Uphold Restricted Countries

Uphold limits or blocks access in certain countries and territories due to local licensing requirements, regulatory restrictions, and international sanctions. Users in these locations cannot open accounts, and attempts to bypass restrictions, including the use of VPNs, may result in account closure.

Countries Where Uphold Is Not Supported

In these jurisdictions, Uphold services are fully unavailable for residents and entities:

• Canada: Blocked due to domestic regulations requiring platforms to register with FINTRAC and comply with Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) rules.
• Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba: Banned under U.S., UK, and EU sanctions regimes.
• Armenia, Cambodia, Lebanon, Vanuatu: Restricted due to Uphold’s absence of local licensing or inability to meet jurisdiction-specific compliance obligations.
• Additional territories: Includes the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, French Southern Territories, and other small jurisdictions listed in Uphold’s official restrictions.

Countries Where New Accounts Cannot Be Opened

In these locations, existing customers may retain limited access, but Uphold does not onboard new users:

• High-population markets: India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Vietnam.
• European jurisdictions: Germany, Netherlands.
• Other restricted locations: Afghanistan, China, Morocco, Russia, Ukraine, and others specified in Uphold’s official list.

These onboarding restrictions are typically tied to local crypto laws, anti-money laundering (AML) requirements, and licensing rules that Uphold has chosen not to, or cannot, meet.

Additional Transfer Restrictions

Even in supported regions, certain transactions are restricted:

• Fiat-to-fiat limits: Transfers between U.S. and non-U.S. Uphold accounts are prohibited.
• Jurisdiction-based bans: U.S., UK, and EEA customers cannot send or receive funds (fiat or crypto) to or from residents in countries including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, and the UAE.

What Countries Does Uphold Support?

As of August 2025, Uphold is available in more than 140 countries, giving users access to over 300 assets including cryptocurrencies, fiat currencies, and precious metals. Its direct conversion system lets you move between asset classes in a single trade.

The platform supports major fiat currencies such as USD, EUR, GBP, and AUD, making it accessible in both established financial centers and emerging markets. Broad currency coverage helps maintain liquidity and competitive pricing.

Uphold’s reach includes North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and parts of Africa. Availability depends on local licensing and regulations, and some jurisdictions remain restricted.

Uphold Licenses and Regulations

Uphold operates under a mix of regulatory registrations and authorizations across major markets. These licenses allow it to provide crypto, fiat, and card services while meeting compliance requirements in each jurisdiction.

Current Uphold licenses and registrations:

• United States: Registered with FinCEN as a Money Services Business and regulated at the state level (NMLS ID 1269875). Card programs are issued by Evolve Bank & Trust and Metropolitan Commercial Bank, both regulated U.S. banks.
• United Kingdom: Supervised by the Financial Conduct Authority through Optimus Cards UK Limited, an FCA-authorised e-money institution (FRN 902034).
• European Economic Area: Registered with Lithuania’s Financial Crime Investigation Service (FCIS) under the Ministry of the Interior, enabling EU operations under anti-money laundering supervision.
• Canada: Uphold Operating Canada Ltd has withdrawn its application for registration in some provinces and does not provide registrable services to Canadian residents.

Security and compliance standards: Uphold is certified for SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS, covering information security, operational controls, and payment processing.

Does Uphold Require KYC?

Yes. Uphold requires all customers to complete KYC (Know Your Customer) identity verification when opening an account and may also conduct periodic KYC reviews to keep information up to date and comply with regulatory obligations.

Initial verification requires:

• A valid government-issued ID (passport, driver’s license, or national ID card)
• A selfie for facial verification
• In some cases, proof of residential address

Periodic KYC reviews may request:

• Updated personal details such as address, employment, or financial status
• Source of income and nature of transactions
• Supporting documents like proof of address or source of wealth

Failure to provide requested information can result in account restrictions or closure. Requests are sent via the Uphold app, customer support tickets, or verified emails.

About Uphold

Uphold is a London-based multi-asset platform with over 10 million users in more than 150 countries. It offers trading in 300+ assets, including crypto, fiat currencies, precious metals, and U.S. equities, with its “Anything to Anything” system allowing direct swaps between asset classes. 

Users can also access staking on 20+ digital assets, cross-border payments, and debit card spending. The platform operates under regulatory oversight in the US, UK, EU, and Canada, publishing real-time asset and liability data to maintain transparency.

Final Thoughts

Uphold’s coverage changes with global regulations, so the safest approach is to confirm your country’s status directly on the official restriction list before opening an account. 

For investors, this isn’t just about access, restrictions can affect fiat deposit options, withdrawal speed, staking availability, and cross-border transfers. 

Keeping your KYC details up to date and monitoring regulatory updates will help you avoid disruptions and get the most from Uphold’s trading, payment, and staking features.