Originally published on January 10, 2019 and updated on March 6, 2025

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As a growing asset class with a market cap of over $2 trillion, Bitcoin is reshaping how we think about money and wealth creation. Bitcoin offers opportunities for investors, entrepreneurs, and everyday users thanks to surging institutional adoption, maturing regulatory frameworks, and growing utility.

But how exactly do people earn money from Bitcoin? If you want to get in on the action, this guide will show you effective ways on how to make money with Bitcoin—whether you’re in it for the long haul or prefer a more hands-on approach. Let’s get started!

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Key takeaways

Here are several ways to make money with Bitcoin, including:

• HODLing
• Lending your Bitcoin
• Trading Bitcoin
• Bitcoin arbitrage
• Investing in Bitcoin-related financial products
• Binary trading

To earn Bitcoin, consider:

• Accepting it as payment
• Participating in affiliate programs
• Earning cashback on credit card purchases
• Using Bitcoin faucets and airdrops
• Micro jobs and pay-to-click websites
• Getting tips
• Taking jobs paying in crypto
• Joining the Bitcoin Talk forum
• Mining Bitcoin
• Debugging websites and systems
• Running a Lightning node
• Becoming a master node

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How to make money with Bitcoin

There are many options and choosing the best route isn’t always easy. To make things a bit simpler for you, we’ve compiled a list of ways to make money with Bitcoin:

1. Hold Bitcoin (HODLing)

The easiest way is to buy Bitcoin,  hold onto it, and wait for its value to rise. Why is this the case? Over the years, Bitcoin has seen massive price appreciation, and many investors swear by the “HODL” strategy. Bitcoin price surged in late 2024 when it surpassed $100,000 for the first time and early investors who held onto their Bitcoin realized massive gains.

Getting started with HOLDling

• If you’re new to this, the best move is to buy Bitcoin when prices dip. 
• Use a dollar-cost averaging (DCA) method. Buying small amounts consistently instead of trying to time the market helps smooth out volatility and avoids the stress of guessing when prices will rise or fall.
• Store your Bitcoin securely in a hardware wallet and enable two-factor authentication to protect your assets.

2. Lend out your Bitcoin

Want make money with Bitcoin passively? Lending your Bitcoin can be a great way towards this objective. Essentially, you let others borrow your Bitcoin in exchange for interest payments. Here are some approaches that you can use:

• Centralized crypto lending platforms: The easiest option is to use a centralized lending platform like Wirex, where you deposit your Bitcoin, and they handle everything. You get paid interest—typically between 2% and 12% annually—while the platform manages loans and risks. It’s convenient, but you do have to trust the platform to keep your assets safe.
• Decentralized finance (DeFi) lending: If you prefer a more hands-on, tech-savvy approach, DeFi lending might be for you. Platforms like Compound operate without intermediaries and often offer higher interest rates. However, there’s a catch—smart contract bugs, market crashes, or sudden liquidity issues can put your funds at risk. If you’re comfortable with blockchain tech, DeFi can be a rewarding (but riskier) option.
• Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending: Would you prefer to set your terms? P2P lending platform like Aave lets you negotiate interest rates, loan durations, and collateral directly with borrowers. This approach can yield higher returns but requires more effort and carries the risk of borrowers defaulting.
• OTC lending for large Bitcoin holders: If you’re dealing with significant amounts of Bitcoin, over-the-counter (OTC) lending might be worth exploring. This involves lending directly to institutional borrowers or wealthy investors through custom agreements. The potential returns are high, but so are the stakes—this method best suits experienced investors.

3. Trade Bitcoin

If you like the thrill of the market, trading Bitcoin might be your thing. It’s all about buying low and selling high. But as simple as that sounds, it requires strategy, analysis, and risk management. Here’s some ways to trade Bitcoin:

• Day trading: In this approach, you buy and sell Bitcoin within a single day, aiming to capitalize on small price movements. It’s fast-paced and requires constant market monitoring, technical analysis skills, and discipline. 
• Swing trading: Swing traders hold Bitcoin for days or weeks to capture larger price swings. This approach relies on technical analysis and market sentiment, balancing short-term gains and long-term strategy.
• Position trading: If patience is your strength, position trading might be a good fit. This long-term strategy focuses on Bitcoin’s broader trends, adoption, and macroeconomic factors rather than short-term price movements.
• Scalping: For those who thrive on quick decisions, scalping involves making dozens or even hundreds of small trades within a single day, profiting from tiny price changes. It’s high-speed and high-risk but can generate steady returns for skilled traders.

How to get started with  crypto trading

• Sign up with a reputable trading platform: You’ll need a reputable exchange, like Coinbase,  to trade Bitcoin. You can access trading tools and features once you sign up, complete the verification process, and fund your account.
• Understanding technical analysis: learn to read charts, identify support and resistance levels, and use indicators like moving averages, RSI, and Bollinger Bands. 
• Learn about risk management:  Set stop-loss orders to limit potential losses, diversify your portfolio, and—most importantly—stay level-headed. Emotional trading leads to mistakes.

4. Bitcoin arbitrage

Bitcoin arbitrage involves buying in one market and selling Bitcoin in another where the price is higher. Traders using this strategy— arbitrageurs—make money from the exchange price differences. Making money with Bitcoin with this method is simple in theory, but competition and fees can make it tricky in practice.

5. Invest in Bitcoin-related financial products

Plenty of investment products can do the job if you want exposure to Bitcoin without actually owning it. Here are some of the most popular options:

• Bitcoin futures: Futures let you bet on Bitcoin’s future price without holding any actual coins. You agree to buy or sell at a set price on a specific date, and if the market moves your way, you profit. Just be aware—futures trading can be risky if you’re not careful.
• Bitcoin trusts: Bitcoin trusts, like the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), hold Bitcoin for investors and issue shares that trade on secondary markets. These can be useful if you want exposure without managing private keys or wallets.

6. Try binary trading 

Binary trading has existed for a while, and Bitcoin is no exception. A call option profits if Bitcoin rises above a set price, while a put option pays off if it drops below. The best part? Your maximum loss is the premium you paid—so risk is limited.

Binary or options trading is basically placing a bet on whether Bitcoin’s price will be higher or lower at a specific time. If you’re right, you win a set payout. If not, you lose your investment. Making money with Bitcoin this way is simple but risky—more gambling than investing.

‼️Regulatory note: It is banned in the EU and Australia and restricted in the United States. It is high-risk and often predatory—avoid it unless fully informed.

How to get Bitcoin (sorted from easiest to hardest)

Knowing how people make money with Bitcoin is great. But how do you get Bitcoin in the first place? To get you started, we’ve listed the many ways you can get Bitcoin such as:

1. Buy Bitcoin

Purchasing is the easiest way to get Bitcoin since it’s simple and straightforward. In fact, you can buy Bitcoin in two different ways. 

Through peer-to-peer Bitcoin marketplaces like Paxful, you can buy your first Bitcoin from actual people and pay using over 500 payment methods with zero extra fees. You can use bank transfers, e-wallets, credit/debit cards, and more to get your hands on Bitcoin. 

You can also get Bitcoin by buying it from centralized exchanges (CEX). The process is a little easier through CEXs, but you’ll pay more because of the extra fees.

2. Accept Bitcoin payments for your store

If you’re a business owner selling products or services and looking to get Bitcoin, why not accept it as payment? With adoption skyrocketing over the past few years, many business owners have begun accepting BTC payments, and the list is growing daily. 

The best part is that it isn’t hard to incorporate Bitcoin into your business—you can even use your Paxful account to get started and make the most out of each transaction with the Lightning Network. If you’re running a physical store, all you need to do is put up a banner with a QR code for your Bitcoin wallet and wait for Bitcoin-friendly customers to respond. You can integrate intermediaries into your website if your business is run primarily online. 

Accepting Bitcoin payments only widens your reach and makes transactions more accessible to those without access to bank accounts and credit/debit cards. 

3. Participating in Bitcoin affiliate programs

Affiliate programs can be a solid option to get Bitcoin—especially if you’ve got an audience, marketing chops, or just a knack for sharing useful stuff.

First, find a reputable program that makes sense for your niche. There are plenty out there, but not all are worth your time. Do some digging to ensure they’re legit and offer commissions worth the effort.

Once you’re in, it’s all about promotion. How you do it depends on your strengths. Do you have a blog? Write reviews, tutorials, or deep dives on the platform and drop your referral link where it makes sense. More into social media? Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok can be goldmines for affiliate marketing if you know how to engage people without sounding like a sales pitch.

Many Bitcoin affiliate programs have tiered commissions, so the more people you bring in, the bigger your cut. If you play it right, this can turn into a solid income stream over time. Just keep it authentic—people can spot forced promotion a mile away.

4. Earn cashback on credit card purchases

Big-name payment companies are finally warming up to crypto, which means more ways to use Bitcoin in everyday life—like earning cashback on credit card purchases.

Take the BlockFi Rewards Visa® Signature Credit Card, for example. Instead of airline miles or boring reward points, you get Bitcoin. Every purchase earns you 1.5% to 3.5% cashback, which is automatically converted to BTC and dropped into your BlockFi account each month. No extra steps, no hassle.

Oh, and here’s a nice perk: no foreign transaction fees. So whether you’re grabbing coffee at home or booking a flight abroad, you won’t get hit with annoying extra charges.

5. Use Bitcoin faucets

Bitcoin faucets are websites or apps that hand out tiny amounts of Bitcoin in exchange for simple tasks—think captcha puzzles, watching ads, or clicking links. It won’t make you rich, but it’s easy to dip your toes into crypto without spending a dime.

Getting started is simple. First, find a reputable faucet, sign up, and complete tasks. The rewards usually come in satoshis (the smallest Bitcoin unit, equal to 0.00000001 BTC), and while it’s not a huge payout, it can add up over time.

6. Micro jobs and pay-to-click websites

Similar to Bitcoin faucets, some websites pay you in tiny Bitcoin fractions (a.k.a. satoshis) for completing simple tasks like clicking links, watching ads, or filling out surveys. 

Platforms like Coinpayu offer thousands of small gigs that pay in Bitcoin. It won’t make you rich, but it’s an easy way to get Bitcoin if you have some downtime.

7. Get tips

If you’ve got knowledge to share—or just a knack for entertaining tweets—you might be able to earn Bitcoin tips. Twitter has a built-in tipping feature that lets followers send you BTC, so stepping up your content game could pay off (literally).

Platforms like Twitch don’t have built-in Bitcoin tipping options, but viewers can still support you with crypto by using third-party platforms like NowPayments. Whether you’re dropping gaming highlights, sharing tutorials, or just chatting with your audience, tips can be a nice bonus.

8. Take jobs that pay in Bitcoin

Bitcoin adoption has come a long way, and these days, some companies pay full salaries in BTC. If you’re not ready to commit to a full-time crypto paycheck, freelance gigs are another great way to earn Bitcoin. Websites like LaborX and CryptoJobs connect freelancers with crypto-friendly employers, so if you’ve got skills, there’s a good chance you can get paid in BTC.

9. Join the Bitcointalk forum

If you’re serious about learning more—and maybe even earning Bitcoin—Bitcointalk is worth checking out. Launched by Bitcoin’s mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, it’s one of the oldest and largest Bitcoin forums, packed with discussions on everything from mining to market trends.

But here’s where it gets interesting: If you’re an active, high-quality contributor, you can get Bitcoin for posting. 

Once you’ve built enough authority, you can land sponsored signatures, which means companies will pay you to promote their services in your forum posts. Of course, this isn’t a quick cash grab—you’ll need to put in the work, post valuable insights, and earn the community’s trust.

10. Catch website and system bugs

Do you love coding and problem-solving? Many Bitcoin exchanges and marketplaces offer bug bounty programs where you can earn rewards for spotting vulnerabilities in their systems. Not only do you get paid, but you’re also helping to keep platforms safe from attacks.

11. Run a Lightning node

Did you know Bitcoin transactions can be almost instant? That’s thanks to the Lightning Network, which speeds up transactions and reduces fees. But here’s the cool part—you can earn Bitcoin by running a Lightning Node.

By setting up a node, you help process payments on the network and collect small transaction fees in return. It’s not the most lucrative way to earn, but it dramatically improves Bitcoin’s scalability. Plus, it’s a great way to support decentralization while earning passive income.

12. Mine Bitcoin

Bitcoin mining can be profitable—but it’s not as simple as setting up a computer and watching the BTC roll in. It takes serious hardware, electricity, and technical know-how to make mining worthwhile.

How to mine Bitcoin

First, you’ll need specialized hardware called ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits)—machines built specifically for mining Bitcoin. Regular computers or even high-end gaming rigs won’t cut it.

Once you’ve got your ASICs, it’s time to set up your mining operation. That means:

• Connecting your hardware to a power source and the internet
• Installing mining software to manage your ASICs, track performance, and optimize settings
• Joining a mining pool (because solo mining isn’t realistic anymore)

What is the most significant factor in whether mining is profitable? Electricity costs. Mining eats up a ton of power, and if you’re paying high rates, your profits will disappear fast. To make it work, you’ll want to mine in a cold region with cheap electricity—or consider alternative setups like renewable energy sources.

Mining isn’t for everyone, but if you’re up for the challenge, it can be a fascinating way to get Bitcoin while supporting the network.

Final thoughts

Bitcoin opens up plenty of ways to make money—whether you’re playing the long game with HODLing or earning passive income through lending. But remember, bigger rewards usually come with bigger risks. Do your research, stay cautious, and never invest more than you can afford to lose.

Making money with Bitcoin isn’t just about strategy—it’s about staying informed, adapting to the market, and making smart moves.

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