What Is Uphold?
Uphold is a multi-asset digital platform that allows users to buy, hold, convert, and transfer a wide variety of assets, including cryptocurrencies, fiat currencies, precious metals, and even select equities. Launched in 2014 and headquartered in the UK, it's known for its "Anything-to-Anything" trading model, offering seamless conversions between different asset types.
🔧 Key Features
- Multi-Asset Support
- Offers dozens of cryptocurrencies (BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP, etc.), 27+ fiat currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD), and gold and silver holdings.
- Select equity and ETF trading (e.g., Apple shares, SPY, etc.).
- Instant Conversions
- No order books—users can convert one asset directly to another at live market rates.
- Debit Card (Uphold Card)
- A prepaid debit card linked to your Uphold balance allows spending cryptocurrency and fiat anywhere that accepts cards.
- Transfers & Network Withdrawals
- Send crypto to external wallets or other Uphold users.
- Fiat withdrawals via bank transfer or PayPal (where available).
- Recurring Transactions & Savings Plans
- Enables scheduled purchases like recurring buys in crypto or savings in gold.
- Automation Tools
- Recurring allocations, auto-conversion between assets, and options for auto-investing.
- Custody & Security
- Uphold uses cold storage for crypto assets, offers multi-factor authentication (MFA), and is compliant with KYC/AML regulations in supported jurisdictions.
💱 Fees & Pricing
Uphold generally applies:
- A conversion markup (spread) of around 0.8%–1.2% on cryptocurrencies.
- Fiat conversion fees: ~0.5%–1.5%, depending on currency pair.
- Uphold Card: ATM withdrawal and cross-border fees may apply.
- Fiat withdrawals: small fixed fee for bank transfers, varies by region.
They clearly display fees before transactions, ensuring transparency.
✅ Pros & ⚠️ Cons
Pros:
- Broad asset range—crypto, fiat, metals, equities
- Fast, instant conversions
- Integrated debit card for everyday spending
- Scheduled buys and auto-conversion tools
- Regulated and KYC-compliant
Cons:
- Fees/spreads can be higher than specialized crypto exchanges
- Limited advanced trading tools (no margin, derivatives)
- Debit card features may not yet be available in all regions
🤔 Who Is It Best For?
- Casual and intermediate users wanting a single platform for multiple asset classes.
- People who want to spend crypto in everyday life via a debit card.
- Users interested in scheduled investments and simple, on-the-go conversions.
📌 Next Steps
Once web search is available again, I can provide:
- Detailed fee breakdowns with citations
- Regulatory licenses and security audits
- Comparisons with similar multi-asset platforms (e.g., Coinbase, Revolut)
Would you like to dive deeper into any of those?
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