Uphold Available Countries

What Countries is Uphold Available? 

Uphold operates in more than 180 countries, serving regions like North America, the UK, Europe, Australia, and many nations in Asia, South America, and Africa. Nevertheless, service availability can differ based on each country's regulatory landscape.

Certain areas may encounter limitations with Uphold’s full range of cryptocurrency and financial services. These constraints are typically due to local regulations that outline how digital financial services can be offered. Consequently, some users might find that specific Uphold services are restricted in their location.

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What Countries Does Uphold Restrict?

Uphold restricts its services in several countries due to various regulatory constraints. Regions in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Pacific are affected. Notably, Uphold blocks access in OFAC-sanctioned countries like Syria, North Korea, Cuba, and Iran.

Furthermore, Uphold cannot offer new accounts in other nations with complex local regulations. Some of these include Germany, Georgia, the Netherlands, and Russia. The primary reason for these restrictions is the complicated regulatory environments in these areas, impacting Uphold's ability to operate.

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Uphold Card Countries

The Uphold Card is currently only available to users in the United Kingdom. This debit card allows customers to make real-time transactions using cryptocurrencies, precious metals, and other assets. Importantly, the Uphold Card in the UK is regulated and licensed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), ensuring secure and compliant usage.

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Where Is Uphold Regulated and Licensed?

Uphold operates under stringent regulatory oversight to comply with global financial and data protection standards. Here are the key regions where Uphold is regulated and licensed:

• United States: Regulated by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and various state regulatory authorities.
• United Kingdom: Overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
• Canada: Registered with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC).
• Europe: Under the jurisdiction of the Financial Crime Investigation Service of the Republic of Lithuania.

Additionally, Uphold adheres to global Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations and other relevant laws, such as:

• Data Protection: Compliance with EU data protection laws, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) in the U.S., and personal information regulations in China.
• PCI-DSS: Follows Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards, verified annually by a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA).
• OFAC: Abides by the Office of Foreign Assets Control regulations, ensuring adherence to international financial norms.

These comprehensive measures ensure Uphold operates with the highest levels of security and compliance globally.

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Bottom Line

Uphold offers a broad scope of services across over 180 countries, yet its availability can vary due to local regulatory conditions. While Uphold provides extensive financial services, specific regions, including OFAC-sanctioned countries and others with complex regulations, face restrictions. The Uphold Card is currently available only in the UK, under FCA oversight. Uphold adheres to stringent regulatory standards worldwide, ensuring secure and compliant operations.