The Uphold Mastercard card is a relatively new offering in the world of crypto credit cards; however, the company behind this product (originally known as Bitreserve) has been operating in the Bitcoin and cryptocurrency space since 2014. This product is mainly focused on acting like a traditional debit card that many people will have used in the past with their personal bank accounts. Of course, the key difference with the Uphold Card is that users have much more variety in terms of the assets that can be used as the backing for payments made with the card. Obviously, users can pay for goods and services with a variety of cryptocurrencies when they use this Bitcoin debit card, but the fun doesn’t end there. Users are also able to store value in a variety of fiat currencies and precious metals on the Uphold exchange. Additionally, this card features 2% cashback on purchases made with cryptocurrencies, which is basically unheard of in this space, at least when it comes to card offerings that do not have their own proprietary tokens attached to them.
- Simple but effective card for using your crypto for everyday purchases
- Decent 2% cashback available to users
- Small upfront cost and no requirement to hold proprietary tokens
- Connects to the Uphold exchange to make transactions a breeze
Uphold Mastercard Pros & Cons
- No need to convert cryptocurrency to fiat currency before using the card
- 2% cashback available on purchases made with cryptocurrency
- Physical and virtual cards available
- Easily manage the card within the Uphold app
- No additional fees when spending money while traveling
- Earn returns on digital currency holdings
- Supports many different digital assets
- The card is not free
- Zero commissions but fees are hidden in the exchange rates
- Currently only available in the United States
- Not widely available yet, as users must first join a waiting list
Uphold Mastercard at a Glance
What are the Benefits of the Uphold Mastercard?
There are many benefits to using the Uphold Mastercard card when compared to some of the other options on the market.
First of all, the fees are extremely reasonable. Yes, they are a bit obscured due to the way their fee structures work, but cardholders will usually end up paying a fee around 1% for turning bitcoin into real cash that can be spent via the Uphold Card. These fees are even more reasonable when you consider the fact that you’ll be able to earn 2% cashback rewards on purchases that are powered by bitcoin. The fact that these cashback rewards are enabled without the use of a proprietary token is another key fact to consider.
Uphold is also a reputable company that has been operating in the cryptocurrency space since 2014. This means that you can worry less about regulators eventually cracking down on this card offering or having your funds lost due to an eventually rug pulling.
The Uphold Card also supports a wide variety of different digital assets. Users are able to move between fiat currencies, cryptocurrencies, and precious metals at the click of a button. That said, it should be noted that many of these asset exchanges will incur fees larger than the usual 1% associated with movements between U.S. dollars and bitcoin.
Finally, another benefit to consider with Uphold is that you’re able to place funds into accounts that earn interest on your digital asset holdings.
Potential Uphold Mastercard Card Dealbreakers
Of course, there are some downsides to the Uphold Mastercard card as well. The biggest dealbreaker for many will be the simple fact that this card is not yet widely available. It is currently only available in the United States, and even there, there is limited availability at this time.
The Uphold Mastercard card also isn’t free. This may be a dealbreaker for some who are used to getting a debit card or prepaid card for free whenever they sign up for a new service.
While the fees for moving funds between bitcoin and fiat currency are rather reasonable, it’s also true that the fees are sort of hidden in the exchange rate presented to the user. Some potential users may view this as a dealbreaker for the simple fact that they think the company should be more transparent about the fees being charged to users.
One last potential dealbreaker to consider is that the cashback rewards aren’t as high as some of the other cards on the market. Having said that, this crypto debit card also does not have its own proprietary token, and those kinds of tokens are usually heavily integrated in platforms offering high cashback rewards, effectively forcing users to hold a token they may otherwise not choose to hold.
Is the Uphold Mastercard Card Right for Me?
It bears repeating that the Uphold Mastercard card is still not easy to access. That said, this appears to be one of the best crypto debit cards on the market. Although the cashback rewards are not as high as some other crypto prepaid cards, the rewards program appears to be structured in a much more practical, sustainable manner. Additionally, the low fees and large variety of cryptocurrencies associated with this card should make it an attractive option for any cryptocurrency enthusiast.
If you’re living in the United States and able to gain access to this card, you may want to join the waiting list and try to get access to this card today. Additionally, users living in other countries are able to join a list to learn more about this card once it is available in more places around the world.
Uphold Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Uphold Mastercard card?
To get a crypto debit card from Uphold, you will first need to download the Uphold Card app. Once the app is downloaded, you can then start the sign-up process for the Bitcoin prepaid card. First, you’ll need to verify your phone number with Uphold. This is a familiar process that involves receiving a text message with a string of numbers in it and then inserting that string of numbers into the Uphold app. Once you’ve verified your phone number, you will then want to Connect your Uphold account. This process is completely by simply logging into your Uphold account from within the Uphold Card app. After that, you’ll be able to order your physical Uphold Mastercard card.
In terms of the Uphold Mastercard card itself, there are only two types of fees to worry about. First, you’ll need to pay a price of $9.95 just to get the card in the first place. This fee must be paid again in situations where are user’s card is lost or stolen and needs to be replaced. The other fee comes into play when you’re at the ATM. If you’re withdrawing cash from an ATM with your Uphold Bitcoin debit card, then you’ll pay a flat fee of $2.50. It should be noted that this fee rises to $3.50 for international ATM withdrawals.
On top of the fees associated with the Uphold Mastercard, you should also take a closer look at the fees involved in the base Uphold platform. The most notable fee here is the roughly 1% fee that is tied to exchanging bitcoin for U.S. dollars.
About the Author
CryptoVantage Staff
CryptoVantage.com is committed to simplifying cryptocurrency for everyday people. Learn more about CryptoVantage.com and our team on the About Us page.
