uphold, on the other hand, is a financial services platform, with trading features, but it primarily focuses on long-term investments and growing wealth.
How fast are transactions processed in Uphold?
It depends on what and how you are transacting. Buying and selling cryptocurrencies on Uphold is typically very quick, though it is still dependent on market conditions and network activity. Fiat deposits and withdrawals, on the other hand, depend on the method used. Transactions made with quick methods like Google Pay, Apple Pay, and credit/debit cards are usually processed instantly. ACH transactions and wire transfers tend to be slower and can take up to two days.
