Uphold
Founded 2015 by Halsey Minor (founder of CNET)
Trade crypto, forex, metals, and equities in one multi-asset platform with transparent pricing.
Quick Overview
What is Uphold?
Uphold is a multi-asset trading platform founded in 2015 by Halsey Minor, the co-founder of CNET. Its unique selling point is the "Anything-to-Anything" trading model — you can swap between crypto, stocks, precious metals, and fiat currencies seamlessly in one app.
Want to convert your Bitcoin directly into gold? Or swap Ethereum for Apple stock? Uphold makes this possible with a single trade, no intermediate steps required. This cross-asset flexibility is something no other major crypto exchange offers.
Uphold supports 250+ cryptocurrencies and is particularly popular among XRP (Ripple) holders. When major US exchanges delisted XRP during the SEC lawsuit in 2020, Uphold continued supporting it — earning strong loyalty from the XRP community.
One of Uphold's most impressive features is their real-time reserve transparency dashboard, which shows exactly what assets back user deposits at any given moment. This level of transparency is unmatched — you can literally verify their reserves are 100% backed right now, in real-time.
The platform is registered with FinCEN, holds state-by-state US licenses, and is FCA registered in the UK. It's available in 150+ countries including the US, making it widely accessible.
Important to know: Uphold uses spread-based pricing (0.85–1.2% for most crypto), not the maker/taker fee model used by traditional exchanges. This means you don't see an explicit "fee," but the cost is built into the price you pay. This is simpler for beginners but generally more expensive than using advanced order book exchanges. There's no futures trading, margin, or leverage — it's designed for straightforward spot investing.
Uphold Bonuses & Promotions
Current offers available to new and existing users.
Welcome Bonus
New users may receive $10+ in free crypto when making their first qualifying trade.
Amount and availability vary by region and promotion.
Referral Program
Earn $20 in crypto for each friend who trades $100+.
One of the simpler referral programs available.
Zero-Spread Assets
BTC and ETH at zero spread during certain promotional periods.
Check current promotions for available zero-spread assets.
Staking Rewards
Earn APY on select proof-of-stake cryptocurrencies.
Rates competitive within the industry.
Products & Features
Everything Uphold offers — from simple buying to advanced trading.
Crypto Trading
Buy and sell 250+ cryptocurrencies directly with fiat or other crypto.
Anything-to-Anything
Swap any asset for any other — BTC to gold, ETH to USD, XRP to stocks.
Equities Trading
Buy and sell US stocks and equity tokens from as little as $1.
Precious Metals
Trade gold, silver, platinum, and palladium with competitive spreads.
Forex
Access 27+ national currencies and convert between them.
Staking
Earn rewards on supported proof-of-stake assets (limited selection).
Uphold Card
Debit card to spend any asset in your account (availability varies).
AutoPilot
Automated recurring purchases — DCA into any asset on a schedule.
Limit Orders
Set target prices for automatic trade execution.
Uphold Fees
BTC Spread
0.85%
Typical spread for Bitcoin
ETH Spread
0.95%
Typical spread for Ethereum
Altcoin Spread
1.0–1.2%
Varies by asset liquidity
Metals Spread
3%
Gold, Silver, Platinum
ACH/SEPA Deposit
Free
Bank transfers at zero cost
Card Purchase
3.99%
Credit/debit card fee
Security & Safety
Uphold distinguishes itself with radical transparency. They publish a real-time reserve dashboard showing exactly what assets they hold — a level of transparency unique in the industry. The platform is registered as a Money Services Business with FinCEN and holds licenses in multiple US states and jurisdictions.
Payment Methods
Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Unique "Anything-to-Anything" trading — swap BTC for gold instantly
- + Real-time reserve transparency dashboard — industry unique
- + Multi-asset: crypto, stocks, metals, forex, all in one app
- + Available in 150+ countries including the US
- + Easy to use for beginners
- + Free ACH and SEPA deposits
- + 250+ cryptos — decent selection
- + XRP-friendly — strong Ripple/XRP support
- + AutoPilot for automated recurring investments
Cons
- − Spread-based pricing (0.85–1.2%) is higher than pure exchanges
- − No order book trading (no limit orders on order book)
- − No futures, margin, or leverage trading
- − No copy trading or trading bots
- − Customer support can be slow
- − Lower liquidity than major exchanges
- − Crypto withdrawal fees can be high
Uphold Timeline
Founded by Halsey Minor (CNET founder) as Bitreserve. Rebranded to Uphold shortly after launch.
Expanded beyond crypto into metals and fiat currencies. Introduced "Anything-to-Anything" trading.
Added equities trading. Grew the platform into a true multi-asset investment app.
Reached 5M+ users. Gained popularity as an XRP-friendly platform when others delisted it.
Strong growth during bull market. Launched real-time reserve transparency dashboard.
Maintained user trust during crypto winter through transparent reserves. New CEO Simon McLoughlin.
Continued building multi-asset capabilities. Added more cryptos and improved UX.
Expanded international availability. Enhanced staking and AutoPilot features.
Reached 10M+ users. The go-to platform for multi-asset investing with radical transparency.
Our Verdict
Uphold occupies a unique niche in crypto: it's not trying to be the cheapest exchange or the most feature-rich — it's building the most versatile multi-asset platform. The ability to swap BTC for gold, or ETH for Apple stock in one click is genuinely unique. The real-time reserve dashboard sets an industry standard for transparency. The spread-based pricing is higher than pure exchanges, but for users who want a simple, transparent, multi-asset experience with strong US availability, Uphold delivers something no one else does.