Is Uphold safe for buying XRP?

Yes, Uphold is a regulated US money services business, licensed in most states. They hold customer funds in segregated accounts and have never been hacked.

How to Buy XRP on Uphold - Complete Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

0.8-1.2%

Trading Spread

Minimum Buy

Instant

Card Purchases

US States

What is Uphold?

Uphold is a digital money platform founded in 2015 that allows you to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrencies including XRP. It's one of the most popular exchanges for buying XRP in the US because:

They never delisted XRP during the SEC lawsuit
Simple, beginner-friendly interface
Buy with debit card, bank transfer, or crypto
Licensed and regulated in the US (MSB registered with FinCEN)
10+ million users worldwide

Uphold is particularly favored by XRP holders because they maintained XRP trading throughout the entire SEC vs Ripple case, showing confidence in the asset.

Step-by-Step: Buy XRP on Uphold

Create Your Uphold Account

Visit Uphold.com and click "Sign Up". You'll need:

Valid email address
Strong password (12+ characters recommended)
Your country/state of residence

Tip: Use your real information - it must match your ID for verification.

Verify Your Identity (KYC)

To buy crypto, you need to complete identity verification. Uphold will ask for:

Personal info: Full name, date of birth, address
SSN: Last 4 digits (full for higher limits)
Government ID: Driver's license, passport, or state ID
Selfie: Photo holding your ID

Tip: Use good lighting for photos. Most verifications complete in under 5 minutes.

Add Funds to Your Account

Once verified, fund your account using one of these methods:

Method	Fee	Speed	Limit
Bank Transfer (ACH)	Free	3-5 days	$500/day
Debit Card	3.99%	Instant	$500/day
Wire Transfer	Free	1-3 days	No limit
Crypto Deposit	Free	Minutes	No limit

Tip: Bank transfers are free but take days. Use card for instant buys (worth the 3.99% for speed).

Buy XRP

Now for the good part! Here's how to purchase XRP:

Click the green "Transact" button
Select "From" → your funding source (USD, card, or bank)
Select "To" → search and select XRP
Enter the amount in USD or XRP
Review the exchange rate and fees
Click "Confirm" to complete purchase

Your XRP will appear instantly in your Uphold wallet!

Tip: Buy in larger amounts to minimize the spread impact. $100+ purchases are more efficient than multiple $10 buys.

Secure Your XRP (Optional but Recommended)

You have three options for storing your XRP:

Keep on Uphold: Convenient for trading, but you don't control keys
Withdraw to hardware wallet: Most secure (Ledger Nano, Trezor)
Withdraw to software wallet: XUMM, Trust Wallet, etc.

Tip: "Not your keys, not your crypto." For long-term holding, consider a hardware wallet.

Uphold Fees for XRP

Uphold uses a spread-based fee model instead of traditional trading fees. Here's the complete breakdown:

Fee Type	Amount	Notes
XRP Trading Spread	0.8-1.2%	Built into exchange rate
Bank Deposit (ACH)	Free	3-5 business days
Debit Card Deposit	3.99%	Instant purchase
Wire Transfer	Free	1-3 business days
XRP Withdrawal	~0.1 XRP	Network fee only
USD Withdrawal (ACH)	Free	3-5 business days
Account Maintenance	Free	No monthly fees

💡 Understanding the Spread

The "spread" is the difference between buy and sell prices. If XRP is $2.50, you might pay $2.52 to buy (0.8% higher) and receive $2.48 when selling. This is how Uphold makes money - there's no separate "fee" line item.

Fee Comparison vs Other Exchanges

Exchange	Trading Fee	Card Fee	XRP Withdrawal
Uphold	0.8-1.2% spread	3.99%	~0.1 XRP
Coinbase	0.5-1.5%	3.99%	0.25 XRP
Kraken	0.16-0.26%	N/A	0.02 XRP
Crypto.com	0.4%	2.99%	0.25 XRP

Uphold Pros & Cons for XRP

✓ Pros

Never delisted XRP - strong XRP support
Very beginner-friendly interface
Buy with card, bank, or crypto instantly
Low $1 minimum purchase
XRP withdrawals supported (unlike some platforms)
No trading fees (spread only)
48 US states supported
Built-in portfolio across crypto, stocks, metals
Fast verification (often under 5 minutes)

✗ Cons

Higher spread than Kraken (0.8-1.2% vs 0.16-0.26%)
3.99% debit card fee is steep
Limited advanced trading features
No limit orders on basic account
65-day hold on ACH deposits before withdrawal
Customer support can be slow
Not available in NY or CT

⚠️ Important: 65-Day Hold

Funds deposited via ACH bank transfer have a 65-day "cooling off" period before you can withdraw crypto. This prevents fraud. Card purchases and wire transfers don't have this restriction.

Verification Levels & Limits

Uphold uses tiered verification. Higher tiers unlock more features:

Level	Requirements	Deposit Limit	Withdrawal Limit
Level 1	Email + Basic Info	$1,000/day	Limited
Level 2	+ SSN + ID Photo	$5,000/day	$10,000/day
Level 3	+ Address Verification	$50,000/day	$50,000/day

Most users complete Level 2 verification, which is sufficient for typical buying and withdrawing.

How to Withdraw XRP from Uphold

Moving your XRP to an external wallet is straightforward:

Go to your XRP wallet on Uphold
Click "Transact" → "From XRP"
Select "To" → "Crypto Network"
Enter your external XRP wallet address
Enter the Destination Tag (if required by your wallet)
Enter amount and confirm

⚠️ Destination Tag Warning

Many XRP wallets and exchanges require a "Destination Tag" (also called memo or tag). If your receiving wallet needs one and you don't include it, your XRP may be lost forever. Always double-check!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Uphold's fees for buying XRP?

Uphold charges a spread of 0.8-1.2% on XRP transactions - no separate trading fee. Bank deposits are free, debit cards are 3.99%. XRP withdrawals cost about 0.1 XRP network fee.

Can I withdraw XRP from Uphold to my own wallet?

Yes! Uphold supports XRP withdrawals to external wallets, unlike some platforms (looking at you, Robinhood). Just make sure to include the Destination Tag if your receiving wallet requires one.

How long does Uphold verification take?

Most users are verified within 5-10 minutes using automated ID verification. Some accounts may require manual review, which can take 1-3 business days.

Is Uphold safe and legitimate?

Yes. Uphold is a registered Money Services Business (MSB) with FinCEN, licensed in 48 US states. They've been operating since 2015 with 10M+ users and have never been hacked. Customer funds are held in segregated accounts.

Why did Uphold not delist XRP during the SEC lawsuit?

Uphold believed in XRP's utility and the legal distinction between institutional and retail sales. Their decision to keep XRP listed (while Coinbase and others delisted) earned them loyalty from the XRP community.

What's the minimum amount of XRP I can buy on Uphold?

You can buy as little as $1 worth of XRP on Uphold, making it accessible for beginners who want to start small.

Can I buy XRP on Uphold in New York?

Unfortunately, no. Uphold is not available in New York or Connecticut due to licensing requirements. NY residents can use Coinbase or Bitstamp instead.

Does Uphold have an app?

Yes! Uphold has iOS and Android apps with full functionality - you can buy, sell, and withdraw XRP from your phone.

Ready to Buy XRP on Uphold?

Join 10 million+ users on one of the most XRP-friendly exchanges.

Get Started on Uphold →

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Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments are volatile and risky. Do your own research before investing. We may earn commissions from affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Data accurate as of February 2026.