Uphold (2024)

Uphold Review

Uphold offers a comprehensive platform for trading and exploring cryptocurrencies, serving over 10 million users in 150 countries. With a diverse range of assets including over 250 cryptocurrencies, traditional currencies, and precious metals, Uphold ensures user funds’ safety through its 100% reserve model and commitment to transparency, providing real-time asset and liability data publicly.

Key features include access to a wide array of tokens with early support, integration with 26 exchanges for optimal token prices, the convenience of spending assets globally with the Uphold Card (UK only), setting up automatic transactions for dollar-cost averaging, advanced trading options like take profit and trailing stop loss, and native apps for iOS and Android.

• The founders established Uphold.com in 2015.
• It’s a US-based crypto exchange headquartered in New York.
• It received a registration license to operate as a FCA Crypto Asset Firm in the UK.
• It also secured a license to operate as a Money Services Business (or MSB) in Canada and the USA.
• Uphold has around 194 employees.
• Uphold is available in over 180 countries, serving more than 30 million users across the globe.
• The exchange supports countries, including the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan, and others.

Uphold’s trading offerings do not match those of major competitors like Binance and Coinbase. However, the platform stands out due to its unique features that allow direct transactions between asset classes (like cryptocurrencies, national currencies, and precious metals).

The exchange formed its business based on the mission to lower trading costs, complexity, and risk for both consumer and business financial transactions.

Based on its mission, Uphold offers borderless access to financial services users can’t get through banks. The platform covers more than 300 assets, enabling businesses and consumers to transact between traditional and digital currencies easily.

Uphold Security

Uphold employs several security measures to safeguard users’ assets.

• Encryption technology

Uphold uses advanced encryption technology and a complex defense method to protect users’ assets and fix security gaps.

• Security audit

Uphold has certified security specialists who periodically scrutinize product lines to recognize and seal out security vulnerabilities that may exist. The team tracks the platform 24/7 and periodically conducts security inspections.

• Bug bounty program

Uphold runs a bug bounty initiative offering rewards to individuals who assist in reporting security loopholes on the platform.

• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Uphold expects its clients to use robust passwords and enable two-factor authentication to ensure the safety of their accounts.

• Proof of Reserves

Uphold’s reserve holdings are over 100%. This means the platform has adequate funds to cover all user assets in case of dissolution or financial loss.

• Cold storage

Uphold protects user funds by storing 90% of crypto held in its reserves in offline storage. The exchange also securely protects the cold storage by a multi-signature process to ensure that no single person has the authority to transfer crypto. The platform stores the remaining 10% in secure online service to manage liquidity for its day-to-day services.

Opening an Account and Trading

Buying bitcoin on Uphold

• Create an Uphold account

The first step to using Uphold is to open a free account. You set up your account using basic information such as email, nationality, and country of residence. The platform also expects users to verify their identity by uploading valid government documents like passports or driver’s licenses. Once Uphold verifies a customer identity, it enables your account, and you can start trading.

On Uphold, you can buy bitcoin, cryptos, fiat currencies, or precious metals of your choice using several payment methods. Connect your preferred payment, like a debit card or your bank, to your Uphold wallet and start buying and selling assets of your choice.

• Buy bitcoin with debit/credit card on Uphold

Crypto users are always looking for the easiest ways to purchase more coins. Debit/credit cards are one of the methods for buying Bitcoin and other crypto instantly. With Uphold, you can use any Mastercard or Visa debit/credit card issued in any currency to purchase crypto. The platform automatically converts the currency you enter into the platform’s supported payment options.

• Buy cryptocurrency with your bank account on Uphold

You can buy crypto on Uphold using SWIFT bank accounts. Once you connect your bank account to your Uphold account, you can deposit fiat currencies (like USD, GBP, EUR, or others) using the SWIFT transfer.

While US users can use ACH bank accounts to buy crypto, UK users can use Faster Payments to make transactions. Those who live in selected European countries can use SEPA bank transfers to make purchases.

• Third-party payments

Integrating third-party payment processors on Uphold is a significant move that helps users make real-time transactions without a traditional merchant account, decreasing the time required to process trade.

Some third-party payment processors that Uphold recently partnered with include Checkout.com, Cross River Bank, Metropolitan Commercial Bank, crypto card issuer Optimus, payment processor Paydoo, digital payments network Ripple, and others.

• Using P2P (Peer-to-Peer) Trading

Uphold has a P2P marketplace where you can trade your assets with other Uphold users directly. Click on “P2P trading” on Uphold. Choose your country and asset you’d like to buy or sell. This will enable you to see relevant offers from users in your region.

How does Uphold compare on fees?

Uphold employs a simple fee structure that distinguishes it from competitors. The exchange uses a spread model that charges varying fees depending on traded assets.

Type of asset Fee

1. Cryptocurrencies
   For US, UK, and European users wanting to trade Bitcoin or Ethereum, Uphold charges a spread fee of between 0.8% to 1.2% of the market value of a trade. The spread is usually around 1.8% for other supported countries.
   Uphold normally charges a higher spread fee for lower-liquidity cryptocurrencies like Dogecoin, Ripple, etc.
   The exchange charges higher spread fees during periods of high trading volume or market stress.
2. Precious metals – 3% on top of the bid-ask price at its suppliers.
3. Fiat currencies – 0.2% for most national currencies.
4. Stocks – Normally, 1% of market value.
5. Staking services – Uphold obtains a commission ranging 3% – 34% of the assets staked.

The table below shows the fees by payment method and action when users trade assets.

There are also daily, weekly, and monthly limits, and although most transactions are instant,some have varying processing times.

Uphold’s FDIC-Insured USD Accounts with 5% APY

Uphold partnerships

Uphold believes in creating robust relationships to build user experience. Here are some of the partnerships that Uphold recently sealed to unlock enhanced user functionalities and opportunities.

• Uphold partnered with Brave Browser to enable users to manage and earn BAT tokens on the platform. Uphold also integrated RoundlyX, allowing users to effortlessly track their portfolio’s performance and accumulate spare change from daily transactions.
• Also, based on a partnership with Recap, Uphold clients use the Recap app to calculate their crypto taxes and efficiently track their portfolios securely and privately, complying with tax laws.
• Furthermore, Uphold’s partnership with IMVU enabled the introduction of VCOIN on the platform. VCOIN is a metaverse cryptocurrency enabling Uphold users to engage and make transactions effortlessly.
• Also, Uphold recently integrated other third-party apps (like Coin Hunt World, CoinTracker, Blockreward, TAP Rewards, BitMari, and others) on its platform. Such partnerships help Uphold to enhance the user functionality of its platform.

Uphold Card – UK only

Utilize Any Asset, Anywhere across the Globe

One of Uphold’s standout features is its innovative Uphold Card, enabling users to utilize any asset in their possession, whether it’s cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, XRP, and Ethereum, or traditional currencies like GBP, USD, and EUR. Offered in both physical and virtual formats, the card provides the convenience of no foreign transaction fees when making purchases abroad, along with favorable FX rates. Compatible with Apple and Google Pay, the card incurs zero fees – neither issuance nor monthly fees. It’s instantly accessible, ensuring a seamless spending experience for users.

Uphold Vault

Uphold introduces the Uphold Vault, a pioneering self-custody solution seamlessly integrated into the Uphold app, offering enhanced asset security and protection against the loss of private keys. With a system utilizing three keys, users retain control over their funds with two keys, while Uphold acts as a co-signer for transactions, adding an extra layer of security. The Vault also provides a key replacement service for added peace of mind.

Currently supporting XRP with plans for further network integrations in 2024, the Vault enables users to easily recover lost keys, transfer assets to Uphold for trading 24/7, and access funds directly on-chain with the Vault Assist Tool, even without app access. Key features include easy account setup, instant access to trading, constant asset accessibility, secure key replacement, and an intuitive mobile app interface, making it suitable for beginners and experienced users alike.

Future growth and offerings

Uphold is on a mission to enhance economic freedom for millions of users across the globe. The exchange plans to build a secure and profitable cryptocurrency exchange that efficiently safeguards users’ assets. Recently, Uphold announced plans to release a vault to enhance the security and convenience of self-custody of digital assets. Uphold scheduled to launch the vault this year. The new product intends to offer a simplified self-custody experience to over 30 million Uphold customers.

FAQs

• Is Uphold available in the US?

Uphold is available to US users. It’s headquartered in the US and has international users.

• Where is Uphold regulated?

Uphold is a regulated institution, licensed in the US by FinCen and in the UK by the FCA. The platform is also registered in Canada with FINTRAC and Europe with the Financial Crimes Investigation Service. Uphold operates as a regulated financial service provider, complying with global Anti-Money Laundering (AML) controls.

• Is Uphold Safe?

Uphold is a safe and legitimate platform duly licensed by global regulators.

• Can users trade stocks on Uphold?

Uphold claims that its platform offers stock trading, but that’s not functioning currently. It seems the platform is still working on this offering.

• Where is Uphold not available?

Uphold does not allow access to its trading services in some countries. These nations include North Korea, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Haiti, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, Eritrea, Central Africa Republic, Iran, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, Congo, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, and many more. However, the exchange may uplift such restrictions and expand its trading services to these nations and others in the future.