Uphold is a cryptocurrency exchange platform that serves more than 180 countries around the world and has powered over £4bn in transactions since its inception in 2015. This is our full, independent review of Uphold platform, including its fees, features and how it measures up against its rivals.
What is Uphold?
Uphold provides users with a platform to trade 250+ cryptocurrencies, utility tokens and stablecoins, plus three national currencies, for a comprehensive blend of traditional and digital money systems. Users can fund their accounts, send money to friends and family, and trade directly between different cryptocurrencies and national currencies all from a single platform.
Uphold states that its aim is to facilitate "frictionless foreign exchange and cross-border remittance for members around the world" and to generate "a future where people and businesses around the world have access to safe, transparent, fair, and affordable financial services".
What does Uphold do?
The Uphold platform is an online cryptocurrency exchange where you can buy, sell and trade cryptocurrencies and crypto assets. Its services can be accessed on desktop as well as on iOS and Android devices. Uphold boasts ‘anything-to-anything’ direct trading between cryptocurrencies, separate accounts for personal and business trading, and a jargon-busting ‘Cryptionary’ to help demystify the technical term-laden crypto sector.
Uphold main features:
- Available on desktop, Android and iOS
- ‘Anything-to-anything’ direct trades between different cryptocurrencies
- Wide range of cryptocurrencies, national currencies and stablecoins
- Personal and business accounts for both types of trader
- ‘Cryptionary’ jargon-buster to help explain and clarify technical terminology
- Integrated digital wallets for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash and XRP
Uphold pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
 No transaction fees |
 High spread (up to 1.25%) |
| Highly-rated customer support |
Email ticketing and/or FAQ only |
| 250+ supported cryptocurrencies |
Not as many as Bittrex Global (250+) or CEX.IO (110+) |
Uphold fees
There are 0% debit card deposit fees and 0% bank and crypto withdrawal fees. Uphold does, however, charge a spread for each transaction depending on the type of cryptocurrency or fiat currency involved. It also charges a $0.99 fee for trades under $500.
Cryptocurrency transactions:
Fiat transactions:
| Asset | Buy Spread (USD) | Sell Spread (USD) |
| EUR | 0.20% | 0.20% |
| GBP | 0.20% | 0.20% |
| USD | 0.05% | 0.05% |
Which cryptocurrencies can you trade on Uphold?
UK users can trade 250+ cryptocurrencies, utility tokens and stablecoins on Uphold, including:
- BTC
- XRP
- ETH
- BAT
- DOGE
- LINK
- REN
- LUNA
- AAVE
The full list of cryptocurrencies which UK investors can trade on Uphold can be found on its website on its ‘Cryptocurrencies’ page.
Uphold security
There are several different security measures to keep Uphold customers’ funds as safe as possible. Among these are security audits and penetration testing by security professionals, layered encryption, and all-year-round system monitoring from its Security Operations Centre, which is ready to respond immediately to any detected threat. It also ensures that providers undergo "appropriate due diligence checks", with special attention paid to integrations incorporating sensitive data, while all of its employees are background-checked by an accredited vendor. Mandatory security and privacy training are undertaken regularly. These measures are noticeably more extensive than many comparable cryptocurrency platforms, such as BlockFi, and Uphold has never reported being hacked since its launch in 2015.
Uphold is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under the FCA’s Temporary Registration Regime for cryptoasset firms. It is important to understand that while it is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority, trading cryptocurrency remains an unregulated investment activity meaning customers do not receive any protection from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
Uphold customer reviews
There is a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from over 20,000 reviews for Uphold on Trustpilot. Positive reviews point to the friendly and efficient customer support team in particular, which can be accessed using its email ticketing system, or alternatively via its comprehensive FAQ section. Of the negative reviews, many reference issues with delayed transactions and account closures.
Alternatives to Uphold
If Uphold does not feel like the most suitable cryptocurrency exchange for you, there are plenty of other options which may be better, but it depends on precisely what you are looking for. If low fees are your priority, CEX.IO could be an alternative option, but a beginner investor may appreciate Coinbase and Gemini’s user-friendly interfaces more for their first steps into the crypto sector. More experienced investors may find Kraken’s advanced trading mechanisms, including margins and futures trading, more suitable. If you are still undecided, head over to our breakdown of the best cryptocurrency exchange platforms in the UK.
Uphold compared to the competition
| Exchange Platform | Uphold | Kraken | Gemini | CEX.IO | Coinbase* |
| Transaction Fees | 0% (but charges a spread between 0.85-1.25%) | 0.00-0.26% | 0.00-0.40% | 0.00-0.25% | 0.00-0.50% |
| No. of cryptocurrencies | 250+ | 650+ | 80+ | 300+ | 250+ |
| Wallet | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.6/5 | 3.4/5 | 1.3/5 | 3.2/5 | 4.0/5 |
The verdict
Overall, Uphold boasts a wide range of cryptocurrencies and even the option to trade three popular national currencies. Its security credentials are good and its customer service team has been praised on numerous occasions. However, the fees can add up as the spread it applies to each order can be rather high and negate the purpose of having low transaction fees in the first place. Those looking for low fees in particular could be better served elsewhere.
It is worth pointing out that cryptocurrencies can be highly volatile and as such, investing in crypto-assets is suited to sophisticated investors. Uphold itself provides a very clear warning via a banner at the top of its website, which says: "Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong".
For more information on cryptocurrency investing, check out our articles:
- A beginner's guide to investing in bitcoin and cryptocurrency
- How are cryptocurrencies regulated in the UK?
- Cryptocurrency mining: What it is, how it works and how to mine bitcoin
Cryptoassets are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment, and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong - Uphold Card is Issued by Optimus Cards UK Limited, a principal member of Mastercard and authorised by the FCA.
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