7 Easiest Ways to Make Money With Crypto

The cryptocurrency market has matured considerably since its early days, and today there are numerous legitimate ways for anyone to earn money with crypto, without needing advanced technical knowledge or large capital investments. Whether one is looking to generate passive income, accumulate assets steadily, or explore innovative earning opportunities, the crypto ecosystem offers accessible entry points for beginners and experienced investors alike.

From staking rewards to play-to-earn gaming, the methods covered in this text represent some of the easiest and most practical strategies to make money with cryptocurrency in 2025. Each approach has unique characteristics, risk profiles, and earning potential, making it possible for individuals to choose methods that align with their financial goals, risk tolerance, and time commitment. This guide breaks down seven proven ways to earn with crypto, explaining how each works, what platforms to use, and what pitfalls to watch out for along the way.

1. Staking: Earn Passive Income by Holding Crypto

Staking has emerged as one of the most popular and straightforward methods for earning passive income in the crypto space. Rather than leaving digital assets idle in a wallet, investors can put their holdings to work and earn rewards, often with minimal effort required.

How Staking Works

Staking involves locking up cryptocurrency holdings to support the operations of a blockchain network that uses a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) or similar consensus mechanism. When users stake their coins, they’re essentially helping validate transactions and secure the network. In return, they receive rewards, typically paid out in the same cryptocurrency they’ve staked.

The process varies slightly depending on the blockchain. Popular staking coins include Ethereum (since its transition to PoS), Cardano, Polkadot, Solana, and Tezos. Staking rewards generally range from 4% to 15% annually, though rates fluctuate based on network participation, total amount staked, and protocol-specific factors.

Unlike traditional mining, staking doesn’t require expensive hardware or high electricity consumption. Most people can begin staking with relatively modest amounts of crypto, making it accessible to beginners. Some networks require minimum staking amounts or lock-up periods during which funds cannot be withdrawn, so it’s essential to understand the specific requirements before committing.

Best Platforms for Staking

There are three main options for staking crypto, each with distinct advantages:

Centralised Exchanges: Platforms like Crypto.com, Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken offer simple staking services where users can stake with just a few clicks. These platforms handle the technical aspects and often provide flexible terms, including the ability to unstake relatively quickly. But, users sacrifice some control since the exchange holds the assets.

Decentralised Staking Platforms: For those who prefer maintaining custody of their crypto, decentralised options like Lido and Rocket Pool allow staking whilst keeping assets more secure. Lido, for instance, issues liquid staking tokens that represent staked Ethereum, enabling users to earn staking rewards whilst retaining liquidity.

Wallet Apps with Staking Support: Non-custodial wallets such as Trust Wallet and Exodus have built-in staking features for multiple cryptocurrencies. This option strikes a balance between ease of use and maintaining control over private keys.

When selecting a staking platform, consider factors such as reward rates, lock-up periods, minimum staking amounts, security track record, and whether the platform is regulated or audited.

2. Crypto Savings Accounts: Interest on Your Holdings

Crypto savings accounts function similarly to traditional high-yield savings accounts, but with cryptocurrency. These platforms allow users to deposit their digital assets and earn interest over time, often at rates considerably higher than conventional banks offer on fiat currency.

The underlying mechanism is straightforward: platforms accept crypto deposits and then lend those assets to borrowers or use them in other yield-generating activities. The interest earned from these activities is shared with depositors. Interest rates vary widely depending on the cryptocurrency, platform, and market conditions, but they can range from 3% to 10% or more annually on stablecoins, and different rates for volatile assets like Bitcoin or Ethereum.

Crypto savings accounts appeal particularly to those holding assets long-term who want to generate additional returns without actively trading. The setup process is typically simple, requiring only account creation and a deposit. Interest often compounds and is paid out regularly, sometimes daily or weekly.

But, it’s crucial to understand that crypto savings accounts carry risks not present with traditional banks. Most aren’t covered by government deposit insurance schemes, and the platforms themselves can face liquidity issues, regulatory challenges, or security breaches. The industry has seen high-profile failures, making due diligence essential.

Top Platforms Offering Crypto Interest

Several platforms have established themselves as leaders in crypto interest accounts, though the landscape continues to evolve:

BlockFi: One of the earlier entrants, BlockFi offers interest-bearing accounts for various cryptocurrencies. The platform provides straightforward terms and has focused on regulatory compliance, though it has faced scrutiny and users should stay updated on its operational status.

Nexo: This European-based platform provides competitive interest rates and daily compounding. Nexo also offers flexible and fixed terms, with higher rates for those willing to lock up assets for set periods.

Binance Earn: The world’s largest exchange offers multiple savings products, including flexible savings (withdraw anytime) and locked savings (higher rates for commitment). Binance’s scale and liquidity provide some reassurance, though centralisation remains a consideration.

Crypto.com: Beyond its exchange and card services, Crypto.com offers crypto earn programmes with tiered interest rates based on the amount staked in their native CRO token.

Before depositing significant funds, research each platform’s security measures, regulatory compliance, insurance coverage (if any), withdrawal terms, and user reviews. Diversifying across multiple platforms can also help mitigate risk.

3. Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA): Consistent Long-Term Investing

Dollar-cost averaging represents a disciplined investment strategy that reduces the emotional and timing challenges inherent in crypto investing. Rather than attempting to time the market, which even experienced traders find difficult, DCA involves investing fixed amounts at regular intervals regardless of price movements.

Why DCA Reduces Risk

The cryptocurrency market is notoriously volatile, with prices capable of swinging dramatically within hours. This volatility creates psychological pressure, leading many investors to buy during euphoric peaks and panic-sell during crashes, the opposite of sound investing.

DCA addresses this by removing timing decisions from the equation. When prices are high, a fixed investment amount buys fewer coins: when prices drop, the same amount purchases more. Over time, this approach averages out the purchase price, potentially resulting in a lower average cost than attempting to time a single large purchase.

For example, someone investing £100 monthly in Bitcoin will accumulate more Bitcoin during bear markets and less during bull runs. If Bitcoin’s price averages out positively over years, the investor benefits without needing to predict short-term movements.

This strategy particularly suits those with long-term conviction in crypto’s potential who want to build positions gradually. It also reduces the regret and stress associated with investing a lump sum right before a market downturn.

Also, DCA enforces discipline and consistency, two qualities that separate successful long-term investors from impulsive traders. It transforms investing from an emotional event into a routine habit.

Setting Up Automated DCA

Most major cryptocurrency exchanges now offer features to automate DCA, making the strategy even more effortless:

Coinbase: The platform’s recurring buy feature allows users to schedule automatic purchases daily, weekly, fortnightly, or monthly. Users simply select the cryptocurrency, amount, and frequency, then the exchange handles the rest.

Binance: Through its Auto-Invest feature, Binance lets users create customised DCA plans for multiple cryptocurrencies simultaneously, with flexible scheduling and the ability to pause or modify plans.

Kraken: Offers recurring buy orders with competitive fees and support for numerous crypto assets.

When setting up automated DCA, consider starting with amounts that won’t strain one’s budget, consistency matters more than size. Many successful crypto investors began with modest weekly or monthly investments. It’s also wise to periodically review the strategy (perhaps quarterly) to ensure it still aligns with financial goals and market understanding, whilst avoiding the temptation to tinker constantly.

4. Crypto Cashback and Rewards Cards

Crypto cashback and rewards cards bring cryptocurrency earning into everyday spending. These products function like traditional cashback credit or debit cards, except the rewards come in crypto rather than fiat currency or points. For those already spending money on routine purchases, these cards offer a simple way to accumulate crypto without additional investment.

The concept is straightforward: users make purchases using their crypto rewards card, and a percentage of each transaction is returned as cryptocurrency, commonly Bitcoin, though some cards offer other options or proprietary tokens. Cashback rates typically range from 1% to 8%, depending on the card tier and whether users stake additional crypto with the platform.

These cards bridge traditional finance and the crypto world, allowing holders to use them anywhere that accepts Visa or Mastercard whilst steadily building crypto positions. The earning is truly passive, no research, trading, or active management required beyond normal spending.

But, users should approach crypto rewards cards thoughtfully. Some require staking significant amounts of the platform’s native token to unlock higher reward tiers. Cards may also carry fees, foreign transaction charges, or other terms that affect their value proposition. As with any credit product, responsible spending remains essential, earning 2% crypto cashback doesn’t justify unnecessary purchases or carrying debt.

Popular Crypto Rewards Programmes

Crypto.com Visa Card: One of the most popular options, this card offers tiered rewards from 1% to 8% cashback depending on how much CRO (Crypto.com’s token) users stake. Higher tiers include perks like Spotify and Netflix reimbursements, airport lounge access, and better cashback rates. The card works globally and delivers rewards instantly.

BlockFi Rewards Credit Card: Issued in partnership with Visa, this card provides Bitcoin rewards on purchases, 1.5% on all purchases and 2% on purchases after spending thresholds. Unlike some competitors, it doesn’t require staking crypto to access rewards, making it more straightforward for beginners.

Coinbase Card: Available in multiple regions, this debit card lets users spend crypto directly from their Coinbase account whilst earning up to 4% back in select cryptocurrencies. Users can choose which crypto they earn, adding flexibility.

Binance Card: Linked to users’ Binance accounts, this card offers up to 8% cashback in BNB (Binance Coin) depending on the amount of BNB held. It supports multiple fiat currencies and provides competitive exchange rates.

When choosing a crypto rewards card, compare cashback rates, staking requirements, annual fees, supported cryptocurrencies, geographic availability, and additional perks to find the best fit for individual spending patterns and goals.

5. Participating in Airdrops and Bounties

Airdrops and bounties represent opportunities to earn cryptocurrency with minimal or no upfront investment, making them particularly attractive for newcomers. These promotional activities allow blockchain projects to distribute tokens to users, often as part of marketing campaigns, community building, or rewarding early supporters.

Airdrops involve projects giving away free tokens to wallet addresses that meet certain criteria. Some airdrops are completely passive, users simply hold a particular cryptocurrency and automatically receive new tokens. Others require basic actions like following social media accounts, joining Telegram groups, or completing simple tasks. The value of airdropped tokens varies enormously: some prove worthless whilst others have generated substantial value for recipients.

Historically, several high-profile airdrops have made headlines. Early Ethereum users received valuable tokens from projects built on the network, and some airdrops have distributed tokens worth hundreds or thousands of pounds to eligible participants.

Bounties function similarly but typically require more active participation. Projects offer bounty rewards for specific contributions such as finding bugs, creating content, translating documentation, or spreading awareness on social media. These programmes allow people to earn crypto through skills like writing, design, coding, or community engagement rather than financial investment.

Whilst airdrops and bounties can be lucrative, they require caution. The space is rife with scams designed to steal private keys or personal information. Legitimate projects never ask for private keys, seed phrases, or upfront payments to claim airdrops.

How to Find Legitimate Airdrops

Navigating the airdrop landscape safely requires diligence and reliable information sources:

Follow Official Project Channels: Always verify airdrop announcements through projects’ official websites, Twitter accounts, Discord servers, or Telegram channels. Scammers frequently impersonate projects with similar names or fake accounts.

Use Dedicated Airdrop Platforms: Websites like Airdrops.io, CoinMarketCap’s airdrop section, and Airdrop Alert aggregate legitimate opportunities and provide details about requirements and deadlines. These platforms vet projects to some degree, though independent research remains advisable.

Join Crypto Communities: Reddit communities, Discord servers, and Twitter crypto communities often share and discuss new airdrop opportunities. Engaging with experienced community members helps identify promising projects and avoid scams.

Never Share Private Keys: Legitimate airdrops only require public wallet addresses. Anyone requesting private keys, seed phrases, or asking users to send crypto first is running a scam.

Create a Dedicated Wallet: Consider using a separate wallet for airdrop hunting to isolate any potential security risks from main holdings.

Research the Project: Before participating, investigate the project’s team, whitepaper, roadmap, and community presence. Quality projects with real utility are more likely to distribute valuable tokens than anonymous ventures with vague promises.

Whilst airdrops shouldn’t form the foundation of a crypto earning strategy, they can supplement other methods and occasionally provide unexpected windfalls for minimal effort.

6. Yield Farming and Liquidity Provision

Yield farming and liquidity provision represent more advanced earning strategies within decentralised finance (DeFi), offering potentially higher returns than simpler methods but carrying correspondingly greater risks. These approaches involve providing capital to decentralised protocols that help lending, borrowing, or trading.

Understanding the Risks

Before exploring yield farming, it’s essential to understand its risk profile, which differs significantly from safer strategies like basic staking or savings accounts.

Impermanent Loss: When providing liquidity to decentralised exchanges (DEXs) like Uniswap, users deposit pairs of tokens (e.g., ETH and USDC) into liquidity pools. If the relative prices of these tokens change significantly, liquidity providers can end up with less value than if they’d simply held the tokens, a phenomenon called impermanent loss. The loss becomes permanent if liquidity is withdrawn whilst prices remain divergent.

Smart Contract Risk: DeFi protocols run on smart contracts, code that, whilst audited, can contain bugs or vulnerabilities. Exploits have resulted in millions being stolen from various DeFi protocols. Users must trust that the code is secure and that developers have implemented proper security measures.

Market Volatility: Many yield farming opportunities involve volatile cryptocurrencies. Dramatic price swings can quickly erase profits or even result in losses, particularly when leverage is involved.

Platform Risk: Decentralised protocols vary in maturity, security, and track record. Newer platforms offering extremely high yields may be untested and prone to failure or exploitation.

Regulatory Uncertainty: The regulatory landscape for DeFi remains unclear in many jurisdictions, creating potential future risks.

Even though these risks, yield farming can generate attractive returns for those willing to research thoroughly, start small, and continually monitor positions. Many experienced crypto investors allocate a portion of their portfolios to yield farming whilst keeping the majority in safer strategies.

Beginner-Friendly Platforms

Several established DeFi platforms offer more accessible entry points for those exploring yield farming:

Uniswap: The largest decentralised exchange makes providing liquidity relatively straightforward. Users connect a Web3 wallet (like MetaMask), select a trading pair, and deposit equal values of both tokens. In return, they receive liquidity provider (LP) tokens representing their share of the pool and earn a portion of trading fees.

Aave: This lending protocol allows users to deposit crypto assets and earn interest as borrowers pay for loans. Aave is considered one of the more secure DeFi platforms, with multiple audits and several years of successful operation. The interface is user-friendly, and users can withdraw funds at any time.

Compound: Similar to Aave, Compound enables lending and borrowing with competitive interest rates. Users earn COMP tokens as additional rewards alongside lending interest, providing extra yield.

Curve Finance: Specialising in stablecoin trading, Curve offers lower impermanent loss risk than pools with volatile assets. It’s popular among conservative yield farmers wanting DeFi exposure with reduced volatility.

Beginners should start with small amounts, focus on established protocols with strong security track records, and consider stablecoin pools initially to minimise volatility and impermanent loss. Education is paramount, understanding how these protocols work before committing funds significantly reduces risk.

7. Play-to-Earn Gaming: Earning Whilst Playing

Play-to-earn (P2E) gaming represents one of crypto’s most innovative and engaging earning methods, merging entertainment with income generation. Unlike traditional gaming where players spend money without financial return, P2E games reward players with cryptocurrency or NFTs that hold real-world value and can be sold or traded.

The play-to-earn model works by integrating blockchain technology and crypto economics into gameplay. Players earn rewards through various in-game activities, completing quests, winning battles, breeding characters, or trading items. These digital assets are typically NFTs (non-fungible tokens) or native game tokens that players genuinely own and can sell on marketplaces.

For some players in developing economies, P2E gaming has evolved from a hobby into a meaningful income source. During the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous players in the Philippines and other countries earned more from games like Axie Infinity than from traditional employment, highlighting the model’s potential.

But, play-to-earn gaming isn’t passive income, it requires time, skill development, and often upfront investment in NFT characters or items. Many games demand daily participation to maximise earnings, and like other crypto investments, the value of earned assets can be volatile. Game economies can also become unsustainable if player growth slows, as many P2E models rely on continuous new player influx.

Prospective players should approach P2E gaming with realistic expectations. Whilst some have earned substantial amounts, others struggle to recoup initial investments, particularly if they enter when game token values are declining. Treating it as entertainment with earning potential, rather than guaranteed income, creates healthier expectations.

Top Play-to-Earn Games in 2025

Axie Infinity: Perhaps the most famous P2E game, Axie Infinity involves collecting, breeding, and battling creatures called Axies. Players earn Smooth Love Potion (SLP) tokens through gameplay, which can be sold on exchanges. Though it experienced an economic downturn after its 2021 peak, the game continues to evolve with new features and remains popular.

The Sandbox: This metaverse platform allows players to create, own, and monetise gaming experiences using NFTs. Players earn SAND tokens through participation, competitions, and creating content that attracts other users. Its partnerships with brands and celebrities have maintained strong interest.

Gods Unchained: A trading card game similar to Hearthstone, Gods Unchained rewards players with NFT cards that can be traded or sold. Competitive players earn rewards through ranked play and weekend tournaments, with skilled players earning valuable cards without upfront investment.

Illuvium: This AAA-quality open-world RPG combines stunning graphics with blockchain earning mechanics. Players capture creatures called Illuvials (NFTs) and compete in battles, earning ILV tokens and collectible assets.

Splinterlands: A digital card game with lower entry costs than many competitors, Splinterlands offers daily quests, ranked rewards, and tournaments. Its accessibility and active community make it popular for those exploring P2E gaming.

Before investing time or money into any P2E game, research its tokenomics (economic model), community health, developer track record, and long-term sustainability. Starting with free-to-play options or minimal investment helps gauge interest before committing significantly.

Conclusion

The cryptocurrency ecosystem offers diverse opportunities for earning money with varying levels of effort, risk, and potential returns. From the passive income of staking and crypto savings accounts to the consistent accumulation enabled by dollar-cost averaging, and from the everyday rewards of crypto cashback cards to the engaging possibilities of play-to-earn gaming, there’s genuinely something for everyone.

Each method discussed, staking, crypto savings accounts, DCA, rewards cards, airdrops and bounties, yield farming, and play-to-earn gaming, comes with distinct characteristics that suit different financial goals and risk profiles. Conservative investors might focus on staking and savings accounts with established platforms, whilst those comfortable with higher risk might explore yield farming’s potentially lucrative returns. Meanwhile, crypto cashback cards and DCA strategies allow anyone to participate without changing their existing financial habits dramatically.

The key to success in any of these approaches lies in education and caution. Understanding how each method works, recognising the associated risks, and conducting thorough research on platforms and projects before committing funds cannot be overstated. The crypto space, whilst offering tremendous opportunities, also harbours risks including volatility, scams, platform failures, and regulatory uncertainty.

Diversification across multiple earning strategies can help manage risk whilst maximising potential returns. Rather than putting all resources into a single method, spreading investments across staking, savings accounts, and perhaps small allocations to higher-risk opportunities creates a more resilient approach.

As the cryptocurrency landscape continues maturing into 2025 and beyond, these earning methods will likely evolve, and new opportunities will emerge. Staying informed, starting small, and gradually expanding involvement as knowledge grows represents the wisest path forward for those looking to make money with crypto in accessible, manageable ways.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest way to make money with crypto for beginners?

Staking is one of the easiest methods for beginners to earn passive income with crypto. It involves locking up your cryptocurrency holdings to support blockchain networks, earning rewards typically between 4% to 15% annually without requiring expensive hardware or technical expertise.

How does dollar-cost averaging reduce risk when investing in cryptocurrency?

Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) reduces risk by investing fixed amounts at regular intervals regardless of price movements. This strategy averages out purchase prices over time, buying more crypto when prices are low and less when high, eliminating the need to time the volatile market.

Can you earn cryptocurrency by using a credit card?

Yes, crypto cashback and rewards cards allow you to earn cryptocurrency on everyday purchases. Cards like Crypto.com Visa and BlockFi Rewards offer between 1% to 8% cashback in crypto such as Bitcoin or platform tokens, turning routine spending into crypto accumulation.

Are crypto savings accounts safe to use?

Crypto savings accounts carry risks not present with traditional banks, as most aren’t covered by government deposit insurance. Platforms can face liquidity issues, regulatory challenges, or security breaches, making thorough research on security measures, compliance, and user reviews essential before depositing funds.

What is impermanent loss in crypto yield farming?

Impermanent loss occurs when providing liquidity to decentralised exchanges and the relative prices of deposited token pairs change significantly. Liquidity providers may end up with less value than if they’d simply held the tokens, with the loss becoming permanent upon withdrawal during price divergence.

How much money can you realistically make from play-to-earn crypto games?

Earnings from play-to-earn games vary widely depending on time invested, skill level, and market conditions. Whilst some players in developing economies have earned meaningful income, others struggle to recoup initial investments. It’s best approached as entertainment with earning potential rather than guaranteed income.