EU CRYPTO REGISTER · MIGRATION GUIDE · LAST VERIFIED 18 July 2026

How to migrate from Uphold to a MiCA-authorised exchange

Uphold is not in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised CASPs. From 1 July 2026, providers not in the register may not lawfully serve EEA residents. This guide walks through the migration: status check, decision criteria, four authorised alternatives, five-step process, and the common pitfalls.

What is Uphold's MiCA status right now?

Uphold does not currently appear in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised CASPs (last refreshed 18 July 2026). From 1 July 2026, Article 59 of Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 makes it unlawful to provide crypto-asset services to EEA residents without MiCA authorisation.

In ESMA register?	No (as of 18 July 2026)
MiCA enforcement	1 July 2026
Days remaining	0
Your action window	Verify withdrawal capacity now; do not wait for the final week

Should you migrate from Uphold?

Three questions decide whether to migrate now or wait. The default after 1 July is that you cannot continue using Uphold for EEA-resident transactions in its present form; the question is only how disruptive your specific exit will be.

What is your asset mix? If you hold mainstream assets (BTC, ETH, USDC, EURI), migration is mechanical. If you hold tokens specific to Uphold or thinly-traded altcoins, convert first inside Uphold before withdrawing.
What is your withdrawal capacity right now? Test withdrawal from Uphold this week with a small amount. If it works in normal time and fees, you have flexibility. If it does not, escalate to Uphold support before the deadline window tightens.
Do you need derivatives access? Most MiCA-authorised CASPs do not yet offer perpetual futures or options (these fall under MiFID II, not MiCA). If derivatives are essential, you need to plan for two venues: a MiCA-authorised spot exchange and a MiFID-authorised derivatives venue.

Which MiCA-authorised exchanges are the closest alternatives to Uphold?

Authorised CASPs ranked by overlap with Uphold's typical feature set. Each link opens that exchange's register profile.

Provider	Home Member State	Authorised	Services
Alaric Securities	Bulgaria	22 December 2025	9: Custody, Exchange for funds, Exchange for crypto, Order execution, Placing, Order R&T, Advice, Portfolio management on crypto-assets, Transfer services
NOEMON TECH LTD	Cyprus	29 June 2026	9: Custody, Exchange for funds, Exchange for crypto, Order execution, Placing, Order R&T, Advice, Portfolio management on crypto-assets, Transfer services
Bankhaus Scheich Wertpapierspezialist AG	Germany	7 August 2025	9: Exchange for funds, Exchange for funds, Order execution, Order execution, Placing, Order R&T, Advice, Exchange for crypto, Portfolio management on crypto-assets
OKX	Malta	27 January 2025	9: Custody, Operating a trading platform, Exchange for funds, Exchange for crypto, Order execution, Placing, Order R&T, Portfolio management on crypto-assets, Transfer services

How do you migrate from Uphold to a MiCA-authorised exchange?

A five-step process. Read it through before starting. The order matters: small test transfer before bulk withdrawal, account closure last.

Verify your account's contracting entity

Open Uphold's Terms of Service from the account you actually use. Find the named legal entity in the document - it is usually in the opening paragraph. The contracting entity determines which legal regime applies to you; an authorisation held by one group entity does not automatically extend to another.
Choose a MiCA-authorised destination

Pick an authorised CASP from the alternatives section above. Closer service overlap with what you used on Uphold makes the transition cheaper and faster. Alaric Securities, NOEMON TECH LTD, Bankhaus Scheich Wertpapierspezialist AG are reasonable starting points. Open the new account, complete KYC, and verify deposit addresses before moving anything.
Run a small test transfer

Transfer a small amount (10-50 EUR equivalent in BTC, ETH or USDC) from Uphold to Alaric Securities. Confirm it arrives, confirm the address belongs to the right network (Ethereum vs Tron vs Solana for USDC, etc.), and confirm the new exchange's balance shows it. The fee on this test is the cheapest insurance in this process.
Bulk-migrate the remaining balance

Once the test transfer confirms, move the rest. If you have multiple assets, batch transfers per network when possible to consolidate fees. Move fiat balances (EUR) via SEPA where supported - SEPA transfers from Uphold typically take 1-3 business days. Keep both accounts open until reconciliation completes.
Close the old account and update records

Once balances on the new exchange match what you withdrew, submit a formal account-closure request to Uphold. Save final statements for tax filing. Update any DCA or recurring-buy automations to point at the new exchange. Cancel saved card details from the old account.

What can go wrong when migrating from Uphold?

Withdrawal congestion in the final weeks. Expect higher fees, longer settlement times and possible KYC re-verification requirements in the run-up to 1 July 2026. Acting in May or early June avoids the bottleneck.
Trapped balances in inaccessible tokens. Tokens not listed on any MiCA-authorised exchange may be hard to move. Convert exotic positions to a top-50 asset (BTC, ETH, USDC, EURI) before migrating, even if you take a small spread cost.
Tax events on swaps. Converting one crypto to another to facilitate migration is typically a taxable disposal in your home Member State. Track cost basis carefully or consult a tax advisor before high-volume conversions.
Self-custody pitfalls. Migrating to a hardware wallet is a valid alternative to migrating to another exchange - but recovery-phrase mistakes are common. Test small first; verify the recovery process before moving the bulk.
Phishing during transition. Migration windows are heavily phished. The official destination URL for an authorised exchange is the one published on its register entry, not the one pushed to you in email or DM.

What else do users ask about leaving Uphold?

Can I keep using Uphold after 1 July 2026 if I do not act now?

Under MiCA Article 59 from that date forward, a provider not in the ESMA register may not lawfully offer crypto-asset services to EEA residents. The practical outcome depends on whether Uphold (a) obtains authorisation in time, (b) exits the EEA market, or (c) attempts to rely on reverse solicitation under Article 61, which ESMA's December 2024 guidelines read very narrowly.

Will I lose my crypto if I do not migrate?

Not automatically. Most unauthorised exchanges will provide a withdrawal window; some may force-migrate balances to a partner authorised exchange (as Bybit did for French users to Coinhouse). However, withdrawal windows can shorten without warning. Acting before late June 2026 is the conservative choice.

Is this article financial advice?

No. This is informational content based on the public regulatory record. The Crypto Register has no commercial relationship with any listed exchange. Consult a financial or tax advisor for advice specific to your portfolio.

What if Uphold secures authorisation between now and 1 July?

You will see Uphold appear in the ESMA register. The Crypto Register refreshes the register weekly and this page is dated; check the date at the top before acting. An authorisation does not retroactively un-do the value of acting early - the inconvenience cost of being prepared is low; the cost of being trapped is high.

How do I verify a destination exchange is actually authorised?

Use <a href="/eu/find">our facet pages</a> to filter the ESMA register by service or jurisdiction, or check the entity directly at the <a href="https://www.esma.europa.eu/esmas-activities/digital-finance-and-innovation/markets-crypto-assets-regulation-mica" rel="noopener" target="_blank">ESMA register</a>. Make sure the legal entity in the destination exchange's Terms of Service matches the entity in the register.

Which sources is this guide built on?

This guide is informational, not financial or legal advice. The Crypto Register has no commercial relationship with Uphold or with any listed alternative. Last verified 18 July 2026.