On this page14 sections
- Ratings and complaints
- Uphold vs. competitors
- Pricing
- Step by step
- Uphold legitimacy and licensing
- The 2026 New York Attorney General settlement
- Uphold fees explained
- What you can do on Uphold
- Complaints and how to avoid problems
- Is your money safe on Uphold?
- Who should skip Uphold
- What customers say
- Alternatives
- FAQ
Uphold's spreads run 2.05% to 2.2% on bitcoin and ether and up to 3.8% on smaller coins, well above order-book fees at Kraken Pro or Gemini ActiveTrader. It is a legitimate, state-licensed money transmitter (NMLS 1269875) operating since 2014, but it's an expensive place to trade and its record has blemishes. In April 2026 it agreed to pay $5 million to customers who lost over $34 million in Cred's CredEarn product, which Uphold promoted. Crypto held on Uphold isn't FDIC or SIPC insured.
- Company
- Uphold HQ Inc., NMLS ID 1269875, registered office 90 New Montgomery Street, Suite 412, San Francisco, CA; business started December 15, 20141
- Trading fees (spread)
- BTC and ETH 2.05% to 2.2%; altcoins 2.85% to 3.8%; precious metals 2.35% to 3.40%; major FX 0.3%; USD to supported USD stablecoins 0% on the first $20,000 a month1
- Staking commission
- 50% of rewards on flexible staking; boosted staking 35% from October 15, 20261
- Stocks
- U.S. stocks and ETFs from $5 through affiliate Uphold Securities Inc., 0% commission on cash-to-stock trades; conversion fees apply when funding with crypto4
- USD Interest Account
- Up to 4% APY (2% under $1,000) through Atomic Brokerage's cash sweep, with FDIC coverage up to $2.5 million at program banks5
- Licensing
- State money transmitter licenses listed for most states; New York isn't on Uphold's U.S. regulator list3
- NY AG settlement
- April 29, 2026: $5 million to customers harmed by CredEarn, plus any recovery on Uphold's $545,189.97 claim in Cred's bankruptcy; Uphold must register as a broker with the NY AG7
Pros
- Trade between crypto, metals, stablecoins and dollars in one step
- State-licensed with a public reserves page
- U.S. stocks and ETFs from $5 and a USD account paying up to 4% APY
- All-in price shown before you confirm
- BBB A rating and 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot
Cons
- Spreads of 2% or more on bitcoin and up to 3.8% on altcoins
- $5 million NY AG settlement over CredEarn in 2026
- 300 BBB complaints in three years, many about frozen accounts
- Staking takes 35% to 50% of rewards
- Crypto isn't FDIC or SIPC insured; New York not on its license list
Best for: Casual investors who want crypto, precious metals, stocks and a cash account in one simple app and accept higher costs for that convenience.
Skip it if: You trade often or in large amounts, since order-book exchanges charge a fraction of Uphold's spreads.
Uphold vs. competitors
| Company | BTC trading cost | Stocks | BBB | Trustpilot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uphold | 2.05% to 2.2% spread | Yes, from $5 | A, not accredited | 4.6 out of 5 |
| Coinbase | Spread plus a fee on simple trades; lower on Advanced | No | A+, accredited | 4.0 out of 5 |
| Kraken | 1% Instant Buy plus spread; Kraken Pro 0.40% maker, 0.80% taker | Yes | No profile found | 3.2 out of 5 |
| Gemini | ActiveTrader 0.60% maker, 1.20% taker | No | F, not accredited | 1.3 out of 5 |
Uphold pricing at a glance
Uphold trading spreads in the U.S., fee schedule updated September 21, 20261
| Asset type | Typical spread |
|---|---|
| U.S. dollars and supported USD stablecoins | 0% (1:1), first $20,000 a month |
| Other stablecoins | Under 0.25% |
| Major market FX | 0.3% |
| Bitcoin, ether | 2.05% to 2.2% |
| Altcoins | 2.85% to 3.8% |
| Precious metals | 2.35% to 3.40% |
| Stocks and ETFs (cash funded) | 0% commission |
When you trade between two asset types, the higher rate applies. Spreads widen in volatile markets, and Uphold warns in the app when they top 4%. Card, instant and wire deposit and withdrawal fees and smaller-trade fees are listed in Uphold's help center, which we couldn't open; check the preview screen before you confirm.
Uphold, step by step
Sign up and verify
Create an account with your email, then verify your identity with your legal name, date of birth and a government ID.
Fund your account
Deposit by bank transfer, card or crypto. Fees and holds depend on the method.
Trade
Swap between crypto, metals, stablecoins and dollars in one step; the preview shows the all-in price, held for 18 seconds.
Hold or move
Keep assets on Uphold, move them to Uphold Vault or another wallet, or put dollars in the USD Interest Account.
Withdraw
Sell to USD and withdraw to your bank, or send crypto out over the network.
Uphold legitimacy and licensing
Yes. Uphold HQ Inc. has operated since 2014, holds NMLS ID 1269875 and lists state money transmitter licenses for most U.S. states on its regulators page. It says the platform is always more than 100% reserved and publishes its assets and liabilities in real time. Its stock trading runs through an affiliated broker, Uphold Securities Inc., and its USD Interest Account through Atomic Brokerage, a FINRA member.
Legit isn’t the same as risk free. Crypto held on Uphold isn’t covered by FDIC or SIPC insurance, accounts can be frozen during compliance reviews, and the company settled a New York Attorney General case in 2026.
The 2026 New York Attorney General settlement
On April 29, 2026, the New York Attorney General announced that Uphold would pay $5 million to customers harmed by CredEarn, a crypto lending product from Cred that Uphold marketed to its users from 2019 to 2020. According to the settlement, more than 6,000 Uphold customers put about $50 million in crypto into CredEarn, and those who invested through Uphold lost over $34 million when Cred went bankrupt in November 2020. The AG said Uphold described the product as safe without disclosing that Cred lent the money out as short-term microloans, and repeated a false insurance claim.
Uphold must also add any recovery on its $545,189.97 claim in Cred’s bankruptcy to the payout pool, tighten its due diligence on third-party products and register as a broker with the AG. Uphold’s CEO disputed the AG’s description and noted federal prosecutors treated Uphold as a victim of Cred’s fraud.
Uphold fees explained
Uphold doesn’t charge a separate trading commission on crypto. Its fee is the spread built into the price: 2.05% to 2.2% on bitcoin and ether, 2.85% to 3.8% on altcoins and 2.35% to 3.40% on precious metals, according to its September 2026 fee schedule. On a $1,000 bitcoin purchase, that’s roughly $21 to $22. Converting between dollars and supported USD stablecoins is free up to $20,000 a month.
Staking keeps 50% of rewards on flexible staking and 35% on boosted staking. Card and instant transfers carry extra fees shown before you confirm. Compare that with Kraken Pro at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker for small accounts.
What customers say about Uphold
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Easy app for beginners
- Trade directly between crypto and metals
- Long track record with no platform collapse
- New features such as stocks and a cash account
Common complaints
- Accounts frozen or restricted during reviews
- Slow or stalled withdrawals
- Generic or slow support replies
- Identity verification problems
- Higher costs than expected from spreads
What you can do on Uphold
- Crypto and metals: trade hundreds of coins plus gold, silver, platinum and palladium, which are held by Gold Bullion International.
- Stocks and ETFs: buy fractional U.S. shares from $5 with no commission on cash trades.
- USD Interest Account: up to 4% APY, or 2% under $1,000, through Atomic Brokerage’s FDIC-insured cash sweep.
- Uphold Debit Card: up to 4% back in XRP; not offered in Louisiana, New York or U.S. territories.
- Uphold Vault: a self-custody wallet option.
Complaints and how to avoid problems
The BBB lists 300 complaints against Uphold in three years, and on Trustpilot 17% of reviews are one star, with no company replies to negative reviews. The common problems are accounts restricted during identity or security reviews, withdrawals that stall and support that answers slowly. To lower your risk, finish verification before depositing much, fund by bank transfer, keep records of every transaction and avoid storing large balances on any exchange. If a dispute isn’t resolved, file with your state regulator listed on Uphold’s regulators page or with the CFPB.
Is your money safe on Uphold?
Uphold says it holds more than 100% of customer assets in reserve and lets logged-in users see reserves by tier. Crypto and metals aren’t FDIC or SIPC insured, so if Uphold failed, you’d be a creditor. Dollars in the separate USD Interest Account are swept to program banks with FDIC coverage up to $2.5 million, but money waiting in the Atomic Brokerage account itself isn’t FDIC insured. Turn on two-factor authentication and consider a self-custody wallet for long-term holdings.
Who should skip Uphold
Active traders, anyone buying large amounts and people who want the lowest cost per trade will pay far less on an order-book exchange. New York residents should check availability first. And if you only want bitcoin price exposure, a spot ETF in a brokerage account is cheaper and simpler.
Alternatives to Uphold
- Kraken Much lower costs if you're willing to use the Kraken Pro order book. Read review
- Coinbase A public company that files with the SEC, with an Advanced trading screen for lower fees. Read review
- Gemini Available in New York and all 50 states, with a published order-book fee schedule. Read review
- Bitcoin ETFs at a brokerage If you only want price exposure, a spot bitcoin ETF in a regular or retirement account avoids crypto custody entirely.
Uphold reviews
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Frequently asked questions
Is Uphold safe and legit?
Uphold is a licensed U.S. money transmitter operating since 2014 that reports holding more than 100% reserves. Crypto on the platform isn't FDIC or SIPC insured, and accounts can be restricted during reviews.
What happened with Uphold and the New York Attorney General?
In April 2026 Uphold agreed to pay $5 million to customers harmed by Cred's CredEarn product, which it promoted in 2019 and 2020. Uphold customers lost over $34 million when Cred went bankrupt.
How much does Uphold charge?
Its fee is a spread: 2.05% to 2.2% on bitcoin and ether, 2.85% to 3.8% on altcoins and 2.35% to 3.40% on precious metals, per its September 2026 fee schedule. Some deposit and withdrawal methods add fees.
What is Uphold's BBB rating?
A, not accredited, with 300 complaints in the last three years as of October 2026.
Why is my Uphold account restricted?
Restrictions usually come from identity verification or security reviews. Respond to Uphold's document requests through the app, and if it isn't resolved, file a complaint with your state regulator.
Is Uphold available in New York?
New York isn't on Uphold's list of U.S. state licenses, and its debit card excludes New York. Check in the app before opening an account.
Can I buy stocks on Uphold?
Yes. U.S. stocks and ETFs are available from $5 through Uphold Securities Inc., with 0% commission on cash-funded trades.
Does Uphold pay interest?
The USD Interest Account, run by Atomic Brokerage, pays up to 4% APY, or 2% on balances under $1,000. Uphold Rewards also advertises up to 3% on some stablecoins.
Does Uphold report to the IRS?
U.S. platforms must report certain crypto sales to the IRS, and you owe tax on gains either way. Download your transaction history for your tax records.
Is Uphold better than Coinbase?
Uphold adds precious metals and direct swaps between asset types, but its spreads are high. Coinbase is a public company with a lower-cost Advanced trading screen.
Sources (11)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Uphold: Service fees (updated September 21, 2026) (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Uphold: Transparency (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Uphold: US regulators and customer complaints (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Uphold: Equities (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Uphold: USD Interest Account (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Uphold: Debit card (accessed October 13, 2026)
- New York Attorney General: Assurance of Discontinuance, Uphold HQ Inc. (2026) (accessed October 13, 2026)
- The Block: New York AG settles for $5 million with Uphold (accessed October 13, 2026)
- BBB: Uphold HQ, Inc. profile (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Trustpilot: Uphold reviews (accessed October 13, 2026)
- CFPB: Consumer complaint database search (accessed October 13, 2026)
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