How to Make Money on Coinbase

Want to learn how to make money on Coinbase? 🤑 Our expert guide covers 10 ways to make money on Coinbase, from staking to NFTs and more.

Coinbase is one of the most popular crypto exchanges globally, and it offers investors many opportunities to make money from crypto on a user-friendly, secure exchange. We’re covering 10 different strategies to make money on Coinbase. Let’s go!

10 ways to make money on Coinbase

• Coinbase Wallet quests

• Stake with Coinbase Earn 

• Earn stablecoin rewards

• Become a Coinbase affiliate

• Get a Coinbase sign-up bonus

• Earn cash back with a Coinbase card

• Save on fees with Coinbase One

• Get into DeFi with Coinbase Wallet

• Get creative with Coinbase NFTs

• Short and long-term trading on Coinbase

Coinbase Wallet Quests

Coinbase Wallet Quests is a hands-on crypto learn and earn program that gives rewards for completing simple on-chain actions like swapping tokens, minting NFTs, or staking crypto, all directly in the Coinbase Wallet app. Anyone with the mobile app or browser extension can join, and setup only takes a few minutes. Each quest pays out in crypto or NFTs, with support for networks like Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and Solana. New quests drop often, and you can find the latest ones in the app’s “Quests” section.

Stake with Coinbase Earn

Coinbase lets you stake certain cryptocurrencies through Coinbase Earn, where you lock up your coins, help secure Proof of Stake networks, and earn rewards in return.

As of January 2024, you can stake 15 different coins, including ETH, SOL, ADA, DOT, AVAX, and POL, with reward rates ranging roughly from 4% to 13%, depending on the network. Payouts vary too, from minutes to days, depending on the blockchain.

That said, availability isn’t guaranteed. U.S. regulators have been scrutinizing crypto staking platforms, and Coinbase has had to suspend staking in some states. Always check if it’s supported in your location before diving in.

Earn stablecoin rewards

Coinbase also offers earning opportunities for customers holding USDC, a stablecoin developed by Coinbase, which is tied to the value of the U.S. dollar.

UDSC reward rates vary depending on your location and account type, but usually sit between 2% to 4% APY, which is a stark contrast to the meager interest rates offered by traditional banks for fiat currency right now. 

Coinbase funds these interest rewards from its own resources to promote increased usage of the stablecoin. So, take advantage of this opportunity to maximize your earnings with USDC on Coinbase!

Become a Coinbase affiliate

Coinbase’s crypto affiliate program lets you earn money in return for signing up new Coinbase users through your unique affiliate link.

To participate, simply apply for Coinbase's affiliate program, and upon approval, you can strategically place your affiliate link on your website or within your content. Each time users register through your affiliate link, you'll pocket a generous 50% of their trading fees for their first three months.

It's worth noting that Coinbase tailors its affiliate program to content creators with substantial outreach. Whether you run a thriving business, manage a popular blog, host a podcast, run a YouTube channel, or maintain a newsletter, this crypto affiliate program presents an excellent opportunity to make money with Coinbase.

Get a Coinbase sign-up bonus

Not made a Coinbase account yet? One way to make money with Coinbase is to sign up!

At the time of writing, Coinbase offers a sign-up bonus of potentially up to $200 worth of cryptocurrency.

To claim your sign-up bonus, all you have to do is create a Coinbase account and make a cryptocurrency purchase. Following this, you'll have the opportunity to spin a wheel and unveil your sign-up reward, which can range from $3 to $200 in either USDC or BTC.

Earn cash back with a Coinbase card

Coinbase has its own crypto debit card that allows customers to earn cashback when they spend crypto/ 

At the time of writing, Coinbase cashback rewards range from 1% to 2% on all your purchases. You can even pick the crypto you’d like to receive these rewards as, including BTC, ETH, or USDC.

Save on fees with Coinbase One

Though this is more of a saving strategy than a money-making strategy, it’s still well worth knowing. Coinbase One can help frequent traders save a bundle on trading fees on Coinbase.

Coinbase One is a subscription service. For $30 a month, you’ll get benefits like $0 trading fees, account insurance, phone support, and more. 

Of course, this isn’t for everyone. But if you’re spending more than $30 a month in trading fees (around $800 volume), then Coinbase One pays for itself. 

Get into DeFi with Coinbase Wallet

Although it’s not the exchange itself, if you’re looking for more investment opportunities, Coinbase Wallet can help. 

DeFi offers the potential for transparent, peer-to-peer lending that may yield higher returns compared to centralized investments. When you supply your cryptocurrency to lending protocols, you can earn rewards for lending to borrowers. To get started, you'll need a crypto wallet compatible with DeFi applications, and Coinbase Wallet is one of the best crypto wallets around. 

Get creative with Coinbase NFTs

Coinbase NFT offers a marketplace where you can engage in the buying, selling, and creation of NFTs.

Both creating and trading NFTs can prove to be lucrative. And you can mint and sell your creations right on the Coinbase NFT marketplace, giving you significant exposure to millions of other Coinbase users. 

Of course, the Coinbase NFT marketplace isn’t the only popular NFT trading platform. Other platforms like OpenSea and Rarible remain popular for both NFT creators and investors.

Invest and hodl or develop a short-term trading strategy

Although crypto is a speculative investment, many of the crypto millionaires you hear about didn’t buy crypto for short-term gains; they bought and held for the moon… and it paid off. Coinbase launches new tokens and coins regularly, so you should always research new projects to see if you like the sound of them. 

Holding isn’t your only option, however. You can also develop short-term trading strategies to help you navigate different market conditions. You can start learning more in our bull market strategies guide and our bear market strategies guide.

How to register for a Coinbase account

Ready to start making money on Coinbase? Registering for a Coinbase account is a breeze. 

Remember, you must be at least 18 years old and have a government-issued ID to complete the process! Here’s how:

1. Visit the Coinbase website and find the signup option (top right corner)

2. Provide your personal details, including your email address, phone number, date of birth, address, and the last four digits of your social security number

3. Verify your email and phone number

4. Upload a clear photo of your government-issued ID

5. Once your information is reviewed and your identity is confirmed, you'll gain access to trading on Coinbase! Be patient, though; the verification process may take up to 72 hours

Can I withdraw cash from Coinbase?

Yes. ​​You can withdraw your crypto to a non-custodial wallet as well as withdraw your fiat currency in Coinbase to a linked bank account. 

Given the last couple of years of exchange collapses, it’s super important you trust your crypto exchange. Coinbase has a strong reputation for security, as well as providing proof of reserves. 

Understanding Coinbase: A quick overview

Coinbase, established in 2012, stands as a user-friendly crypto-exchange platform. It operates as a fully licensed and regulated cryptocurrency exchange broker, serving customers in over 100 countries worldwide, including prominent regions like the US, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Belgium, and Cyprus.

In the United States alone, Coinbase caters to users in more than 40 states and territories. With a subscriber base exceeding 35 million users, Coinbase ranks as one of the largest digital currency exchanges globally.

Coinbase has remained a market leader since its inception, boasting a strong security record, as well as a strong customer focus. 

Are my Coinbase earnings taxable?

Yes. Crypto is subject to tax, wherever you live. You’ll generally pay either Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax, depending on your transaction. You can use a crypto tax calculator to help figure out your Coinbase taxes.

Koinly can help you calculate your Coinbase tax liability in a snap. Just connect via single sign-on or by uploading a CSV file, and Koinly will calculate your Coinbase income, gains, losses, and more, before generating your crypto tax report to help you file with your tax office.