Uphold Review for March 2025

Trading

As we mentioned earlier in our Uphold review, the platform provides early access to new tokens by connecting to 30 trading venues, including centralized and decentralized exchanges and Layer 2 networks, while enabling one-step trading between any two assets. The platform also offers retail traders essential features like automatic recurring trades, built-in wallet storage, limited stop orders, and fast deposits with 0% deposit and withdrawal fees. 

Uphold’s tools such as take-profit and trailing stop-loss features help manage risk by automatically selling assets at predefined thresholds. Additionally, Uphold’s AutoPilot feature uses dollar-cost averaging (DCA) to reduce volatility, supported by a DCA calculator and automatic recurring trades, making it a practical and versatile choice for traders.

Uphold Vault

The Vault is Uphold’s new assisted self-custody solution, providing enhanced security for digital assets through a multi-signature framework. Your crypto can only be moved using your personal Vault key and a backup key, with Uphold offering assisted key replacement services and 24/7 instant trading access. Currently, the Vault supports only Bitcoin and XRP, but they plan to expand to other networks in 2025. For now, other assets can be stored in Uphold’s full custody or traditional self-custody wallets.

This secure self-custody solution uses a 2/3 multi-signature wallet, where you control two keys, and Uphold holds one. It ensures your crypto remains safe, accessible, and protected by a key replacement service, offering Bitcoin and XRP holders peace of mind.

Staking

Uphold is an excellent choice for long-term investors looking to earn passive income through cryptocurrency staking, offering competitive annual percentage yields (APYs) on a variety of top-staking coins. High-yield options include Cosmos (13.8%), Polkadot (10.4%), and Casper (10%), while Solana and Tezos provide solid returns at 8% and 4.8%, respectively. On the other hand, Ethereum staking rewards align with the market average at 3.55%, though Cardano yields are lower at 1.96%.

Based on our and many other Uphold reviews, the process is straightforward and user-friendly, whether using the desktop or mobile platform. Investors simply select the desired staking coin and confirm their choice, and rewards are automatically distributed to their Uphold Vault wallet in the respective cryptocurrency. 

Interest on USD Balances

Uphold offers a competitive USD Interest Account, paying a 4.40% APY on balances of 

$1,000 or more ($21,000), with no monthly fees or lock-up terms. This feature is ideal for those who sell cryptocurrency and want to hold proceeds in an interest-bearing account before reinvesting. USD balances are held in FDIC-insured bank accounts, providing security and flexibility for seamless fund allocation. The account is also accessible to everyone, requiring only a $1 minimum deposit and charging no monthly fees.

The USD Interest Account is a brokerage account offered by Atomic Brokerage LLC, a member of FINRA/SIPC, and is part of the Atomic Brokerage Cash Sweep Program. While SIPC does not protect cash deposited solely for the Cash Sweep Program, funds swept to participating banks are FDIC-insured up to $2,500,000 ($250,000 per depositor, per insured bank). Note that rates are subject to change, and funds held directly in the Atomic Brokerage account are not FDIC-insured.

Uphold Card

Uphold provides clients with a Mastercard-issued debit card that connects directly to a user’s Uphold account, allowing them to spend cryptocurrency seamlessly in the real world. When purchasing, funds are automatically converted from crypto to the local currency and settled instantly with the retailer—without the merchant even knowing crypto was used. The card is especially useful for travelers, as it supports multiple global currencies with no foreign transaction fees and can also be used at ATMs.

Users can also create a virtual card, which is ideal for online shopping, especially with unfamiliar merchants. The Uphold card app is available on both Android and iOS, making digital payments even more convenient. While applying for the card is free, shipping fees apply. However, one downside is that, unlike some competing Bitcoin debit cards, Uphold does not offer cashback rewards.

Business Account

Uphold’s Business Account enables companies to securely and instantly transfer assets to employees and partners worldwide. It offers free asset storage, robust data protection, and low-cost conversions between currencies and precious metals, making it a practical solution for global transactions.

The account also includes know-your-customer (KYC) verification, anti-money laundering (AML) measures, and financial risk controls, ensuring compliance and security for every transaction.

Educational Materials

The Uphold Academy provides access to a comprehensive suite of educational resources designed to help users navigate the complexities of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. The curriculum is divided into Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced courses, covering topics such as blockchain fundamentals, consensus mechanisms, and sophisticated trading strategies. Each course is divided into concise lessons, making it easier for users to grasp complex concepts at their own pace.

Beyond the core courses, Uphold Academy provides specialized content on Uphold’s proprietary tools and services, such as Topper, a fiat-to-crypto onramp, and insights into Uphold Institutional, which supports institutions in the digital asset economy. 

Uphold Fees & Commissions – Is Uphold Good for Pricing?

Almost every Uphold exchange review closely examines trading and non-trading fees, so let’s see whether the platform offers competitive pricing.

Trading Fees

Uphold’s trading commissions vary based on market conditions, but the platform provides estimated rates depending on the asset. Bitcoin and Ethereum trades typically incur a commission of 1.4% to 1.6%, which is comparable to major exchanges like Coinbase and Gemini. While this pricing is higher than some non-US platforms, many of those alternatives lack regulation and do not accept US customers. For other altcoins (excluding stablecoins), trading commissions range from 1.9% to 2.95%. These fees are not separately displayed but are instead built into the quoted exchange rate, which remains valid for 18 seconds before refreshing.

Stablecoins are the most cost-effective asset to trade on Uphold, with commissions averaging just 0.25%, the same rate applied to major currency trades. However, precious metals carry higher fees, typically ranging from 1.9% to 2.95%. Additionally, a $0.99 fee applies to trades under $500, which is important for users considering smaller transactions.

Non-Trading Fees

Deposit and withdrawal fees on Uphold vary by country and payment method, similar to many cryptocurrency exchanges. US clients benefit from fee-free ACH deposits, while standard ACH withdrawals are also free—though instant payouts come with a 1.75% fee. Deposits made via debit cards and Google/Apple Pay are free for US users, while credit card deposits incur a 3.99% fee. In the UK and Europe, local bank transfers, debit cards, and Apple/Google Pay deposits are also fee-free, and unlike in the US, credit card surcharges are waived.

For cryptocurrency transactions, Uphold does not charge deposit fees, but withdrawals incur network-based costs that vary by asset. For example, withdrawing Bitcoin costs 0.000075 BTC, while Litecoin withdrawals require 0.0008 LTC. Ethereum withdrawals, on the other hand, are subject to the real-time gas fee, which fluctuates based on network activity.

Supported Cryptocurrencies

Uphold is one of the first platforms to support Ethereum and Litecoin. Uphold supports over 300 cryptocurrencies, including major best coins like Bitcoin, and Solana, as well as 9 stablecoins, highly-rated meme coins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu, and frequently adds new projects early—such as Magic, which was listed at $0.26 and rose to $0.54 on other exchanges within 35 days. This makes Uphold a strong choice for diversifying across crypto markets and other asset classes to reduce risk.

Other Assets Available on Uphold

Uphold lists the following assets in addition to cryptocurrencies:

Forex

Forex, the largest trading marketplace globally, can be accessed directly on Uphold. Twenty domestic currencies, including majors like USD, GBP, EUR, CAD, and CHF, are supported. Less popular currencies include SGD, PLN, NOK, and MXN.

Precious Metals

Uphold also supports three precious metals: gold, silver, and platinum. These assets are particularly popular during economic turmoil, so it’s convenient that Uphold provides access to them at the click of a button.

Uphold Security – Is Uphold Safe To Use?

Uphold is highly committed to security, making it an excellent choice for users concerned about the safety of their funds. It is registered with FinCEN as a Money Service Business in the US and operates under the UK’s FCA regulations as an Agent of an Electronic Money Issuer. Uphold complies with KYC (Know Your Customer) and anti-money laundering (AML) regulations, ensuring full adherence to important legislation like the Bank Secrecy Act. The platform also employs 24/7 risk management teams to monitor transactions, and users are strongly advised to enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for extra protection.

With these security measures in place, many users ask, “Is Uphold a good exchange for security?” The platform sets itself apart with real-time proof of reserves, updating every 30 seconds to confirm that all client funds are backed 1:1 by live assets. Uphold’s reserves currently total nearly $2.7 billion, spread across fiat currencies, precious metals, and cryptocurrencies, ensuring financial stability. Thanks to its strict regulatory compliance, transparency, and advanced security protocols, Uphold remains a trusted platform for those prioritizing safety.

Uphold Customer Support

As reported by other Uphold reviews, customer support could be approved. This is because neither live chat nor telephone assistance is offered. Instead, users must create a support ticket and wait for a reply.

That said, I found most account queries, such as payments and technical issues, can be resolved from the ‘Help’ section. Simply search for the keyword and a help document should appear.