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Full breakdown from @UpholdMarkets ↓
Uphold
Multi-asset trading platform supporting direct conversions across 300+ crypto, equity, and fiat assets
3.9/ 5
Our score
Good
Coins listed
300
KYC required
Yes
Accepts US customers
Yes
Proof of reserves
Yes
What is Uphold?
Uphold is a centralized digital asset brokerage and multi-asset trading platform operating since 2014. The platform allows users to trade directly across distinct asset classes in a single transaction, bypassing intermediate conversions between cryptocurrencies, national currencies, precious metals, and equities.
Team and corporate background
Founded in 2013 as Bitreserve by Halsey Minor, the company rebranded to Uphold in 2015. Chief Executive Officer Simon McLoughlin leads the company, having served as President and Chief Operating Officer before his appointment to CEO in February 2022. Operating under Uphold HQ Inc., the firm is based in New York and maintains a team of 592 employees as of October 2026. The platform has raised $74.9 million in total private equity and venture funding.
Trading mechanics and custody
Uphold provides access to more than 300 supported assets, including cryptocurrencies, fiat currencies, and over 4,000 U.S. stocks and ETFs through its registered broker-dealer subsidiary, Uphold Securities Inc. Equity clearing and custody run through Apex Clearing Corporation. For cryptoassets, the exchange operates primarily as a centralized custodial broker while providing Uphold Vault, an assisted self-custody wallet model using two-of-three multisignature key management. Staking is available with instant unstaking support across more than 20 digital assets. The platform relies on a 100% reserve model and publishes reserve assets and liabilities publicly every 30 seconds.
Pricing and regional availability
Rather than conventional maker-taker order books, trading costs are built directly into quote spreads across supported pairs. Uphold serves customers across more than 140 countries, including the United States. Mandatory identity verification is required during user onboarding.
Track record and regulatory developments
The platform has processed more than $40 billion in lifetime volume and registered over 10 million customers globally by August 2026. In July 2026, Uphold launched expanded equities coverage for U.S. stocks. The company also reduced its workforce by 17% (approximately 85 employees) in July 2026. Following the conclusion of the European Union MiCAR transition period on July 1, 2026, subsidiary Uphold Digital Assets Europe Unipessoal, Lda instituted temporary deposit and service restrictions in the European Union while its regulatory application remains under review.
Trade-offs and platform risks
Uphold users encounter custody risks inherent to centralized exchange models, except when using self-custodied Vault configurations. Built-in spread pricing can make high-frequency trading more costly than traditional flat maker-taker commission schedules. Regulatory restrictions may temporarily limit service availability, as seen with European deposit limitations pending final licensing decisions.
Founders
Simon McLoughlinCEO
Best for:Multi-asset retail investorsDirect crypto-to-equity conversionsUsers prioritizing real-time reserve auditing
Pros and cons
Pros
- Trades directly between crypto, fiat, metals, and stocks in one step
- Publishes verifiable reserve data updated every 30 seconds
- Supports over 300 assets and 4,000 U.S. equities
- Offers assisted self-custody with two-of-three key control
Cons
- Uses spread-based quote pricing rather than standalone order books
- Temporary deposit restrictions in the European Union pending MiCAR review
- Mandatory KYC identity verification required for all accounts
Our review
3.9/5
Good
Uphold provides simple cross-asset trading and real-time reserve transparency, but users trade on variable embedded spreads rather than an open order book with low maker-taker fees.
Uphold operates a centralized multi-asset brokerage that allows direct trades between digital currencies, fiat, precious metals, and equities. Unlike exchanges that match orders on an open order book with standard maker and taker schedules, Uphold routes transactions using a quote-based model where costs are baked into the spread. This makes instant swaps between disparate assets straightforward, such as moving directly from Bitcoin to XRP or U.S. stocks, though active traders may find total execution costs higher than traditional exchange fees.
The platform differs in transparency by publishing its reserve balance sheet publicly every 30 seconds, verifying that assets back liabilities without lending out customer deposits. Regulatory compliance is maintained in jurisdictions like the United States via entities such as Uphold Securities Inc., a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Staking is available for over 20 digital assets, including flexible and lockup reward options for assets like Solana. For assisted self-custody, the Uphold Vault lets users retain control using a 2-of-3 key setup with inheritance planning.
Trade-offs center on market execution and regional restrictions. In July 2026, European operations faced temporary deposit pauses and service limitations under Uphold Digital Assets Europe Unipessoal, Lda as its MiCAR authorization remained under active review. The company also downsized its workforce by 17% (around 85 employees) that same month.
Uphold suits retail users who want a unified dashboard to hold and convert cryptocurrencies and equities without multihop transactions. Investors looking for deep liquidity order books, sub-0.10% maker fees, or complex derivatives should use a dedicated high-volume spot and derivatives exchange.
Specs
| Markets | Spot · unverified |
|---|---|
| Coins listed | 300 · unverified |
| Fiat deposit methods | Bank transfer, Card, ACH · unverified |
| KYC required ⓘ | Yes · unverified |
| Accepts US customers | Yes · unverified |
| Proof of reserves | Yes · unverified |
| Staking / earn | Yes · unverified |
| Mobile app | Yes · unverified |
| Licenses & registrations | Broker-Dealer, US · unverified |
| Security features | Two-factor authentication, Assisted self-custody vault, Real-time reserve transparency · unverified |
| Earn / savings products | Yes · unverified |
Not disclosed by the provider: Maker fee, Taker fee, Futures & perpetuals, Max leverage (x), Copy trading, P2P market, User protection fund, Referral program.
Data from the provider's website and public sources. Fees and availability change; confirm on the official site before you sign up.
Key features
Anything-to-anything trading
Executes direct single-step conversions between any two supported assets, such as trading Bitcoin directly into XRP, precious metals, or equities.
Instant staking rewards
Supports instant staking and unstaking across more than 20 digital assets without standard unbonding wait periods.
Assisted self-custody vault
Protects holdings using two-of-three multisignature keys and includes an inheritance beneficiary feature.
US equity trading
Provides trading access to over 4,000 fractional U.S. stocks and ETFs cleared by Apex Clearing Corporation.
Real-time reserve transparency
Publishes public asset and liability balances every 30 seconds to track full reserve backing.
Enterprise API integrations
Supplies REST, FIX, and KYC Connector APIs alongside embeddable payment widgets for institutional integrations.
Inside Uphold
Anything-to-Anything Trading Platform
The core brokerage dashboard enables direct, single-step swaps between any supported digital asset, national currency, metal, or equity.
Staking
Users can put holdings to work across more than 20 digital assets, choosing flexible weekly payout models or locked strategies for higher rewards.
Uphold Vault
An assisted self-custody product operating on a 2-of-3 key architecture that includes inheritance planning for designated beneficiaries.
Uphold Enterprise API Suite
A developer platform providing REST, FIX, and KYC Connector APIs alongside embeddable widgets for institutional onboarding and payment flows.
Uphold screenshots
What users say about Uphold
User sentiment is heavily negative, driven by persistent complaints regarding blocked withdrawals, restricted accounts, and unresponsive customer support. While card cashback rewards and crypto staking yields remain available, many report extensive delays and difficulties accessing their funds.
In their own words
“Uphold continues to Offer Free 2.00% APY on USDC and 5.00%+ APY on RLUSD and USBC stblecoins. Coinbase now requires Paid Membership for 3.50% APY on USDC. Uphold Debit Card can be ordered in the mail in addition to the virtual card, and offers 4-6% cash back.”
“I love it but I love the app but still don’t understand how they are able to give away 4%on each transaction and direct deposit. Are they buying bonds to do this? A lot of banks and crypto companies went bankrupt because of this just a few years ago when rates went down.”
“I’m currently going through the same. It’s been almost 4 weeks and zero communication from Uphold other than the typical message saying the ticket has been escalated. That was over 2 weeks ago. Still no resolution or explanation as to why the account is restricted.”
“They’re so bad as an exchange and yeah they’re trying to be safe and stuff but you simply can’t restrict someone’s funds and just not prioritize communication.”
“Worst, they have been holding my money for the past 90 days after I made a deposit to purchase bitcoin and they restricted my account after waiting for 6 days for the money to reflect now I tried to withdraw the bitcoin I purchased and they asked me to wait 24hrs which I did now they said they will…”
“Withdrawal suspension Uphold is ruining me! I have tried to withdraw from the exchange for 11 months now, I have submitted the required documentation that they requested and still they have not attempted to resolve anything and have not had ANY communication.”
Scam warning: Recovery scammers on platforms like Instagram falsely claim they can retrieve locked funds from restricted accounts.
Based on 200 Reddit posts and comments from the last 12 months, checked Oct 27, 2026. These are posts by users on other sites, not reviews submitted on CryptoReview.
User reviews
No user reviews yet. Have you used Uphold? Share your experience below.
FAQ
Who founded Uphold and who runs it today?
Halsey Minor founded the platform in 2013 as Bitreserve before rebranding to Uphold in 2015. Simon McLoughlin leads the company as Chief Executive Officer after taking over the role in February 2022.
What fees does Uphold charge to trade?
Uphold embeds its trading costs into quoted asset spreads rather than charging a standalone maker or taker commission. Users receive an all-inclusive price quote to review before confirming any transaction.
Is KYC verification required to use Uphold?
Yes, Uphold mandates identity verification (KYC) for users opening accounts and moving value across supported banking and crypto rails.
Does Uphold support proof of reserves?
Yes, Uphold publishes an automated reserve statement every 30 seconds directly on its website. The platform asserts a full-reserve policy without lending out customer funds.
Can residents in Europe use Uphold?
European users face temporary service restrictions and deposit pauses as of July 2026 while Uphold's MiCAR regulatory application remains under review. Existing European customers can continue to withdraw their assets at any time.
What is Uphold Vault?
Uphold Vault is an assisted self-custody solution where users hold two of three private keys. It gives users personal control of their funds while supporting features like key recovery and beneficiary designations.
Latest from Uphold on X
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Just another day in the trenches 🪖
Crypto-assets are highly volatile and involve risk. You may lose all the money you invest. Consumer protections may be limited.
Join millions of OGs worldwide automating their XRP stacks and earning rewards in the Uphold App.
Just another day in the trenches 🪖
Crypto-assets are highly volatile and involve risk. You may lose all the money you invest. Consumer protections may be limited.
Recent public posts from @UpholdInc, shown as published. Not reviewed or endorsed by CryptoReview.
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