Exactly Protocol / ExaExa
67
Side-by-side card comparison
Exa vs Uphold US: overall score versus use-case fit
Uphold Card US has the higher Overall Score by 3 points (70 vs 67). Exa Card looks stronger for Funds control, Lowest fees, and Transfers, while Uphold Card US comes out ahead for Cashback and Travel.
Information checked Oct 14, 202644 official sources reviewed
01 · Overall score versus use-case fit
Uphold Card US is the better all-round starting point
Uphold Card US has the higher Overall Score in this comparison. Exa Card may be the better fit for Funds control, Lowest fees, and Transfers. A score cannot tell you whether a provider will accept your application or whether every feature will be available where you live, so check the latest provider terms before signing up.
OverallExa67Uphold US70Higher score
CashbackExa19Uphold US75Higher score
TravelExa62Uphold US71Higher score
Funds controlExa88Uphold US44Higher score
Lowest feesExa68Uphold US56Higher score
TransfersExa97Uphold US65Higher score
Choose Exa Card if funds control and lowest fees matter most
Exa Card comes out ahead for Funds control, Lowest fees, and Transfers in this comparison. It is worth a closer look if those are the parts of a card you expect to use most.
- Deposited assets can earn yield
- Spend balance or borrow USDC
- Self-custody on Exactly Protocol
Choose Uphold Card US if cashback and travel matter most
Uphold Card US comes out ahead for Cashback and Travel in this comparison. It is worth a closer look if those are the parts of a card you expect to use most.
- Essential has no annual fee
- Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Elite raises spending limits
Where each card has the edge
The overall leader does not win every use case, so the reason you want the card matters here.
- Overall Score
- Exa67Uphold US70
Uphold Card US has the higher Overall Score by 3 points.
- Entry cost & FX
- Exa$0 plan · 1.5% FXUphold US$0 plan · 0–1.5% FX
The starting plan and FX figures are tied, or the providers have not published enough matching information to name a lower-cost option.
- Purchase rewards
- Exa0% cashbackUphold US2% base · up to 4%
Uphold Card US has the higher published base cashback rate (2% vs 0%).
- Funds control
- ExaSelf-controlled walletUphold USCustodial balance
Exa Card uses a self-controlled wallet setup, while Uphold Card US uses a custodial balance setup. Neither approach is always better, so choose the level of control you are comfortable with.
- Everyday access
- ExaVirtual · Apple Pay, Google PayUphold USVirtual + Physical · Apple Pay, Google Pay
Uphold Card US lists more card formats and phone-wallet options (4 vs 3).
- Money movement
- Exa1 stablecoin · Stablecoin transfers; USD ACH bank payout, USD domestic wire payout, EUR SEPA bank payoutUphold US0 stablecoins · US bank withdrawal
Exa Card lists more stablecoins and ways to send money out (5 vs 2).
02 · Read the shortlist
A closer look at the split decision
Start with the strengths that drive each use-case result, then test them against costs and access.
67
- Cashback
- 0%
- Plan cost
- $0
- FX fee
- 1.5%
- ATM fee
- $1 + 0.65%
- Card formats
- Virtual
- Wallet payments
- Apple Pay, Google Pay
- Receive methods
- 5 crypto · 4 fiat
- Payout methods
- 1 crypto · 2 fiat
- Cashback
- 2%-4%
- Plan cost
- $0
- FX fee
- 0–1.5%
- ATM fee
- Essential: $2.95; Elite: $0
- Card formats
- Virtual, Physical
- Wallet payments
- Apple Pay, Google Pay
- Receive methods
- 0 crypto · 3 fiat
- Payout methods
- 0 crypto · 1 fiat
03 · Compare the details
See how the trade-offs line up
Comparable figures receive a marker; missing or unverified details stay visible instead of becoming an assumed advantage.
Best known Not disclosed
CardsExa CardOverall67Uphold Card USOverall70
Exa CardOverall67Uphold Card USOverall70Scores
6 fields- Overall Score
- Exa Card67Uphold Card US70
- Cashback score
- Exa Card19Uphold Card US75
- Travel score
- Exa Card62Uphold Card US71
- Funds control score
- Exa Card88Uphold Card US44
- Lowest fees score
- Exa Card68Uphold Card US56
- Transfers score
- Exa Card97Uphold Card US65
Strengths & trade-offs
2 fields- Strengths
- Exa CardDeposited assets can earn yield, Spend balance or borrow USDCUphold Card USEssential has no annual fee, Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Trade-offs
- Exa CardHeavy Exactly Protocol dependency, Pay Later needs DeFi literacyUphold Card USAsset sales can reduce rewards, Rewards have a disputed time window
Costs
7 fields- Plan cost
- Exa Card$0Uphold Card US$0
- FX fee
- Exa Card1.5%Uphold Card US0–1.5%
- Top-up fee
- Exa Card1%Uphold Card USACH: no deposit fee; external card: 3.99%
- Card spending fee
- Exa CardNot disclosedUphold Card USNot disclosed
- ATM fee
- Exa Card$1 + 0.65%Uphold Card USEssential: $2.95; Elite: $0
- Virtual card
- Exa CardFree with Exa WalletUphold Card USFree on both plans
- Physical card
- Exa CardNot availableUphold Card USEssential: $4.99 plastic; Elite: metal included in $99.99 annual plan
Plans
2 fields- Available plans
- Exa CardNot disclosedUphold Card US2 plans: Essential, Elite
- Top cashback plan
- Exa CardNot disclosedUphold Card USElite: 3%
Everyday use
8 fields- Network
- Exa CardVisaUphold Card USVisa
- Card formats
- Exa CardVirtualUphold Card USVirtual, Physical
- ATM withdrawals
- Exa CardAvailableUphold Card USAvailable
- Mobile wallets
- Exa CardApple Pay, Google PayUphold Card USApple Pay, Google Pay
- Apps
- Exa CardiOS, Android, WebUphold Card USiOS, Android
- Daily spending limit
- Exa CardDynamic / collateral-based; exact Exa App limit shown in appUphold Card USEssential: $2,500/day; Elite: $25,000/day
- Monthly spending limit
- Exa CardDynamic / collateral-based; exact Exa App limit shown in appUphold Card USEssential: $10,000/month; Elite: $100,000/month
- ATM limit
- Exa Card$250/withdrawal; $1000/dayUphold Card USEssential: $500/day, $2,000/month; Elite: $2,000/day, $10,000/month
Funding & transfers
5 fields- Networks
- Exa CardOptimismUphold Card USNot disclosed
- Crypto deposits
- Exa CardStablecoins: USDC; Other crypto: ETH, OP, WBTC, wstETHUphold Card USNot disclosed
- Fiat deposits
- Exa CardUSD ACH deposit, USD wire deposit, EUR SEPA deposit, Local currency depositUphold Card USLinked US bank account, USD bank transfer, External card deposit
- Transfers
- Exa CardStablecoin transfers; USD ACH bank payout, USD domestic wire payout, EUR SEPA bank payoutUphold Card USUS bank withdrawal
- Payout currencies
- Exa CardUSD, EURUphold Card USUSD
Rewards
3 fields- Base cashback
- Exa Card0%Uphold Card US2%
- Max cashback
- Exa Card0%Uphold Card US4%
- Reward currency
- Exa CardNo cashbackUphold Card USXRP
Earn
5 fields- Advertised APY
- Exa CardUp to 0.99776% APYUphold Card USNot offered
- How it works
- Exa CardEarn on spending balance, Borrow against collateralUphold Card USNot offered
- Separate deposit
- Exa CardNoUphold Card USNot offered
- Use balance for spending
- Exa CardYesUphold Card USNot offered
- Lock-up
- Exa CardNoUphold Card USNot offered
Trust & availability
7 fields- Custody
- Exa CardSelf-custodyUphold Card USCustodial
- Control until payment
- Exa CardYou keep controlUphold Card USProvider controls funds
- Card issuer
- Exa CardThird National Bank, Third NationalUphold Card USCross River Bank
- Card processing
- Exa CardExa Labs SASUphold Card USNot disclosed
- Custody / key management
- Exa CardNot disclosedUphold Card USUphold HQ Inc.
- Deposits & withdrawals
- Exa CardBridge, MantecaUphold Card USNot disclosed
- Programme operator
- Exa CardExa Labs SASUphold Card USNot disclosed
Sources
2 fields- Official sources
- Exa Card31Uphold Card US13
- Last reviewed
- Exa CardSep 6, 2026Uphold Card USOct 14, 2026
04 · The trade-off
Uphold Card US is the stronger all-round choice
Uphold Card US finishes ahead with an Overall Score of 70 versus 67 for Exa Card. The starting plan and FX figures are tied, or the providers have not published enough matching information to name a lower-cost option. Uphold Card US has the higher published base cashback rate (2% vs 0%).
Exa Card still comes out ahead for Funds control, Lowest fees, and Transfers, which may matter more than the overall result if that is how you plan to use the card. Exa Card uses a self-controlled wallet setup, while Uphold Card US uses a custodial balance setup. Neither approach is always better, so choose the level of control you are comfortable with.
Exa Card lists more stablecoins and ways to send money out (5 vs 2). Before applying, confirm availability in your country and recheck the provider's current fees and reward conditions.
If one card now looks like the better fit, you can check the latest application terms on the provider site or read our full Exa Card and Uphold Card US reviews first.
Continue with
Exa Card
Continue with
Uphold Card US
05 · Common questions
Exa vs Uphold US FAQ
Is Exa or Uphold US better overall?
Uphold Card US has the higher Overall Score (70 vs 67). That does not make it better for everyone: your preferred fees, rewards, way of holding funds and country availability can change the practical choice.
Which has lower fees, Exa or Uphold US?
The starting plan and FX figures are tied, or the providers have not published enough matching information to name a lower-cost option. Compare plan, FX, card-spend, top-up and ATM charges separately because one fee does not represent the full cost.
Which has better cashback, Exa or Uphold US?
Uphold Card US has the higher published base cashback rate (2% vs 0%). Maximum rates may depend on tiers, caps, categories or other conditions, so the entry rate and reward asset matter too.
How do Exa and Uphold US differ on custody?
Exa Card uses a self-controlled wallet setup, while Uphold Card US uses a custodial balance setup. Neither approach is always better, so choose the level of control you are comfortable with.
How current is this Exa vs Uphold US comparison?
The latest information check for these two cards was October 14, 2026, using 44 official sources in total. Each full card review lists its own check date, sources and anything the provider has not clearly disclosed.