Uphold Relaunches Crypto Staking in the US as Regulations Ease

Cryptocurrency exchange Uphold has officially reintroduced crypto staking services in the United States, citing a more favorable regulatory climate that has emerged over the past year. This comes just a month after it resumed staking services in the United Kingdom.

The platform, which had previously suspended staking in response to uncertain enforcement actions by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), announced its return to the space on March 3, 2025. With this move, U.S. customers can now earn staking rewards on 19 digital assets, including Ethereum (ETH), Cosmos (ATOM), and Polkadot (DOT). Rewards will be distributed weekly, paid out in the same cryptocurrency that users stake.

Uphold’s decision follows a series of regulatory developments in the U.S., including the SEC dropping multiple crypto-related lawsuits, most notably against Coinbase. The easing stance of regulators has encouraged platforms like Uphold to re-engage with staking, which remains a key component of blockchain governance and economy.

Crypto-Friendly Outlook

Uphold initially halted its U.S. staking services in 2023, when regulatory uncertainty peaked under SEC Chair Gary Gensler. At the time, the agency argued that most staking providers failed to offer adequate disclosures regarding how user assets were protected.

The regulatory crackdown was felt across the industry, with major exchanges like Kraken forced to pay a $30 million fine over its crypto staking program. This prompted several platforms, including Uphold, to proactively suspend staking operations to avoid legal complications.

However, the landscape has now shifted. Uphold CEO Simon McLoughlin highlighted the arrival of more crypto-aware regulators, such as Hester Peirce leading the SEC’s crypto task force and Paul Atkins emerging as a frontrunner for the SEC Chair position. These changes, he said, signal a more pragmatic approach to digital asset regulation.

A Renewed Confidence in Crypto Staking

McLoughlin expressed optimism about the new U.S. stance on blockchain-based financial services, emphasizing that crypto staking plays a vital role in securing and governing blockchain networks. He noted that users should have the right to support network operations and earn rewards for doing so.

He also acknowledged that the SEC’s dropped case against Coinbase contributed to Uphold’s decision to bring back staking services.

As the U.S. regulatory environment continues to adapt to the growing crypto sector, Uphold’s move could signal a renewed era of mainstream staking adoption—one where exchanges can confidently offer such services without fear of arbitrary enforcement actions.