Uphold Card

Overview

Uphold distinguishes itself from other crypto card providers with its multi-asset approach. Founded in 2013, the platform allows users to hold and trade not just cryptocurrencies but also traditional fiat currencies, precious metals like gold and silver, and even US equities. The Uphold Card extends this versatility to spending, allowing you to pay for purchases using any asset in your Uphold account. The anything-in, anything-out philosophy means you could buy coffee with a fraction of your gold holdings, pay for dinner with Ethereum, or cover your groceries with your stock dividends. At the point of sale, Uphold automatically converts the chosen asset to the local fiat currency. This makes the Uphold Card one of the most flexible payment tools in the fintech space, appealing to users who hold a diversified portfolio across multiple asset classes.

Multi-Asset Spending

The ability to spend from any asset class is Uphold's defining feature. Your Uphold account can hold over 250 assets, including major cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, fiat currencies from 27 countries, four precious metals, and fractional shares of US equities. When you set up your card, you assign a spending priority, determining which asset is liquidated first for purchases. For example, you might set stablecoins as your primary spending source, with Bitcoin as a backup. The conversion happens instantly at the point of sale, with Uphold displaying the exchange rate in the app before the transaction is confirmed. This multi-asset approach also makes the card excellent for international travel, as you can hold local currencies and switch between them without the need for separate currency accounts.

Cashback and Rewards

Uphold offers cashback rewards on card purchases, with rates depending on your account level and activity. The base cashback rate is competitive, and users who hold larger balances or meet certain trading volume thresholds can unlock enhanced rates up to 4%. Cashback is typically paid in crypto, and you can choose which cryptocurrency you prefer to receive. The rewards are credited after each billing cycle and can be immediately reinvested, traded, or spent using the card. While Uphold's cashback rates may not match the highest tiers offered by exchange-backed cards, the versatility of spending from any asset class adds an implicit benefit that is difficult to quantify but valuable in practice.

Fees and Platform

Uphold charges no annual fee for the card, and there is no card issuance fee. Transaction fees consist primarily of the spread on asset conversions, which varies by asset type. Cryptocurrency spreads typically range from 0.8% to 1.8%, while fiat and precious metal spreads are generally tighter. The platform is transparent about its fees, displaying the total cost including spread before you confirm any transaction. ATM withdrawals are available with a monthly free limit, after which a small fee applies. Uphold is registered as a money services business with FinCEN in the US and is authorized by the FCA in the UK. The platform has processed over $4 billion in transactions and serves millions of users globally. The app interface is clean and intuitive, making it accessible even for users new to crypto and multi-asset investing.

Supported Cryptocurrencies

Available Regions