How to Invest in Bitcoin and Make Money

If you want to learn how to invest in Bitcoin and make money in 2026, check out our guide for 10 tried and tested strategies to research to get that Bitcoin bag. 💰

Curious about how to make money with Bitcoin? You’re not alone. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to profit from Bitcoin, whether you’re just starting out or already an experienced investor. In this guide, we’ll explore 10 tried and tested strategies to research to help you invest in Bitcoin and make money, each with a breakdown of how it works, its level of difficulty, and the potential returns.

1. Buy and hold Bitcoin (HODLing)

The simplest and most popular way to make money with Bitcoin is to buy it and hold it for the long term. This strategy is based on the idea that Bitcoin’s price will increase over time, despite short-term fluctuations. Long-term investors, often called "HODLers," focus on the big picture and resist the temptation to sell during market dips.

• Difficulty: Easy

• Potential return: Varies depending on how long you hold and the market price when you sell. Historically, Bitcoin has had impressive growth, but with large peaks and dips in between.

2. Day trading Bitcoin

If you prefer a more hands-on approach, crypto day trading might be for you. Day traders buy and sell Bitcoin within short timeframes (often the same day) to capitalize on price changes. This strategy requires you to stay glued to market charts and make quick decisions, so it’s not for the faint-hearted. However, you can use crypto trading bots to automate a lot of trades.

• Difficulty: Hard

• Potential return: High, but the risk of loss is just as great. Success depends on your market analysis and timing.

3. Swing trading

Swing trading is like day trading but over longer periods, ranging from a few days to a few weeks. This method allows traders to benefit from larger price swings without the pressure of constantly monitoring the market. It’s a good option if you want to profit from Bitcoin’s volatility without the stress of day trading.

• Difficulty: Medium

• Potential return: Medium to high, depending on how well you predict market trends and time your trades.

4. Bitcoin mining

Mining Bitcoin involves using powerful computers to validate transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain and earn BTC in return. While this was once a popular option for individual miners, it’s now dominated by large mining farms due to the rising difficulty and high costs of electricity and equipment.

• Difficulty: Varies depending on setup; solo mining is very difficult, but Bitcoin mining pools are relatively easy.

• Potential return: Varies. Mining can still be profitable for those with access to cheap electricity and efficient hardware. However, it requires a significant upfront investment in a Bitcoin mining machine.

5. Accept Bitcoin payments

If you run a business or do freelance work, why not start accepting Bitcoin as payment? Many platforms, like BitPay and Coinbase Commerce, make it easy to set up Bitcoin payments. By accepting Bitcoin, you can reach a global audience and potentially benefit from Bitcoin’s price increases if you hold onto the payments.

• Difficulty: Medium, mostly due to the tax considerations of getting paid in Bitcoin.

• Potential return: Varies based on how much Bitcoin you receive and its price movements. If Bitcoin rises in value after you receive it, you could see significant gains.

6. Invest in Bitcoin startups

The crypto industry is once again booming, and there are plenty of Bitcoin-related startups to invest in via Bitcoin stocks, just as you'd invest in traditional stocks. These companies might be working on blockchain technology, crypto exchanges, wallets, or other innovations. If you invest early in a promising startup, the returns could be substantial if the company takes off.

• Difficulty: Medium

• Potential return: High, but comes with the risk that the startup may fail. Thorough research is key to finding good opportunities.

7. Lend Bitcoin

Bitcoin lending allows you to earn passive income by lending your Bitcoin to others in exchange for interest payments. Platforms like Nexo offer interest rates on Bitcoin deposits. However, crypto lending platforms have custodial and technical risks.

• Difficulty: Medium

• Potential return: Average of 5-15% APY, and higher, but with the risk of losing your investment if the platform collapses, as was the case with Celsius.

8. Bitcoin affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing allows you to earn commissions by promoting Bitcoin-related products and services. Many crypto exchanges and wallets offer affiliate programs where you can earn a percentage of the sales or sign-ups you refer.

• Difficulty: Medium

• Potential return: Varies depending on the affiliate program. Some offer up to 45% commission, making it a potentially lucrative option if you have an audience.

9. Earn Bitcoin with faucets

Bitcoin faucets are websites or apps that reward users with small amounts of Bitcoin for completing simple tasks, such as watching ads or solving captchas. While the payouts are small, faucets are a good way to earn Bitcoin without any investment.

• Difficulty: Easy, but beware of scams

• Potential return: Low. Faucets typically pay small amounts, so don’t expect to get rich, but it’s an easy way to get started.

10. Use Bitcoin rewards cards

Several crypto credit cards now offer rewards in Bitcoin instead of traditional points or cash back. For example, you can earn a small percentage of your purchases in Bitcoin, which can add up over time. This is a low-effort way to accumulate Bitcoin as you spend.

• Difficulty: Easy

• Potential return: Low to medium. Most cards offer around 1-5% back in Bitcoin, but as Bitcoin’s value increases, so do your rewards.

Don’t forget the tax bill

If you make money with Bitcoin, you’ll have a tax bill in most instances. Bitcoin is generally subject to capital gains tax or income tax, depending on your transactions and where you live. You can learn more in our crypto tax guides and sign up to Koinly to easily calculate your Bitcoin taxes automatically.