Uphold is a broker that lets you buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrency, precious metals, fiat currencies, and U.S. equities1. You can log in to your Uphold account by visiting their official website at
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Uphold is a one-stop-shop that lets users buy, sell, and trade multiple assets
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INVESTOPEDIA’S RATING4.4
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OUR TAKE
Uphold is a cryptocurrency platform offering users the ability to buy, sell, and trade multiple assets. Designed for both novice and more advanced cryptocurrency investors, Uphold gives users access to a suite of financial products on a fairly straightforward and easy-to-use platform.
PROS & CONS
SPECIFICATIONS
Pros
Ability to buy and trade across asset classes
Transparent fee structure
No-fee transactions between assets where the amount transacted is over $100 in value
0% trading commissions
Cons
Limited number of cryptocurrencies
No advanced trading features
Relatively high spread fees
OVERALL RATING4.4
LEARN MORETable Of Contents
Pros Explained
Cons Explained
Introduction
Company Overview
Cryptocurrencies
Trade Experience
Fees
Security
Opening An Account
Customer Service
Customer Satisfaction
Account Management
Methodology
Unlike traditional brokerage firms, cryptocurrency exchanges are not members of the Securities Investor Protection Corp. (SIPC). Therefore, unless user terms specify otherwise, investors with cryptocurrency assets commingled on a custodial cryptocurrency exchange could potentially lose their funds as unsecured creditors.
Ability to buy and trade across asset classes:Users can purchase cryptocurrency and precious metals on Uphold.
Transparent fee structure: Uphold offers a transparent fee structure, so users won’t be caught off guard by unexpected costs.
Limited number of cryptocurrencies: Uphold supports close to 220 cryptocurrencies. Other leading exchanges offer more supported assets.
No advanced trading features: Uphold lacks advanced charting and other features aimed at professional and active traders that some exchanges provide.
Uphold is a cryptocurrency platform that offers a comprehensive range of financial products and services. It allows users to purchase, sell, or trade 250+ cryptocurrencies as well as other assets.1
Uphold is transparent about its fees. It has a slightly different fee structure from many other crypto exchanges. There are no commissions, deposit fees, or maker-taker fees. Instead, there are spread fees which are basically a small premium you'll pay over the true market price that allow Uphold to make money. With these spread fees, you might end up paying a higher price than what you might see from competitors. Overall, it could be a good choice for those looking to invest across different asset classes under one platform.
Investing in cryptocurrencies, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), and other Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) is highly risky and speculative, and the markets can be extremely volatile. Consult with a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. This article is not a recommendation by Investopedia or the writer to invest in cryptocurrencies nor can the accuracy or timeliness of the information be guaranteed.
Founded in 2015, Uphold is an established crypto exchange that serves users in 150 countries.2
Uphold offers a unique financial experience that sets it apart from other crypto exchanges. In addition to giving users the option to buy cryptocurrency, users can also purchase and precious metals. The platform also allows you to trade across currencies, without taking the extra step of converting your assets back to cash.
In addition to a unique trading experience, Uphold offers a cashback debit card that allows customers to make payments using assets they hold on the platform. For instance, a user might choose to pay with crypto or fiat currency.
Uphold supports close to 250 cryptocurrencies, including Litecoin, Bitcoin, and Stellar Lumens. Uphold currently has over 110 million users and over $2.5 billion in its current financial reserve.
On Jan. 18, 2023 Uphold warned its users of a possible data breach in a compromised email address incident at a third-party firm, Customer.io. The firm also introduced a new Uphold card into the U.K. market. Following allegations by crypto lender CRED LLC, that several protocols, including Uphold owed its liquidation trust over $784 million, Uphold has since denied the accusations, filing a motion to dismiss the suit against it by CRED LLC.3
Currently, Uphold over 250 currencies for users to buy, sell, and trade on its platform. Available cryptocurrencies include:
Bitcoin (BTC)
Etherium (ETH)
Litecoin (LTC)
Ripple (XRP)
Chainlink (Link)
Stellar Lumens (XLM)
Iota (MIOTA)
Uphold offers a user-friendly trading experience, and customers can make trades via its desktop platform or mobile apps, which are available both on Android or iOS. The user interface is intuitive for those who are new to making trades, which could make it a good option for those just getting started with crypto.
Unlike many competitors, Uphold offers the ability to trade within asset classes, making this platform stand out. Users may also set up recurring purchases using Uphold’s AutoPilot option, which uses dollar-cost averaging to help mitigate some of the volatility of trading in the cryptocurrency market. However, this platform only offers one order type: limit orders. Those looking for additional or more advanced order types will want to look elsewhere. Furthermore, the platform doesn't have advanced charting and other features that are often desired by some traders.
While Uphold offers 0% trading commissions, it charges spread fees for cryptocurrency purchases and sales that customers make on the platform. These spread fees are relatively high and can range from 0.8% to 1.2% for popular cryptocurrencies and go can go beyond this range for lower liquidity cryptocurrencies. Uphold also indicates spread fees may increase during times of market volatility.
There are no withdrawal or deposit fees for personal accounts. Although, crypto network fees might apply when withdrawing to an external wallet as they would with any provider.
While they of course can change with market conditions, Uphold charges the following spread fees on other asset classes:4
Uphold offers industry-standard security measures, including KYC verification and two-factor authentication. The majority of user funds are held offline in cold storage, which is generally more secure than storing funds online in hot wallets. This company also provides users with basic guidance on security best practices and how to recognize and avoid scams.
In addition, Uphold employs a bug bounty program through Intigriti, a third-party security company. Through this program, users can report bugs that they’ve encountered when using Uphold.
Uphold staff members are also required to undergo background checks and participate in routine privacy training to help promote platform security.
Signing up for an Uphold account is simple. To start, click on the “Sign Up” button in the upper right corner of the Uphold website. From there, you’ll provide the following information during the initial sign-up process: email address, password, country of residence, and nationality. After that, further information is required to verify your identity including uploading a government ID.
Once you’ve submitted your information and read Uphold’s terms of service, you’ll receive a verification email. After you’ve verified your email address, you can begin using your account.
Uphold doesn’t offer many options for customer service. Users can access a live chat function via the Uphold app. In addition, users can request help via a form on the Uphold website or reach out to the company through its Twitter account.
Overall, Uphold receives poor marks from customers and has an average 3.2 out of 5-star rating across over 7,572 reviews on Trustpilot. Multiple users mention issues related to communication and account lockouts, as well as delays in authenticating profiles.5
Despite a large amount of negative feedback, some reviews of Uphold are positive. Users who praise this exchange mention that they appreciate its product offerings and the overall simplicity of the platform.
Uphold users can access their accounts via the company website or its mobile apps. Once logged in, you can use the online dashboard or mobile app to buy, sell, and trade assets; review your portfolio; and more. However, given that Uphold offers few options for customer support, users will likely be mostly on their own with managing their accounts.
FINAL VERDICT
Despite its wide selection of cryptocurrencies and advanced security features, Uphold receives poor reviews from customers. Problems with customer service and account lockouts make it a challenging platform for some users.
That said, Uphold’s unique features like multi-asset trading may make it an attractive platform to certain users. However, it’s a good idea to research different crypto exchanges and compare options before you sign up.
Investopedia is dedicated to helping those interested in cryptocurrency investing make informed and safe decisions. We are committed to providing our readers with unbiased reviews of the top cryptocurrency exchanges for investors of all levels.
Exchanges were reviewed on points including security, fees, number of cryptocurrencies available, and more. We also considered if the exchange is regulated by a proper agency or entirely decentralized. Our full cryptocurrency exchange methodology, including the review process and weighted data points, is available for review.
Action
Fee
Fiat currencies
0.2% spread fee
Metals
2% spread fee
