Uphold Reintroduces Staking Services Following SEC Policy Shifts

TLDR

• Uphold has resumed crypto staking services in the US on March 3, 2025, allowing customers to earn rewards on 19 different cryptocurrencies
• The company had previously halted US staking in 2023 due to SEC regulatory concerns and enforcement actions
• The relaunch follows recent changes in US crypto regulation and the SEC dropping several crypto-related cases
• CEO Simon McLoughlin cited new crypto-aware regulators and a “blockchain-forward environment” as key factors
• Customers can now stake major cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, Cosmos, and Polkadot with weekly reward payouts

Cryptocurrency exchange Uphold has restarted its staking services in the United States after a two-year pause. The company made the announcement on March 3, 2025, marking a return to the US market.

US customers can now earn staking rewards on 19 different cryptocurrencies. The list includes major digital assets like Ethereum, Cosmos, and Polkadot.

The exchange will pay out rewards weekly. Users will receive their earnings in the same cryptocurrency they have staked.

This relaunch follows Uphold’s return to staking services in the United Kingdom. The UK restart happened in early February 2025.

Uphold CEO Simon McLoughlin explained the company’s previous exit from US staking. The decision came in 2023 due to unclear regulations and the SEC’s enforcement actions.

The SEC, under Gary Gensler’s leadership, had raised concerns about staking services. They focused on what they saw as inadequate customer disclosures about asset protection.

During that period, the SEC took strong action against other exchanges. Kraken faced a $30 million fine over its staking program.

These regulatory pressures led many exchanges to stop their US staking services. Uphold chose to halt its program rather than risk regulatory problems.

Policy Changes

The current revival comes amid changes in the US regulatory environment. McLoughlin pointed to new presidential administration policies and different approaches to crypto regulation.

He praised new regulators who understand blockchain technology. McLoughlin mentioned Hester Peirce, who leads the SEC crypto task force.

The CEO also noted Paul Atkins as the likely new SEC Chair. These changes have created what McLoughlin calls a “blockchain-forward environment.”

The SEC’s decision to drop several crypto-related lawsuits influenced Uphold’s return. This included cases against Coinbase, the largest US crypto exchange.

Uphold sees staking as essential for blockchain networks. McLoughlin stated that users should be able to support and earn from this activity.

The company now offers weekly reward payments. These come in the same cryptocurrency that customers choose to stake.

Users can select from 19 different cryptocurrencies for staking. Each asset has its own reward rate and terms.