Alexis Kestler
Hey there! As a fellow crypto enthusiast, I wanted to share my comprehensive review of Uphold – an awesome platform that makes crypto transactions super seamless.
In the booming crypto marketplace, choosing the right platform can be overwhelming. You want one that ticks all the boxes: high security, fast trades, reasonable fees, broad currency support, slick interface, and top-notch customer service.
After extensively testing their platform, I can safely say Uphold delivers all that and more!
Let‘s dive in and I‘ll show you why Uphold has become my go-to gateway for easy crypto trades. I think you‘ll quickly see why it should be your first choice too!
What Exactly is Uphold?
Uphold is a digital money platform for easy transactions across multiple asset classes – including 250+ cryptocurrencies.
Founded in 2015, they‘ve already facilitated over $4 billion in crypto trades. Impressive!
Unlike many exchanges, Uphold also lets you fund your account not just with bank transfers and cards, but also external crypto wallets and national currencies like USD, EUR, GBP, and more.
This flexibility makes it super straightforward to buy and sell crypto – even for beginners!
Now let‘s look at some of Uphold‘s key advantages that make trading crypto painless.
Why Uphold Should Be Your Go-To Crypto Platform
Unmatched Cryptocurrency Support
With over 250 supported cryptos, Uphold gives you tons of buying and trading options.
All the major coins are here – Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Chainlink, Uniswap and more. Plus smaller cap gems like Avalanche, Polygon and Algorand.
They even offer trendy meme coins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu for spicing up your portfolio!
Their broad selection beats most competitors hands down. For example, Kraken has just 80 coins while Crypto.com supports about 150.
So whether you‘re an experienced crypto trader hungry to diversify, or just looking to dip your toe in with Bitcoin, Uphold can meet your needs!
Built-In Crypto Wallet
Uphold provides a super handy crypto wallet for storing your coins and tokens. No need for a separate wallet if you‘re just getting started!
You can easily transfer assets to and from your Uphold wallet. This gives you full control over your holdings.
Unlike some platforms cough Robinhood cough that don‘t let you withdraw crypto you‘ve purchased.
What‘s even cooler is Uphold‘s staking features for passive income! You can earn rewards on ATOM, KSM, DOT and other stakable coins.
For large balances, using a hardware or software wallet you control is smart. But Uphold‘s wallet is ideal for convenience with smaller amounts.
Lightning-Fast Trading
Tired of clunky interfaces making trades a headache?
Uphold‘s slick exchange offers real-time crypto prices and seamless transactions.
Converting between any two currencies takes just seconds. And you‘ll love their "Anything to Anything" approach.
Trading Bitcoin for Ethereum? Dogecoin for Cardano? Dollar for Yen? No problem!
You can easily preview fees and the exact amounts before confirming any swap. Super transparent.
For recurring investing, scheduled trades are a game changer. Just set the coin, date and amount – Uphold handles the rest automatically.
On top of easy website trading, their mobile apps are just as intuitive for crypto on the go.
Bank-Level Security
Security is paramount when dealing with crypto. Uphold delivers big on protection:
- Mandatory KYC identity verification
- 2-factor authentication
- 24/7 monitoring against attacks
- 95% of funds held offline in cold storage
- FDIC insurance for USD balances
- Data encryption and other safeguards
They follow all regulatory requirements in the US, UK, Canada and other regions they operate in.
You can feel confident your account and assets are locked down tight.
Global Accessibility
Here‘s an exciting perk of Uphold – they provide service in over 180 countries worldwide!
So if you travel frequently or live abroad, chances are high Uphold‘s got you covered.
The only downside is that sometimes specific countries get restricted due to changing local regulations. But their broad coverage is unmatched by most competitors.
Top-Notch Customer Support
Let‘s be honest – exchange customer service often ranges from mediocre to downright awful.
But Uphold breaks the mold with knowledgeable, responsive support teams available 24/7.
You can easily submit requests for assistance right from their website or mobile app. Just enter your email and details of any issues.
According to Uphold‘s website, responses are provided within 24 hours. My own experience was consistently fast and helpful. Big thumbs up here!
Max Transparency
Unlike some shady, opaque exchanges, transparency is a core Uphold value.
Their full reserve status is publicly viewable, showing user assets are fully backed at all times. You can withdraw holdings anytime.
Currently their reserve ratio exceeds 100% – meaning they have over $1.8 billion in assets reserved against user balances.
This gives great peace of mind that your funds are always liquid and safe.
Cost Comparison
Let‘s weigh the costs of using Uphold versus alternatives:
| Exchange | Deposit Fees | Withdrawal Fees | Trading Fees | Non-Trading Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uphold | 0% – 2% | Variable | 0.4% – 2% | None |
| Coinbase | 0% – 1.5% | Variable | 0.5% | None |
| Crypto.com | 0% | Variable | 0.4% – 1% | None |
| Binance | 0% – 1% | Variable | 0.1% | None |
As shown above, Uphold‘s fee structure is very competitive.
Deposits, withdrawals, conversions and trades are priced reasonably compared to alternatives like Coinbase and Crypto.com.
Advanced exchanges like Binance offer lower trading fees, but have a more complex interface.
One thing I really appreciate is that Uphold doesn‘t charge non-trading account fees like some rivals. Signing up and maintaining a wallet is 100% free.
Overall, costs are transparent and affordable.
Ease of Use for Beginners
If you‘re brand new to crypto, Uphold offers an incredibly beginner-friendly experience.
The interface is clean, intuitive and easy to navigate. Unlike crowded exchanges geared towards pros.
With just a few clicks, anyone can:
- Sign up for an account
- Add bank/card details
- Verify identity
- Buy crypto
- Withdraw to private wallet
The mobile apps make onboarding even smoother. Useful features like price alerts also cater to crypto newbies.
Yet Uphold still packs powerful functionality for savvy traders, like multi-currency support and API integrations.
Their broad accessibility gives Uphold a big edge.
Drawbacks to Keep in Mind
Of course no platform is perfect. There are a few limitations to consider:
-
No margin/leverage trading – Uphold currently only supports spot trading, not margin or derivatives. So leverage junkies should look elsewhere.
-
Limited charting & analysis – The charts and trading analytics are barebones compared to a full exchange like Binance. Serious technical traders will want more advanced tools.
-
Custodial wallet risks – Your crypto is potentially at risk if Uphold was ever hacked or went bankrupt. Using your own non-custodial wallet mitigates this.
-
Country restrictions – Certain regions are geo-blocked due to local crypto rules. So Uphold may not work everywhere, but its availability is robust in most of the Americas, Europe and Oceania.
-
Support relies on tickets – Would be nice to have live chat or phone support rather than only tickets. But response times are still fast.
For most mainstream users, these shortcomings won‘t be dealbreakers. But depending on your needs, they‘re worth noting.
Top Uphold Alternatives Ranked
While I firmly vouch for Uphold, checking out competitors is smart. Here are the top alternative platforms in my opinion:
1. Kraken
- My #1 choice after Uphold
- Great advanced trading features
- Excellent security & support
- 90+ cryptocurrencies
2. Coinbase
- Simple, popular fiat on-ramp
- Backed by major brand recognition
- Beginner-friendly experience
- Poor customer service
3. Gemini
- Regulation-oriented exchange founded by Winklevoss twins
- Strong security, insurance, and oversight
- More limited coin selection
4. Crypto.com
- Major marketing hype and promotion
- Steep learning curve for new users
- Unique Visa card integration
5. Binance
- Largest crypto exchange globally
- Very low trading fees
- Hundreds of coins
- Complex and overwhelming for beginners
The above competitors all have strengths in certain areas compared to Uphold. But for the optimal blend of security, utility and usability – I still think Uphold comes out on top.
Verdict: Uphold is a Must-Try Crypto Platform
After extensively testing Uphold for the past six months, I‘m confident recommending it as a top crypto exchange, especially for mainstream users.
Here‘s a quick recap of why it should be your go-to for easy, seamless crypto transactions:
- Huge selection of 250+ coins and tokens
- Secure and insured crypto storage
- Lightning fast trades and transactions
- Intuitive mobile apps for crypto anywhere
- Beginner-friendly onboarding but also robust trading features
- Responsive 24/7 customer support
- Reasonable trading fees and transparency
- Regulated operation with required verification
With an optimized user experience, competitive rates, and bank-grade security – Uphold has quickly become my favorite fiat gateway.
The only major drawbacks are lack of leverage trading and fewer coin pairs compared to hardcore crypto exchanges. But for most investors, Uphold offers the full package.
I highly recommend Uphold if you‘re looking for a reliable, easy-to-use platform to securely buy, sell and exchange cryptocurrency and other digital assets.
Give their free account a try today and experience swapping cryptocurrencies seamlessly! Let me know if you have any other questions.
