If you are new to cryptocurrencies and don’t know anything about them, I strongly suggest you read this previous post that has a series of 5-minute videos for beginners explain what bitcoin and blockchain technology is before you purchase anything.
There are five ways you can buy and earn cryptocurrencies:
- Using the Brave browser
- Using online and in-store purchase apps
- On-boarding service
- Bitcoin ATMs
- Crypto Exchanges
Browsing Online
Yes, you can earn cryptocurrency by browsing online using the Brave browser. Actually, it’s an optional, opt-in feature where you earn BAT (Basic Attention Tokens) for up to receive 5 small pop-up ads per hour (as small Windows notifications.) You can use your BAT to tip your favorite content creators and websites, or convert them to your currency or even bitcoin.
Even if you don’t elect to receive ads, the Brave browser does a fantastic job of blocking ads and trackers with its built-in features. You can download it here.
Online and In-Store Purchase Apps
If you shop online, there are rebate apps that you can use that will earn you bitcoin and points that can be redeemed in bitcoin. It’s a great way to passively accumulate and acquire bitcoin.
Using the chrome extension Lolli, you earn rebates for online purchases (similar to Rakuten.) They are currently partnered with over 1,000 retailers, including Wal-Mart, Hotels.com, Old Navy, Priceline, Gap, Macy’s and more.
You will only eventually need a bitcoin wallet to withdraw earnings (I recommend either Exodus or Coinami.)
Pei App
Using the Pei App, you earn points with off-line and online retailers (like Target, 7-Eleven, Subway, Dominos Pizza, McDonalds, Petco, Uber, Lyft and more.) You can then redeem the points for retailer gift cards, payment via PayPal, or BITCOIN. They also have a chrome extension (which you can install in the Brave browser as well.)
Sign up HERE, and use referral code “tiny1” and earn $2.50 for signing up
Fold App
Using the Fold App, you earn points when you purchase gift cards from your favorite retailers (INCLUDING AMAZON!)
Onboarding Services
Abra – Website | Twitter – Sign up and buy…
Coinbase – Website | Twitter – Sign up and buy $150 of any combination of cryptos, and you and I both get $10 of free bitcoin
Hodlit – Website
ATMs
You can purchase bitcoin and numerous other cryptocurrencies using bitcoin ATMs. The fees are higher than if you were to use an online or app-based on-boarding service, but the benefit is that you do not need to link a bank account and you can turn cash directly into cryptos.
Start by locating an ATM near you using CoinATMRadar
Bitcoin Depot – Website | Twitter | Sign up using and spend $150, and you and I both receive $15 of free bitcoin
Bitstop – Website
Coinme (via Coinstar Machines) – Website
Digital Mint – Website
Additional
Here is a good reference page from CoinCentral
You can also earn cryptocurrency by mining using your laptop or desktop PC
For mining, the Honeyminer is the easiest way to begin using your laptop or desktop PC to begin mining. You download the software, register with an email address, and click an icon to begin mining. The beauty of Honeyminer is three-fold: 1) The software automatically determines what coin to mine based on the hardware of your machine, 2) every day, the miner switches to the most profitable coins to mine (again, based on your hardware), and 3) the payouts are in bitcoin (not in the coin that is mined.)
Minergate is a decent option, but you are paid in the coin that you mine, and you need to be a little technical, and download the wallet of the given coins. I would recommend using either the Exodus wallet for PCs, or Coinami for smartphones and PCs.
