Uphold review
- Fiat currencies
- 20
- Supported assets
- 219
Our verdict
Uphold lets you invest in crypto, fiat currencies and precious metals. But some key features are limited if you live in Canada.
Uphold lets you invest in crypto, foreign currencies and precious metals. You can access a wide range of cryptos—including some that might be tough to find elsewhere—but it'll be tough to cash out your earnings in Canada.
You can't transfer fiat to or from Canadian bank accounts, and crypto deposits are also a no-go. But you can transfer crypto to external wallets. Additionally, Uphold's fees run on the high side.
These drawbacks might make Uphold a tough sell for active Canadian crypto traders who want flexible transfer options. But it might be worth considering if you want to access multiple asset types on a single platform.
Pros
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Solid range of coins, including lesser-known cryptos
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Fast account creation & ID verification
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Supports debit and credit deposits
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Multiple third-party integrations, including tax reporting services
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Pre-registered with the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC)
Cons
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Cannot withdraw fiat in Canada (but you can transfer some cryptos to external wallets)
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No bank transfer deposits
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High spreads
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Limited customer support options
Details
Product details
| Product Name | Uphold |
| Fiat Currencies | CAD, USD, EUR, CNH, HKD, JPY, GBP & 13 more |
| Cryptocurrencies | BTC, ETH, XRP, SOL, DOGE, ADA & 213 more |
| Deposit Methods |
Credit card Debit card Apple Pay Google Pay |
| Trading Fee | Trades under $500: $0.99 (plus spreads) |
| Deposit Fees | Fiat: 3.99% |
| Withdrawal Fees | Crypto: $0.99 |
About Uphold — company background
Founded in 2013 and launched in 2015, Uphold is headquartered in New York, US. It has offices all over the world.
The platform is available in 140+ countries and supports trading over 200 different currencies (both fiat and crypto) as well as commodities.
Listed Uphold crypto exchange assets
Uphold supports over 219 cryptocurrencies, but some notable assets are missing. Namely, BNB, Lido Staked Ether and Wrapped Bitcoin, which are in the top 20 cryptos by market cap. In total, 16 of the top 20 cryptos are available on Uphold.
Popular assets on UpholdUphold fees
Uphold charges a 3.99% fee for fiat deposits.
Uphold deposit methods
- Credit card
- Debit card
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
How to sign up on Uphold exchange
Before you can even get started trading on Uphold, you have to go through the rigorous verification process (which usually involves providing proof of identification). This can take time. The reason for this is Uphold's commitment to certifications and compliance with regulations and insurers.
- Get started
After selecting the Get Started button, fill in the create account form. - Set up payment
Before you can start trading, you have to add your bank account to your Uphold account. There are several options to choose from, so choose the option most compatible. - Provide identification
Before you can make withdrawals and increase your transaction limits, you must submit proof of address and some additional identification. Use either a passport or a driver's license for this. - Start trading
After all that is processed, you're ready to trade on Uphold.
Is Uphold safe?
Uphold has strict KYC protocols in place. The platform also requires all users to secure their accounts with two-factor authentication before they can transfer funds and start trading.
Uphold holds 90% of its digital assets in cold storage and is audited quarterly to verify its solvency.
Past hacks. Uphold has been operating since 2015, and so far, there has never been a successful sitewide hack. However, a number of customers online have reported losses due to unauthorised account access.
Security audits.Uphold states that it undergoes independent security audits at least annually and penetration testing several times per year.
Insurance. Uphold has no insurance in place for users.
Uphold also offers several security measures to help protect user funds, including:
Two-factor authentication. Uphold supports two-factor authentication methods, so you can set up an extra layer of security on your account.
Encryption. The private keys of customers are encrypted to protect against hacking.
24/7 monitoring. The Uphold Security Operations Center monitors its systems 24/7 to detect suspicious activity.
Team security. Uphold's staff must adhere to security measures like undergoing background checks and using two-factor authentication on all administrative accounts.
Regulation. Uphold is regulated by the United States Treasury Department regulator, FinCEN. It's also registered with the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as a crypto asset firm, which covers anti-money-laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) rules. Uphold has partnered with a card provider that is authorised by the FCA as an e-money institution. This provides some protection for fiat deposits in the US and UK but not as much as customers would get from a bank.
Keeping your crypto secure
All centralized exchanges, including Uphold, are vulnerable to counterparty risks like hacking, theft and insolvency. Using a self-custodial or hardware wallet is widely accepted as the best way to improve the security of your funds. We've shared some of our top picks below.
Ledger Nano X Wallet |
Trezor Model T Wallet |
SafePal S1 Wallet |
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Supported assets 5,500+ |
Supported assets 1,000+ |
Supported assets 30,000+ |
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Price (USD) $149 |
Price (USD) $129 |
Price (USD) $49.99 |
See more of the best crypto wallets
Uphold customer support
Users can visit the FAQ page, which details important account and trading information and solutions for the most frequent issues customers come across when using the platform.
If you want to speak directly to customer service, you can do so via email or by submitting a support ticket online.
How to reach Uphold customer support
- Help center articles
- Support ticket
Alternatives to Uphold
Finder Score for crypto exchanges
To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Supported coins, account fees and features across 28 cryptocurrency trading platforms are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the exchange - simple.
Frequently asked questions
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