Image: Uphold
Uphold Debit Card review: fees, cashback and limits
A US Visa debit card paying 2% to 4% back in XRP, plus a free UK version.
Quick answer
Uphold's US Visa debit cards pay rewards in XRP. Essential is free (plastic card $4.99) with 2% back, capped at $120 a month. Elite costs $99.99 a year for a metal card with 4% back on crypto or metals-funded purchases and 3% on cash or stablecoins, capped at $300 a month, plus no FX or Uphold ATM fees. In the UK, a free Mastercard pays 1% back on GBP spending.
Uphold Card at a glance
| Best for | US residents who like XRP and spend enough to use the monthly reward caps. |
|---|---|
| Skip it if | You live in New York or Louisiana, or you don't want rewards in XRP. |
| Network | Visa (US). Mastercard (UK). |
| Card issuer | Cross River Bank (US) |
| Custody | Custodial. USD balances are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 at Cross River Bank. Crypto isn't insured. |
| Card type | Debit |
| Virtual or physical | Plastic (Essential) or metal (Elite) |
| Cashback | 2% to 4% in XRP (US) |
| Annual fee | Essential free. Elite $99.99 a year. |
| Apple Pay / Google Pay | Yes / Yes |
| Identity check (KYC) | Required |
| Where it works | US cards: all states except Louisiana and New York, not territories. A separate UK card is available in the UK. |
Uphold Card fees
| Card cost | Essential plastic card $4.99. Elite metal card free (one free replacement a year, then $29.99). |
|---|---|
| Annual or membership fee | Essential free. Elite $99.99 a year. |
| FX and cross-border | Elite 0%. Essential 1.5% (one Uphold table shows a $1.50 flat fee). |
| Crypto conversion | Spending crypto carries a spread of roughly 0.5% to 3% depending on the asset |
| ATM withdrawals | Elite $0 from Uphold. Essential $2.95. |
Visa and Mastercard apply their own exchange rates on top of any card markup. Check the fee page in the Uphold Card app for your country before you load money. To see what Uphold Card would cost you in a year compared with every other card, try the cost calculator.
What a $100 purchase costs with Uphold Card
These are Uphold Card's own fees on the Essential tier, before the card network's exchange rate and any ATM or top-up costs. Its FX markup of 1.5% is higher than the median of 1% across the 60 cards we track with a published FX fee, and cheaper than 18 of them. For a full year based on your own spending, use the cost calculator.
Where it ranks by our score: #7 of 20 in United States#11 of 20 in United Kingdom
Cashback and rewards
- Essential: 2% on eligible purchases, capped at $120 a month
- Elite: 4% on crypto or metals-funded purchases, 3% on fiat or stablecoin-funded, capped at $300 a month
- Paid in XRP within 10 business days of month end
- UK card: 1% back in GBP on GBP-funded purchases
| Tier | Price or requirement | Cashback | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | Free ($4.99 card) | 2% in XRP | Cap $120 a month, 1.5% FX |
| Elite | $99.99/year | 3% to 4% in XRP | Cap $300 a month, 0% FX, metal card |
Deposits and withdrawals
How to top up
- Spend USD, stablecoins, crypto or metals held on Uphold
- Bank transfers into Uphold
Fees: No top-up step. Spending non-cash assets includes a spread.
How to withdraw
- Bank withdrawals
- Crypto withdrawals
- ATM cash withdrawals
Fees: ATM free on Elite, $2.95 on Essential.
Supported assets: USD, stablecoins, crypto and precious metals on Uphold.
Where Uphold Card works
US cards: all states except Louisiana and New York, not territories. A separate UK card is available in the UK.
Not available in Louisiana, New York or US territories.
Limits and perks
Limits
- Essential: $2,500 a day, $10,000 a month
- Elite: $25,000 a day, $100,000 a month
Perks
- Elite: metal card, no FX fee, free Uphold ATM use
Pros and cons
What's good
- Up to 4% back in XRP
- FDIC-insured USD balances
- Spend crypto, metals or cash
- Elite has no FX or Uphold ATM fees
What's not
- Rewards only in XRP
- Monthly reward caps
- Elite costs $99.99 a year
- Not in New York or Louisiana
Our take on Uphold Card
Uphold relaunched its US debit card with rewards in XRP. The free Essential card pays 2% back, capped at $120 a month. Elite costs $99.99 a year and pays 4% on purchases funded with crypto or metals and 3% with cash or stablecoins, up to $300 a month, plus no FX fee and no Uphold ATM fee.
Reviewers estimate Elite pays for itself above roughly $420 of monthly spending. Remember the rewards arrive as XRP, so their value moves with the market, and spending crypto involves a conversion spread.
A strong US rewards card if you're happy to collect XRP. Pick Elite only if you'll spend enough to cover the fee.
How we scored Uphold Card: 6.6/10
MethodologyUphold Card FAQ
How much does the Uphold Debit Card cost?
Essential plastic card $4.99. Elite metal card free (one free replacement a year, then $29.99). Annual or membership fee: Essential free. Elite $99.99 a year.
Does Uphold Card have cashback?
2% to 4% in XRP (US). Essential: 2% on eligible purchases, capped at $120 a month.
What are the Uphold Card FX and ATM fees?
FX: Elite 0%. Essential 1.5% (one Uphold table shows a $1.50 flat fee). ATM: Elite $0 from Uphold. Essential $2.95.
Where is Uphold Card available?
US cards: all states except Louisiana and New York, not territories. A separate UK card is available in the UK. Not available in Louisiana, New York or US territories.
Is Uphold Card self-custody?
Custodial. USD balances are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 at Cross River Bank. Crypto isn't insured.
Sources
- SpendNode: Uphold card reviewUS tiers, fees, caps, UK card, Oct 8, 2026
- The Block: Uphold relaunches XRP rewards debit card in USRelaunch
We checked these sources on 16 October 2026. Fees and rewards change often. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction and we'll check it within two working days.
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