Uphold Card Review – Fees, Limits, Rewards, Supported Coins & Countries
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Number of crypto businesses that offer crypto debit cards is increasing by day. Uphold joins the ranks with their own crypto card that comes with some unique perks and features users will like.
But, first a quick intro on the company itself.
There are a lot of traders in the crypto community who want to purchase different asset classes, and until recently, this was only doable through cash transactions. To go from one asset to another one, you needed a brokerage account with cash that you would use to purchase gold, silver, or company stocks. In case you wanted to trade cryptocurrencies, you needed to open a crypto exchange account.
National currencies are a whole different deal since you need to open an account with a third-party provider. As you can imagine, this kind of system is very confusing, especially for beginners, but this is where Uphold steps in.
Uphold has created a simple solution to the problem called trading multiple assets. The team behind Uphold has created a way to trade multiple assets without having to make different trips back to cash. With uphold, trading can be done directly across different asset classes.
In this article, we are going to review what Uphold is, how it works, how much does it costs, and just how effective it is.
What is Uphold?
Uphold was originally named Bitreserve, it works as a trading platform that enables cross-asset trading. Uphold was originally founded in 2014 in San Francisco by Halsey Minor (he no longer works in the company, the current CEO is J.P Thieriot).
Currently, it is one of the most unique desktops and mobile trading platforms due to the “Anything-to-Anything” trading feature. With Uphold, users can convert between various fiat currencies, cryptos, commodities, and stocks. So far, if users wanted to purchase metals, stocks, or cryptocurrencies, there were multiple transfers that needed to be done.
Uphold has created a way to trade these assets by using a bank account, crypto network, or debit card, and all of that with 0% commissions. Trading between assets in different classes is also featured, for example, you can trade Bitcoin to Tesla in only one trade. Or if you wanted to trade Tesla and Facebook stock, there aren’t intermediate conversions into USD. No trading platform offers this as they all use US dollars as a bridge to the exchange.
The design of Uphold makes it simple for users to navigate, and it’s amazingly cost-effective. Sending money or assets to friends or family can be done in a matter of seconds, with no additional fees.
Uphold Card Overview
| Uphold Card Overview | |
| Card Network | Mastercard |
| Supported Currency | USD |
| Available Regions | US |
| Card Delivery | 7-10 business days |
| Crypto-to-Fiat fees | Free |
| Top Up Assets | ETH, XRP, BTC, LTC, BAT, BCH, DASH, BTG |
| Top Up Stablecoins | DAI, USDC, TUSD |
| Top Up Methods | Crypto Deposit, Direct Deposit, ACH Credit |
| Mobile Wallets | Google Pay, Apple Pay |
| Issuing Bank | Metropolitan Commercial Bank |
| Benefits and Rewards | A 2% cashback on crypto asset transactions and 1% cashback on fiat transactions |
Uphold Card Fees and Limits
When it comes to Uphold Card, there are several types of fees that users should pay attention to.
Deposit Fees
- Bank (ACH): Free
- Bank (SEPA): Free
- Bank (FPS): Free
- Bank (SWIFT): Free
- Wire (under $5,000): $30
- Wire (over $5,000): Free
- Debit card: 3.99%
Withdrawal Fees
- Bank (ACH): Free
- Bank (SEPA): Free
- Bank (FPS): Free
- Bank (SWIFT): Free
- Crypto: Varies (usually a $2.99 flat rate plus Dynamic Network Fee)
Issuance Fee
The issuance fee is fixed at $9.95.
Usage Fees
- Withdrawals: $2.50
- International Withdrawals: $3.50
- Domestic purchase: Free
- Foreign exchange: Free
Uphold Card Limits
- Spending $10,000 per day
- Cash withdrawals per day: $1,500
- Cash withdrawals per transaction: $500
- Monthly spending: Unlimited
- Yearly spending: Unlimited
Benefits & Cashback Rewards
Benefits
Compared to similar crypto, forex, and stock investing platforms, Uphold users can enjoy a wide range of benefits that are provided elsewhere.
The cost-effectiveness is one that stands out the most, considering there are 0% deposit fees, 0% trading commissions, and 0% withdrawal fees.
The All-Inclusive pricing is the next one, if you are trading the major cryptocurrencies, the spread is approximately around 80-120 bps. Other platforms such as Revolut or Coinbase Retail offer 160-250 bps.
The easy-to-use design is another benefit since users can open an account in basically a few minutes, and there is no minimum investment amount.
The last notable benefit is that equities can be sent anywhere in the world with no additional fees.
Cashback Rewards
Cashback rewards and features are a very interesting offer that Uphold Card provides. The cashback feature is simple to understand. Each time a user uses their card, a certain percentage of what they pay gets transferred back to their account. For example, if you use your card and pay something in USD, you will get 1% of that amount back. It’s basically a 1% discount on anything you buy. If you choose to buy cryptocurrencies with the card, the cashback is 2%.
Other cards typically require users to hold an X amount of tokens of a specific type (the Paycent card requires Paycent tokens while the Binance Card requires BNB tokens) in order to take advantage of a cashback feature. With Uphold, as long as you have your card and you are using it, you will get the cashback. It’s an interesting deal that no other platforms offer.
Supported Cryptocurrencies
Uphold card supports different cryptocurrencies depending on where you are located.
In the USA, the supported cryptocurrencies are: BTC, BTC0, AAVE, XRP, ETH, BAT, ADA, ATOM, AXS, BCH, BAL, BTG, CSPR, COMP, CRV, DASH, DCR, DGB, DOGE, DOT, ENJ, EOS, FIL, FLOW, GRT, HBAR, HNT, MIOTA, LINK, LTC, LUNA, MATIC, MKR, NANO, NEO, OMG, OXT, REN, RUNE, SAND, SNX, SOL, SRM, SUSHI, THETA, TRX, VET, WBTC, UMA, UNI, UPBTC, UPCO2, UPT, XCH, NEM, XLM, XTZ, ZIL, and ZRX.
In Europe and the UK, the supported cryptocurrencies are: AAVE, ADA, BAL, BCH, BTC, COMP, DGB, DOGE, DOT, ENJ, EOS, ETH, GRT, HBAR, LINK, LTC, MATIC, MKR, NEM, REN, SNX, UMA, UNI, VCOIN, wBTC, XLM, XRP, XTZ, and ZRX.
Supported Fiat Currencies
Uphold supports a lot more fiat currencies compared to other cryptocurrency debit cards. Here are the fiat currencies that are supported: AED, ARS, AUD, BRL, CAD, CHF, CNY, DKK, EUR, HKD, ILS, INR, JPY, KES, MXN, NOK, NZD, PHP, SEK, SGD, and USD.
Although, as of September, the following fiat currencies are available for users located in Europe and the UK: USD, GBP, and EUR.
Supported Countries
Uphold Card supports more than 200 countries. However, bank account funding and withdrawals can only be made in these countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States.
Card Tiers & Types
On Uphold, there are six card tiers available for users.
- Tier 1 – Currencies for bank transfers
- Tier 2 – Currencies that can be held, exchanged, or sent around the world.
- Tier 3 – Cryptocurrencies and utility tokens that can be bought, held, sold, deposited, withdrawn and sent.
- Tier 4 – Cryptocurrencies and utility tokens to buy, hold, sell, and send.
- Tier 5 – US equities and ETFs (baskets of stocks and bonds) to buy, hold, trade, and send in fractional amounts.
- Tier 6 – A series of tokens and stable coins issued by Universal Protocol as part of a new universal transparent reserve standard.
The card types that are supported on Uphold are: Mastercard and Visa.
How to Get the Card
Ordering the Uphold debit card is a fairly easy process and it can be done rather quickly. Here are the steps you can follow to get your Uphold card.
- Step 1: Verify your phone with a 6-digit code Uphold sends you when registering.
- Step 2: Connect your Uphold account with your card.
- Step 3: Review all of the personal details carefully and confirm once you’re sure they are all aligned.
- Step 4: Review the disclosures and press accept.
- Step 5: Finish off the process by pressing Order and wait for your card to be delivered so you can start using it.
Mobile App Experience
Uphold‘s mobile app has gotten some pretty great feedback so far. It’s simple to use, and it is very intuitive since it can mirror the desktop’s app focuses on easy usage and “Anything-to-Anything” transfers. Here are the features that you can find on the mobile app:
- Two-click exchanges: Similar to the desktop platform, placing orders is done rather quickly. If you click on the “transact” tab, you can choose your desired funding method (either from crypto networks, linked bank accounts, or credit cards) and place a transaction. To make a trade, you literally need 30 seconds, even if you are a complete beginner in all of this.
- Comprehensive market data: Uphold application delivers the latest market data on everything from metals to cryptocurrencies. Since the price data is calculated to the 5th decimal, users can make accurate calculations when trading.
- Full desktop functionality: Aside from investing, users can also monitor their portfolios and transfer money to friends and family members, no matter where they are located.
- From and To Interface: This feature allows users to pull money from their bank accounts and purchase different asset classes that they are interested in. Funding and trading on one screen are what make this app so inventive and practical.
The Uphold mobile app can be downloaded on both iOS and Android devices.
Card Activation
Once you have ordered your Uphold card and it is delivered, you can activate it through the Uphold Card mobile app. When you open the package, you should see the physical card containing a letter in which the activation code is included. Open your mobile app and press “Activate physical card.” In case you want to activate the card by phone, dial 1-855-568-8580 and press 1. Make sure you have your activation code with you before calling this number.
Deposits & Withdrawals: Fiat, Crypto, & Precious Metal Assets
On your Uphold exchange account, you can see the existing balance. This balance is linked directly to your Uphold Card. Using the Uphold card, you can make purchases directly and quickly by using the available assets on your account. You can choose to deposit funds from an external credit/debit card, crypto wallet, or bank account.
However, although Uphold supports various assets, you can only deposit and withdraw certain assets.
Fiat currencies can be transferred by the bank: USD, EUR, GPB, CAD, and PLN.
External wallet transfers can be done for these crypto-assets: BTC, LTC, ETH, BCH, BAT, LINK, ZRX, DASH, BTG, XRP, UPT, OMG, STORM, UPBTC, TUSD, DAI, USDC, USDT, UPUSD, and UPEUR.
Any other fiat, crypto, or precious metal assets that are typically supported by the Uphold card can only be spent through the Uphold Card or traded on their official exchange.
How to Use the Card
Using the Uphold card isn’t much different from using any other type of debit card, there are only a few minor differences you should pay attention to.
Here is how you should use your Uphold card for transactions:
- Make sure your Uphold exchange account is linked to your Uphold Card account.
- Choose the supported assets (fiat, precious metal, or crypto) that you want to deposit or purchase and do it on your exchange account.
- You can spend your assets either online or in stores that approve Mastercard.
- Mastercard has to verify that there are enough funds available on your card to complete a transaction.
- Uphold transfers selected assets to fiat currencies on your behalf if you opt for it.
- The merchant which receives the payment is paid in their local currency, it doesn’t matter which specific asset you used to complete the purchase.
Is Uphold Card Legit
Uphold is a well-respected and trustworthy company. It has been operating in the crypto community ever since it was founded in 2014. The positive feedback from the users only supports this fact.
Uphold Card Alternatives
Coinbase Card
Coinbase card is one of the suitable alternatives for Uphold. With Coinbase, users can buy, sell, and manage their cryptos safely. Coinbase is one of the world’s most trusted and most popular crypto exchanges, with over 68 million users across the globe. All major cryptos such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and many more are available on the platform. All you need to purchase cryptos is a debit card or bank account.
You can see a detailed review of the Coinbase Card by clicking here.
Crypto.com Card
This card is a prepaid Visa card. Prepaid cards are basically the same as debit cards, the only difference being that debit cards are directly linked to your bank account. Prepaid cards need to be topped up first. In the case of Crypto.com, you can top up by using bank account transfers or cryptos.
You can see a detailed review of the Crypto.com Card by clicking here.
Crypterium
This is a growing mobile app that offers transforming coins and tokens into money. You can use it to shop around the globe with coins and tokens at any NFC terminal or by scanning QR codes.
You can see a detailed review of the Crypterium by clicking here.
Binance Card
The Binance card is one of the most popular alternatives. You can use it at more than 60 million merchants around the globe. Transfer crypto from the spot wallet to the funding wallet before using the card. The best thing is, the Binance Visa Card is free.
You can see a detailed review of the Binance Card by clicking here.
FAQs
Is the Uphold Card available to United States residents?
Yes, the card is available to residents in the US.
Is there a fee for Uphold Card
There are fees for using the Uphold Card, for more information, check out our Uphold Card Fees and Limits heading.
Why does Uphold need my SSN
Uphold uses your SSN to issue a 1099 tax form to US citizens.
Can I Use uphold card at ATM
Yes, Uphold Card can be used at ATMs.
Does Uphold report to IRS
If you are a US citizen, Uphold is obliged to report to the IRS. If you are a citizen of another country, check their official website for taxing information.
Click here to find out everything you need to know about paying crypto taxes and get your taxes done in seconds, completely free.
Can you withdraw XRP from Uphold
Uphold users can deposit and withdraw XRP to external XRP Ledger addresses.
Does Uphold require Uphold Card applicants to verify their identities via KYC?
Yes, verifying your identity is required in order to get an Uphold card.
How do I add funds to my Uphold Card?
Adding funds is done via linking your bank account to your Uphold account and then choosing the amount of money you wish to transfer to your card.
Can my Uphold Card help me save money while traveling abroad?
If you use an Uphold Card in a supported country, you won’t be charged with additional fees when using it.
Can I directly spend crypto assets using my Uphold Card?
Yes, you can spend crypto assets using your Uphold card.
Does Uphold have physical reserves to match the total value of precious metals held in user accounts?
Yes, there are physical reserves that match the total value of precious metals.
What fees are associated with using the Uphold Card?
There are different kinds of fees you can run into, it’s best to check our heading Uphold Card Fees and Limits to find more detailed answers.
Does the Uphold Card support contactless payments?
No, the Uphold card doesn’t support these kinds of payments yet.
Does the Uphold Card have spending limits?
Yes. Check our heading Uphold Card Fees and Limits to find a more detailed answer.
Does the Uphold Card have a mobile app?
Yes, Uphold has both a desktop app and a mobile app.
Conclusion: Is the Uphold Card Worth It?
There is a good reason why there are so many different crypto platforms – you can’t satisfy everyone. Although there are people that may find fault with Uphold, there are as many satisfied users that love the benefits Uphold provides. If you want to trade different asset classes using only one platform, Uphold has got you covered, give it a shot.
Read also:
- Uphold Review
- Uphold vs Coinbase
- Crypto.com Card Review
- Coinbase Card Review
- AdvCash Card Review
- Eidoo Wallet & Card Review
- Blockcard Review
- Bitpay Card Review
- Wirex Review
- Binance Crypto Debit Card Review
- Gemini Crypto Credit Card Review
The post Uphold Card Review – Fees, Limits, Rewards, Supported Coins & Countries appeared first on CaptainAltcoin.
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