Recently, many people have been asking how to make money with cryptocurrencies. In fact, quite a few people still think you can only profit by trading. However, making money with crypto is far more than that. Today, I’ll lay out 10 methods I’ve learned about—some are completely free, while others require you to invest. It’s up to you to choose.

First, let’s talk about the free options. Claiming an air drop should be the easiest way to get started. Projects simply give you tokens for free, in two forms: active and passive. Active options require you to complete certain tasks—such as registering or interacting on-chain. Passive options are simpler: you just need to hold a certain coin to receive rewards. This approach is best for beginners who are just getting started. After all, it costs nothing, but it can be time-consuming.

There’s also the “X to Earn” model, including Play to Earn and Move to Earn. In simple terms, you earn coins by completing tasks or playing games. Projects like Axie Infinity and STEPN are quite popular. This method is fun, but it usually requires you to buy equipment, and as more people join, the rewards tend to decrease.

SocialFi is also a solid choice. You can earn platform token rewards through social activities such as creating content, liking, and commenting. If you have followers or strong content-creation skills, this path can work. However, the token prices on these platforms are often mediocre, and lesser-known creators usually find it hard to receive tips or donations.

Another method is creating NFTs. Some people have sold NFTs of their selfies for substantial prices. In theory, anyone can do it, but in reality it’s difficult to sell without fame or artistic talent.

The methods that can truly generate more stable income depend on these options. Mining with mining hardware is a more traditional approach: using professional mining rigs to mine coins like Bitcoin and Litecoin. This method has relatively stable output and is considered passive income, but it requires high upfront costs and a long payback period.

DeFi mining doesn’t require mining rigs. Instead, you earn rewards by providing liquidity to DEXs, or by collateralizing and borrowing on lending platforms. Platforms like Uniswap and Compound have related products. This method offers generous rewards, but it requires a lot of professional knowledge and also carries significant risk—especially because collateralized borrowing requires you to be careful about liquidation risk.

Holding coins to earn interest is the simplest. It’s like putting money in a bank: deposit your coins on a platform to earn interest. The process is straightforward and the risk is low, but the returns are also relatively low. Sometimes the interest doesn’t even fully offset losses from a drop in coin prices.

Buy low, sell high is the most basic trading approach. You just register on an exchange, complete real-name verification, deposit funds, and then buy and sell. This method has a low barrier, but it requires some trading knowledge and patience. If you want to hold coins long-term, even beginners can get started. At the moment, Bitcoin is quoted at 77.52K US dollars, Ethereum at 2.14K US dollars, and Dogecoin at 0.10 US dollars—these are all mainstream coin options.

Futures contracts are a high-risk, high-reward strategy. With only a small amount of margin, you can trade with leverage and take both long and short positions. It can be exciting, but the risk is definitely very high—you can easily get liquidated. It also demands strong psychological resilience.

Finally, there’s arbitrage—buy low and sell high across different exchanges to profit from the price difference. This method has low risk and stable returns, but opportunities are relatively limited. It requires fast hands, and you also need to calculate fees carefully, otherwise you might end up losing money.

Overall, there are many ways to make money with cryptocurrencies. The key is to find the one that best fits you. If you have time but no capital, go for “free-money” opportunities. If you have capital and want stability, mine or hold coins for interest. If you’re willing to take risks, then trading may be for you. No matter which option you choose, as long as it can make money and the risks stay within what you can handle, it’s a good method.