Uphold is a cryptocurrency platform that offers a comprehensive range of financial products and services. It allows users to purchase, sell, or trade over 88 cryptocurrencies as well as other assets.
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 a small premium you’ll pay over the true market price that allows 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.
Uphold Overview
Founded in 2015, Uphold is an established crypto exchange that serves users in 184+ countries.
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 U.S. equities 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 over 88 cryptocurrencies, including Litecoin, Bitcoin, and Stellar Lumens. Uphold currently has over 1.7 million users and over $2 billion in its current financial reserve.
Uphold Pros
1. Ability to buy and trade across asset classes: Users can purchase cryptocurrency, U.S. equities, and precious metals on Uphold.
2. Transparent fee structure: Uphold offers a transparent fee structure, so users won’t be caught off guard by unexpected costs.
Uphold Cons
1. The Limited number of cryptocurrencies: Uphold supports just 88 cryptocurrencies. Other leading exchanges offer more supported assets.
2. No advanced trading features: Uphold lacks advanced charting and other features aimed at professional and active traders that some exchanges provide.
Available Cryptocurrencies
Currently, Uphold offers 88 currencies for users to buy, sell, and trade on its platform. Available cryptocurrencies include:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Litecoin (LTC)
- Ripple (XRP)
- Chainlink (link)
- Stellar Lumens (XLM)
- Iota (MIOTA)
Trade Experience
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 and 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.
Uphold Fees
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.
Security
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 Integrity, 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.
Opening an Uphold Account
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.
Customer Service
Uphold doesn’t offer many options for customer service. Users can request help via a form on the Uphold website or reach out to the company through its Twitter account.
Currently, Uphold doesn’t offer a live chat feature or a phone number for users who need immediate help. It’s also unclear which ADA tools are available to users needing additional assistance.
Customer Satisfaction
Overall, Uphold receives poor marks from customers and has an average 2.2 out of 5-star rating across over 6,000 reviews on Trustpilot.3 Multiple users mention issues related to communication and account lockouts, as well as delays in authenticating profiles.
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, the overall simplicity of the platform, and the ability to earn crypto rewards.
Account Management
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.
Uphold vs. Other Cryptocurrency Companies
The growth of the cryptocurrency market and the number of exchanges available makes it difficult to know which platform is ideal for your needs. Here’s a look at how Uphold compares to BlockFi, another popular cryptocurrency exchange.
Uphold vs. BlockFi
Uphold and BlockFi both offer user-friendly platforms to buy, sell, and trade crypto. However, there are some unique differences between the two exchanges.
- Uphold offers 88 cryptocurrencies available for trade, while BlockFi supports just 16 cryptocurrencies.
- BlockFi lets qualified borrowers take out loans backed by their crypto holdings, while Uphold doesn’t offer this option.
- Uphold offers a cryptocurrency rewards debit card for users, and BlockFi offers a cryptocurrency rewards credit card.
- Uphold lets users buy, sell, and trade across asset classes while BlockFi does not.