Uphold Available and Restricted Countries

Where is Uphold Available?

Uphold is available in over 150 countries, covering a wide reach across North America, the UK, most of the European Economic Area, and key regions in Asia, Oceania, South America, and Africa. Users in the United States (excluding New York), the United Kingdom, and much of Europe can access Uphold’s extensive crypto, fiat, and commodity trading features. 

Popular markets like Argentina, Brazil, and Chile in South America, along with Australia and New Zealand in Oceania, are also well-supported.

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Uphold Restricted Countries

Uphold restricts access in certain regions due to strict regulatory and compliance requirements. Here’s a breakdown of key areas where Uphold isn’t available:

1. Fully Restricted Countries: Uphold doesn’t operate in locations like North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, and Cuba. Other fully restricted regions include Nigeria, Lebanon, Armenia, Cambodia, and Mali.
2. No New Accounts: Users in China, India, Russia, Colombia, and Indonesia can’t create new Uphold accounts, alongside select African countries like Kenya and Ghana.
3. U.S. Limits: In the United States, Uphold excludes New York residents due to state-specific rules.
4. UK & EEA Transfer Constraints: For UK and European Economic Area users, Uphold restricts crypto and fiat transfers with several countries, including Belarus, Turkey, and Morocco.

For anyone looking to join Uphold, checking their latest country availability is a smart move, as regulatory shifts can change these restrictions quickly.

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Where Is Uphold Regulated and Licensed?

Uphold is regulated and licensed across several major jurisdictions, ensuring compliance and security for its users:

1. United Kingdom: Uphold holds an FCA registration for Anti-Money Laundering (AML) under number 938277. It also serves as an Electronic Money Directive (EMD) agent for Optimus Cards UK Limited, allowing it to issue e-money under the FCA's Electronic Money Regulations 2011.
2. European Union: Uphold operates in the EU through Uphold Europe Limited, based in London. Note that while Uphold provides crypto services across the EU, these aren’t under regulatory oversight, meaning they lack traditional financial protections.
3. United States: Uphold is available in most states but is restricted in New York due to specific state regulations.
4. Data Protection and Security: Uphold is certified for SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS, meeting rigorous data security and privacy standards. It also complies with GDPR, CCPA, and the UK Data Protection Act, prioritizing user data and privacy rights.

These regulatory steps reflect Uphold’s commitment to transparency, security, and maintaining trust with users worldwide.

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Where is the Uphold Card Supported?

The Uphold Card is currently supported only in the United Kingdom. UK users can easily activate the card through the Uphold app, with zero setup or annual fees. It enables seamless spending of crypto or fiat directly from an Uphold wallet, worldwide, with 0% foreign transaction fees and favorable FX rates for international transactions.

Fully compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay, the card also supports ATM withdrawals globally, with modest fees for both local and foreign withdrawals.

While only available in the UK at the moment, Uphold may expand support to additional countries in the future, so users in other regions should watch for updates.

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About Uphold

Uphold is a multi-asset platform giving users access to 280+ cryptocurrencies, fiat currencies, and precious metals all in one place. Connected to 28 centralized and decentralized exchanges, it enables instant trading, staking, and a crypto debit card with live FX rates.

With 30 million users across 150 countries, Uphold’s known for its transparency, publishing reserve audits every 30 seconds. Regulated by the FCA and FinCEN, Uphold combines security with simplified asset access, making it a serious contender for global crypto traders.

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Bottom Line

Uphold’s wide availability across 150+ countries offers extensive access for users, though regulatory restrictions apply in areas like New York, parts of the EEA, and fully restricted countries such as Iran and North Korea. 

Given regulatory shifts, users should check current availability to ensure they can access Uphold’s multi-asset trading platform in their region.