What if I told you there are ways to earn extra Bitcoin or get off zero if you don’t own any? Whether you are just starting to stack sats or a Bitcoin veteran, here are 5 ways to add more BTC to your freedom stash.
In the summer of 2021, we published our original 5 Top Ways to Earn Free Bitcoin. Three years later, we are back with an updated Top 5 list for June of 2024. Let’s get into it…
Benefits of earning free Bitcoin in 2024
Benefits of earning free Bitcoin in 2024 are twofold:
Riskless initial exposure: Bitcoin can be a big leap for some—its legendary volatility can scare the pants off even the most seasoned investors. Starting with small allocations earned for free, you can begin your Bitcoin journey without fear of losing your pants to emotional decision-making.
Skin in the game: It’s hard to learn about Bitcoin without having skin in the game. Once you start earning and accumulating Bitcoin, you will be much more incentivized to actually dive in and see what it’s all about. As many big name Bitcoiners like to say: Bitcoin allocations scale with knowledge and understanding.
1. Bitcoin Faucets
Earning Potential: Low
Category: Miscellaneous
Location: Global
Company: None
Cost: Free
How do Bitcoin faucets work?
Bitcoin faucets are websites or applications that dispense small amounts of Bitcoin, known as Satoshis, to users in exchange for completing simple tasks.
These tasks include completing:
surveys
viewing ads
playing games
watching videos
Fun Fact: The first Bitcoin faucet was in 2011. The original Bitcoin faucet used to give away 5 whole Bitcoin — worth about 40 cents USD each at the time.
5 BTC is Worth: $336,209.50 today
Pros and cons of using Bitcoin faucets
Pros:
Bitcoin faucets allow you to earn small amounts of Bitcoin without putting your hard-earned money to work.
A great place to learn about Bitcoin and market behavior without fearing volatility and loss.
Cons:
Bitcoin earnings are relatively meager compared to the time spent completing these tasks.
Risk of encountering scams, with some faucets designed to siphon personal information.
If faucets do not use the Lightning Network, there is also a risk that your small stack of Bitcoin could be stuck on the platform indefinitely due to network fees.
Tips for maximizing earnings from Bitcoin faucets
To maximize earnings, users may want to try many different applications to determine which are most worth their time expenditures.
Consistency is key to stacking enough to withdraw on Bitcoin’s base network, so if you see one advertising using the Lightning Network, you can reduce your risk of getting stuck.
Here’s a list of legitimate Bitcoin faucets we’ve compiled:
Cointiply: This is one of the most popular Bitcoin faucets, offering multiple ways to earn Bitcoin. It also has a loyalty bonus and a high payout system.
FreeBitco.in: This site offers a chance to earn free Bitcoin every hour, up to $200 worth of BTC.
Faucet Crypto: It has a loyalty program and supports over 25 coins for payouts.
Bitcoinker: This faucet rewards users for solving captcha puzzles and allows frequent claims, collectively offering around 100,000 Satoshis every five minutes.
Fire Faucet: Users can earn auto rewards by viewing video ads and completing daily surveys. It supports multiple cryptocurrencies and has been operational for over six years.
sMiles: This application offers Bitcoin rewards for walking, shopping, playing games, and taking surveys.
Small and simple tasks that can be completed quickly, typically through online platforms.
Freelancing refers to independent work in which individuals offer specialized skills and services on a per-task or project basis.
How to find micro tasks and freelance opportunities that pay in Bitcoin
We Are ₿itcoiners, We Are Satoshi. Bitcoiner Jobs helps connect Bitcoiners with Bitcoin-only companies. Many of these jobs will pay you in Bitcoin when hired.
There are a couple ways to achieve this: Freelance contracts through a Bitcoin company and/or getting hired by a Bitcoin company. Whether you’re a hairstylist, social media manager, or handyman, you can now earn Bitcoin for your services.
If you’re a freelancer, create an account on platforms like Cash App and have customers send you Bitcoin through the app. Either have them scan your QR code or use the tag associated with your profile (this will begin with $).
Transactions are instantaneous since everything happens within Cash App’s internal system.
All jobs listed stem from bona fide Bitcoin-only companies. Most, if not all, are willing to pay in Bitcoin, with many freelance and full-time gigs to choose from.
Pros and cons of earning Bitcoin through micro tasks and freelancing
Pros:
Provide a low barrier to starting your stack with a lot of flexibility compared to traditional full-time roles.
Many different jobs and tasks to choose from, and it may be an excellent way to start dipping your toes into the space and build a Bitcoin resume.
Cons:
Do not provide the same protections and benefits as traditional employment avenues — you’re not going to be seeing health insurance and paid time off in this sector.
Payments are taxable, and with Bitcoin’s volatility, earners need to plan ahead, or they may see themselves selling at a loss in order to cover unexpected tax burdens.
Typically remote in nature, individuals must compete on a global scale, which, in turn, can drive down earnings potential.
What is affiliate marketing, and how does it work?
Affiliate marketing apps like Lolli and Fold are great ways to earn free Bitcoin.
Lolli earns you Bitcoin cash back by linking your credit card and activating cash-back boosts when you spend money with certain companies. They also allow you to earn Bitcoin cash back by shopping with their partner companies through the app.
In addition to the free daily stack on the Lolli-app, earn Bitcoin back on purchases by adding their extension to your browser. When you’re on a Lolli partner site, the extension will turn green to signal it’s active (stay logged in to see this). The best part of the extension is free.
Here are some of the retailers that partner with them:
Expedia
Chewy
Sephora
Nike
Adidas
Bloomingdale’s
Fold users earn cash back by purchasing gift cards or using Fold’s prepaid debit card. Both applications also have a daily reward function, which allows you to earn small amounts of Bitcoin by simply pressing a button.
How to find and join affiliate programs that pay in Bitcoin
Lolli and Fold are easy and free to join. Simply visit their websites or download their applications and sign up — then you’re off to the races with stacking.
Pros and cons of earning Bitcoin through affiliate marketing
Pros:
Lolli and Fold allow you to earn Bitcoin cash back on purchases you were already going to make, making it perhaps the easiest way to earn free Bitcoin we’ve discussed yet.
Cons:
The library of partner companies changes frequently and may be difficult to track.
Boosts can only be activated prior to spending, so if you forget to go through the apps, you can lose out on earnings even if your cards are linked.
Referral programs generally involve companies creating a unique code or link for their customers to use to refer others to their product or service.
Swan Force, for example, requires registration but allows Swans to earn Bitcoin every time they successfully refer someone to the site.
“If anyone signs up with Swan Bitcoin through your promotional link, they’ll get $10 of free BTC (an offer available only to U.S. residents), and you will earn 25% of their Bitcoin fees for their first year of Bitcoin purchases.”
Tips for finding and participating in referral programs for Bitcoin
Pro Tip: In addition to Swan Force, Lolli and Fold have their own referral programs, allowing you and your friends to earn more Bitcoin when they join the team.
Earning Bitcoin through online gaming has become increasingly popular, offering gamers a way to receive Bitcoin rewards for their playtime and achievements. One of the standout companies in this space is Zebedee, which has significantly innovated how gamers can earn Bitcoin.
Zebedee’s app stands out with its innovative feature that rewards users with Bitcoin for playing over 100 eligible mobile games. This integration not only allows gamers to earn Bitcoin by simply engaging with their favorite games but also marks a substantial step towards the fusion of gaming and digital currencies.
Risks and benefits of using online games to earn Bitcoin
Benefits:
If you’re into gaming to relieve some stress occasionally, why not try to earn some Bitcoin while you’re at it?
Adding hard money may just give you the excitement boost you need after a hard day’s work in the Matrix. And who knows? You may learn something about Bitcoin while you’re at it.
Risks:
Gaming addiction is one of the most serious conditions preventing large muscles and suntans in modern Western society.
Be sure you’re paying attention to your health trying to stack those free sats.
Also, never download games from an unknown source — they may prove to be privacy and security concerns on your devices down the road.
Tips for responsible and profitable use of online games for Bitcoin
If you’re going to use games to earn Bitcoin, treat it as an exploration rather than a job. Remember, there’s an entire world of grass and sunlight out there just waiting to be touched.
Buy. Hodl. Withdraw to self custody. Repeat ad-infinitum. This is your final warning.
Mickey Koss became a freelance writer in the Bitcoin space in an attempt to build a proof of work portfolio for when he left the Army. He graduated from West Point with a degree in Economics before serving in the Army for nearly a decade. He became orange pilled in graduate school and is now a regular contributor to Forbes, Bitcoin Magazine, and Bitcoin News. He’s been on popular podcasts such as BTC Sessions’ Why Are We Bullish, and is a regular on Café Bitcoin.
Drew
Drew, a class of 2013 Bitcoiner, is a Research Analyst for Swan Bitcoin.
He has worked in institutional VC/PE, FinTech, and DLT consulting for over six years. He also brings over twelve years of experience working with national nonprofits and start-ups in education and software development in several leadership roles.
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