9 ways to earn free crypto

Here are some legitimate ways you can earn free crypto and grow your digital wallet.

Top bonus and free crypto offers for December 2024

Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of cryptocurrency or any specific provider, service or offering. It is not a recommendation to trade.

Can I get free crypto? Yes. In fact, some earning methods may be easier than you think and require little to no effort, while others require a little investment of your time.

Always thoroughly research the project, website or app offering the free crypto. If high rewards are offered, and it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Make sure you're aware of the risks.

Phishing scams are particularly common in the crypto space, so be vigilant and never reveal any personal information or your seed phrase.

1. Trading platform promos and bonuses

Some crypto exchanges offer bonuses, promotions and sign-up incentives. You usually need to deposit money or make a trade to qualify, and incentives are typically small, so don't expect to earn big chasing deals.

Referral systems, such as those offered by Binance, CoinSpot, Block Earner, Swyftx, Coinstash and Digital Surge are popular ways to earn cryptocurrency when someone you refer signs up and trades. If the person you referred is an active trader, recurring trade fees can lead to significant long-term earning potential.

You can sign up for frequent newsletters, podcasts or social media pages to get updates on the latest offers and promotions. Stick to reputable platforms rather than chasing high yields from new or untrustworthy products.

CoinSpot
Get $20 BTC

Get $20 BTC when you make your first deposit. T&Cs apply.

eToro Crypto
Finder Exclusive: US$50 bonus
Best Rated Brand

Get a US$50 bonus when you buy at least US$500 in crypto. T&Cs apply.

Bitcoin.com.au
Get $10 BTC

Get $10 of Bitcoin when you verify your account. T&Cs apply.

Swyftx
Finder exclusive: Get $20 BTC
Finder Award

Sign up and verify your account for $20 BTC. T&Cs apply.

Independent Reserve
Get $10 BTC

Get $10 of Bitcoin when you verify your account. T&Cs apply.

Coinstash
Finder exclusive: Get up to $200 BTC
Finder Award

Get up to $200 BTC when you complete certain steps on sign up. T&Cs apply.

Digital Surge
Get $10 BTC

Receive $10 BTC on sign-up and verification. T&Cs apply.

Binance Australia
Get up to $100 USDT

Earn up to $100 USDT in rewards by completing welcome offer tasks within 7 days of sign up. T&Cs apply.

KuCoin
Get 100 USDT

Sign up and claim 100 USDT + 200 USDT trading coupon. T&Cs apply.

Block Earner
Finder exclusive: Get $25 crypto

Get $25 Free Crypto on first traded token with no min limits. T&Cs apply.

Cointree
Get $20 BTC

Get $20 BTC when you make your first trade. T&Cs apply.

Gate.io
Earn up to 40% commission

Invite friends and earn up to 40% commission. T&Cs apply.

2. Learn and earn

Learn crypto, earn crypto. A great way to earn free crypto is to participate in learning about crypto projects through a platform's educational hub. Some cryptocurrency platforms reward users for simply watching videos, reading articles and taking the odd quiz or two. As you progress through the platform's courses, you are rewarded with free crypto.

Popular learn and earn sites include Binance and Revolut.

Binance Australia
Binance Learn & Earn

Watch tutorials on select cryptos then take simple quizzes to earn small amounts. Earn once per quiz. T&Cs apply.

Revolut Cryptocurrency App
Revolut Learn & Earn

Earn crypto by learning about various coins and tokens in the Revolut app. Earn once per quiz. T&Cs apply.

3. Earn rewards with a crypto credit or debit card

Crypto debit cards allow you to spend your cryptocurrencies like regular fiat money in everyday transactions and may reward you for doing so. They work by converting your crypto holdings into fiat currencies at the time of purchase, allowing you to use your crypto for purchases wherever Visa or Mastercard are accepted.

The rewards system for crypto cards is similar to traditional rewards cards, except instead of earning redeemable points, you earn crypto. One popular crypto debit card is offered by Crypto.com, with rewards redeemable in its native token, Cronos (CRO).

4. Earn a return on crypto you already own

Earning a return on the crypto you already own can be a savvy move for investors who are comfortable holding an asset long-term and are looking to earn semi-passive returns.

By staking your cryptocurrency, you can earn yield on your holdings, typically paid out in the protocol's native currency.

Some exchanges and platforms also offer staking-as-a-service, which means they will stake the assets on your behalf and pass on most of the yield. While this is easier than staking on-chain, it involves trusting your assets to a centralised third party, as opposed to a transparent on-chain protocol.

Therefore, choosing reputable platforms and weighing the potential risks and rewards before investing is essential.

Yield Farming

For those looking to engage more actively, yield farming in the DeFi ecosystem presents an opportunity to potentially earn higher returns. This strategy involves lending or staking cryptocurrencies across various protocols to capitalise on the best yields.

While more lucrative, yield farming demands a deeper understanding of the DeFi space and active management, bearing risks such as impermanent loss.

Reputable platforms like Kraken and Block Earner in Australia provide avenues for both staking and exploring yield farming, balancing potential rewards against the risks involved.

Kraken
Earn yield with Kraken
Finder Award

Earn staking rewards on 16+ cryptocurrencies with Kraken

Block Earner
Earn yield with Block Earner

Earn yield on WBTC, ETH and USDC on Aave using your Block Earner account.

5. Play free games

Playing free games can be a fun way to earn free cryptocurrency. Several gaming platforms offer rewards in the form of cryptocurrency for playing games or completing missions or tasks.

For example, the game Axie Infinity allows players to earn its native token AXS by battling creatures in a virtual world. The Sandbox offers a creative and monetisation mix, allowing players to create, share, and monetise voxel assets and experiences in a virtual world. It supports the creation and sale of NFTs, with earnings paid out in SAND, its in-game currency. Other platforms are Illuvium, Gods Unchained and so on.

Similarly, the platform RollerCoin offers players the chance to earn Bitcoin, Ethereum and Dogecoin by playing games that simulate mining operations.

Other games, such as Balls King, Crypto Pop and Coin Hunt World, offer rewards for participating in competitions and trivia. While the rewards may be small, playing free games can be an entertaining way to earn crypto without spending any money.

Balls King - Earn Bitcoin

6. Use a browser extension

Browser extensions can be a convenient and easy way to earn free crypto while browsing the internet. Some extensions allow you to earn cryptocurrency by simply surfing the web or completing small tasks, such as watching videos or taking surveys.

One popular extension is the Brave Browser, which rewards users with its native token, Basic Attention Token (BAT), for viewing ads and visiting specific websites.

While the rewards may not be substantial, these browser extensions can provide a passive way to earn free crypto without any upfront investment.

Earn BAT rewards

7. Take part in an airdrop

Airdrops are a popular way to earn free crypto by holding a particular coin or token in your wallet. Airdrops are essentially free tokens that are distributed by blockchain projects to their users as a form of promotion.

To participate in an airdrop, you generally need to hold a certain amount of a specific cryptocurrency in your wallet and perform certain actions.

The blockchain project will then distribute its tokens to users who meet their requirements. Airdrops can be an excellent way to diversify your crypto holdings and potentially earn additional profits without investing any money upfront.

You can find trending and upcoming airdrops on a project's Twitter page, website or at airdrops.io.

See how to get crypto airdrops

Warning: beware of scams

While airdrops can be a great way to earn free cryptocurrency, it's essential to beware of airdrop scams. Scammers often create fake airdrops to steal users' private keys or personal information. To avoid falling victim to an airdrop scam, only participate in airdrops from reputable blockchain projects and never give out your private keys or personal information.

8. Perform micro tasks

Performing micro tasks is another common way to earn free coins and tokens. Several platforms pay users in cryptocurrency for completing small jobs, such as taking surveys, testing apps or completing online tasks.

If you have a lot of free time and this idea interests you, one popular microtask site worth checking out is Cointiply.

However, be vigilant in choosing reputable sites. Microtask sites are commonplace for scammers, and it can take a very long time to earn a redeemable amount of crypto.

Cointiply - Earn Real Bitcoin

9. Crypto cashback apps

There are now a small number of apps that pay you cash-back rewards in cryptocurrency. These work like traditional cash-back apps and reward you with cryptocurrency for making purchases or performing certain tasks.

One crypto cash back app gaining popularity in Australia is Shping which rewards you with Shping Coins for uploading receipts or bar codes. These coins can then be sold or traded for other crypto on exchanges like Coinbase.

Be aware of the risks

Although earning free cryptos can be an exciting prospect, several risks come with it. It's essential to consider these risks before embarking on any earning opportunities, as they can impact your potential returns and the security of your digital assets.

  • Scams. Fraudulent schemes are prevalent in the crypto industry, and it's crucial to be cautious and only participate in legitimate projects or websites.
  • Cost vs benefit. Some earning opportunities in the crypto industry yield only small amounts of cryptocurrency, which may not be worth the time and effort invested.
  • Tax implications. Tax laws surrounding crypto can be complex, and it's important to research and understand the tax implications of earning free coins and tokens.
  • Malicious smart contracts. One common scam is to encourage users to interact with a malicious smart contract in return for free crypto, or to qualify for a free airdrop or NFT. The goal of these smart contracts is to trick you into giving it permission to make transactions on your behalf. The scammers will then drain your wallet of all its funds. Make sure to only interact with smart contracts from wallets you trust, and never enable unlimited spending or lifetime permission.
  • Fake tokens. Sometimes scammers will airdrop you fake tokens that have the same name as a major project.

Compare exchanges

If you're interested in buying or selling cryptocurrencies instead, use the table below to quickly compare crypto exchange fees, fiat currencies, deposit methods and more. Once you've found the right fit for you, click Go to site to get started.

1 - 5 of 25
Name Product GXFCY Deposit methods Fiat currencies Cryptocurrencies Offer Disclaimer Go to site
Exclusive
EXCLUSIVE
CoinSpot
Bank transfer, Credit card, Cryptocurrency, Debit card, PayID

1

500

Get $20 in BTC when you make a deposit. T&Cs apply.
Go to site

Capital at risk

View details
Best Rated BrandExclusive
EXCLUSIVE
eToro Crypto
Bank transfer, Credit card, Debit card, PayPal, eToro Money

27

107

Get a US$50 bonus when you buy at least US$500 in crypto. T&Cs apply.
Go to site

Capital at risk

View details
OKX
Bank transfer, Credit card, Cryptocurrency, Debit card

1

301

Get $20 in BTC when you trade $100. T&Cs apply.
Go to site

Capital at risk

View details
Bitcoin.com.au
★★★★★(0)
OFFER
Bitcoin.com.au
Bank transfer, Credit card, Cryptocurrency, Debit card, PayID

1

30

Get $10 of Bitcoin when you verify your account. T&Cs apply.
Go to site

Capital at risk

View details
Finder Award
Kraken
Credit card, Cryptocurrency, Debit card, PayPal, PayID

7

295

Go to site

Capital at risk

View details
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Bottom line

There are numerous ways to earn free cryptocurrency, including playing games, staking and participating in airdrops.

However, it's crucial to be aware of the associated risks, such as phishing scams and fraudulent projects, and weigh these risks against the potential rewards. By doing thorough research, you can take advantage of these earning opportunities and grow your crypto account balance without large upfront investments.

Frequently asked questions

Disclaimer: Cryptocurrencies are speculative, complex and involve significant risks – they are highly volatile and sensitive to secondary activity. Performance is unpredictable and past performance is no guarantee of future performance. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before relying on this information. You should also verify the nature of any product or service (including its legal status and relevant regulatory requirements) and consult the relevant Regulators' websites before making any decision. Finder, or the author, may have holdings in the cryptocurrencies discussed.
Jaclyn Hurst's headshot
Written by

Assistant publisher

Jaclyn Hurst is an associate publisher and producer at Finder. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Redeemer University and a University Certificate in Management Foundations from Athabasca University. She’s as passionate about business and finance as she is about the great outdoors, organic Sumatra coffee and music. See full bio

Billy Endres's headshot
Co-written by

Cryptocurrency writer

Billy Endres was the cryptocurrency writer for Finder. He has a passion for Web3 and decentralisation technologies as well as cryptocurrencies. Billy’s background in software development helped open the door to the world of decentralised technologies, financial markets and technical writing. See full bio

Billy's expertise
Billy has written 16 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Web3 and decentralised technologies
  • Front-end development
  • Cryptocurrency futures trading and technical analysis
  • DeFi and on-chain analysis

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