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6 Great Ways to Earn FREE CRYPTO in [2021]

Crypto On-Ramp — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 11:26:19 +0000

Crypto prices are rocketing, but it's not too late to get in on the action.

If you have been watching the price of Bitcoin, Ethereum and various altcoins recently, you will know that we are now in the full flow of a crypto bull market. For many, there will be a temptation to 'FOMO' into the market for 'Fear Of Missing Out'; for others, the concern that they may have missed the boat now that crypto prices are reaching all time high valuations. But fear not - you can still build a portfolio of cryptocurrencies at no cost! If you take advantage of all the opportunities listed below and you are patient, there is genuine value to be accrued. In this guide, you will be introduced to 6 easy ways to earn free crypto in 2021.

How can I earn free Crypto?

There are many articles on the web offering suggestions about how to earn free cryptocurrency, but most of them are either outdated or misleading. Theoretically you can still mine Bitcoin, but the days that this activity led to free Bitcoins are long gone. The hardware and energy costs are prohibitive and you’re competing with major Chinese corporations mining on an industrial scale. That ship sailed long ago!

Similarly there are other opportunities if you already hold a portfolio of cryptocurrencies or if you are tech savvy enough to exploit the more complicated methods in the crypto space. I’m guessing though that the reason you are here reading this page is that you are new to the cryptosphere and that you have arrived at Crypto On-Ramp because you are looking for a simple and helpful explanation of how to get started. Good choice. So what I have included here in this article are the ways in which you can actually earn free crypto, taking advantage of simple and uncomplicated opportunities, here and now in 2021.

How do you get free Cryptocurrency in 2021?

Let’s start with how you can earn free cryptocurrency while you browse the web.

1. Brave

Brave is a free and open-source web browser developed by Brave Software, Inc. and based on the Chromium web browser. If you want to earn free crypto in the form of Basic Attention Tokens (BAT), use Brave as your default browser. You earn free BAT cryptocurrency and genuine value while you surf the web – it’s that simple.

Because it’s built on Chrome, Brave is virtually identical in performance and stability, but it’s also the most private, most secure and possibly fastest browser out there. Brave blocks ads and website trackers, and provides a way for users to send cryptocurrency contributions in the form of Basic Attention Tokens to websites and content creators.

Once you have the browser, turn on Brave Rewards to earn your BAT tokens for viewing privacy-respecting ads. You can set the number of ads you see per hour, up to a maximum of 5. I recommend you set at the maximum to generate the most free crypto.

How much is BAT token worth?

By signing up for Brave Rewards, you’ll be earning BAT (Basic Attention Token), which is a credible and successful crypto ERC-20 token, and already trades in a number of pairs including USD/BAT. BAT is currently a top 100 cryptocurrency, sitting at #71 on Coinmarketcap. BAT currently trades at around $0.44 and has a market cap of over $659 million at the time of writing.

You will need to open a wallet account at Uphold to receive and store your BAT and link your wallet to Brave, but it’s a simple and secure process that Brave walks you through. Uphold has plenty of other functionality as a digital and crypto wallet, but you could just use it for this purpose and then transfer your BAT to another wallet, such as Metamask, MyEtherWallet or even to Coinbase, if you prefer.

Download Brave and start earning free crypto

2. Presearch

Presearch is a decentralised search engine that is built on the Ethereum blockchain. Presearch is powered by a network of decentralised nodes, which provide the computing resources to power the Presearch Engine. Anyone can operate a node, which can be installed on any computer or server that supports Docker, and users running nodes are also rewarded with additional PRE tokens. As Presearch is decentralised, it is powered by the community, for the community.

For those who are fed up with all the adverts on Google, using Presearch enables you to search privately, receive better results and get rewarded with free PRE cryptocurrency: an ERC-20 token on the Ethereum blockchain. These rewards - in the form of PRE tokens (the Presearch cryptocurrency) - are provided to searchers to incentivise them to switch to the Presearch Engine from Google and other search engines. The Ethereum blockchain enables PRE token holders to easily transfer, sell, buy and store their PRE tokens, as well as view all transactions on the network in an open, transparent manner (e.g. on Etherscan).

How much is PRE token worth?

PRE is currently a top 500 cryptocurrency, sitting at #447 on Coinmarketcap. PRE currently trades at around $0.08, up 5925% from its price in November 2019, and has a market cap of over $31 million at the time of writing.

What is Keyword Staking?

Finally, Presearch offers a really cool feature of ‘Keyword Staking’. The Presearch keyword staking platform enables advertisers to bid on keywords using PRE tokens to have their ads displayed. Just like on Google, where companies and individuals can pay for priority positioning on their chosen keywords, those who stake or commit the most PRE tokens to a keyword will have their ad displayed.

Download Presearch and start earning free PRE cryptocurrency

COR Tip: Install the Brave browser and the Presearch engine together to earn free crypto every time you surf the web. It’s an absolute no brainer and has the advantage of removing all that annoying advertising from your online experience!

3. Pi Network

Pi is another new and exciting project in the crypto space that allows users to mine its native Pi tokens free and at low energy on their smartphones. The Pi Network has been developed by a group of Stanford PhDs and although we have been through the first halving, having passed 10 million users, it’s still a great time to get in early and to mine free crypto. They have just moved to phase 2 by launching testnet and it is expected that Pi will soon be used for commercial purposes as apps and dApps are developed on the platform.

Pi’s mission is to build a cryptocurrency and smart contracts platform secured and operated by everyday people. As the world becomes increasingly digital, cryptocurrency is a next natural step in the evolution of money. Pi has positioned itself as the first digital currency for everyday people, representing a major step forward in the adoption of cryptocurrency worldwide.

The Pi core team set out to build the world’s most inclusive peer-to-peer marketplace, fuelled by Pi, which they hope will become the world’s most widely used cryptocurrency. That explains why they found a way to allow everyday people to mine Pi and earn cryptocurrency rewards for validating transactions on a distributed record of transactions.

Currently Pi tokens cannot be traded and have no market price as the network is still in beta. However that will likely change in 2021 and the economic model plans to strike a balance between creating a sense of scarcity for Pi, while still ensuring that a large amount does not accumulate into a very small number of hands (like Bitcoin!). Pi wants to ensure that users earn more Pi as they make contributions to the network. Pi’s goal is to build an economic model that is sophisticated enough to achieve and balance these priorities while remaining intuitive enough for people to use.

In contrast to Bitcoin, which created a fixed supply of only 21 million coins for the entire global population, Pi creates a fixed supply of Pi for each person that joins the network up to the first 100 Million participants. In other words, for each person that joins the Pi Network, a fixed amount of Pi is pre-minted. This supply is then released over the lifetime of that member based on their level of engagement and contribution to network security. The supply is released using an exponentially decreasing function similar to Bitcoin’s, over the member’s lifetime.

In summary, Pi makes crypto mining easy. Breakthrough technology allows you to mine free crypto on your phone without draining your battery. Furthermore, if you spread the word and set up a network of trusted friends who are also mining Pi, it increases your mining rate. All you need is an invitation from an existing trusted member on the network. As a reader of Crypto On-Ramp, you can join the Beta and download the mobile app here and start earning today! Use the invitation code RtDavies05081219

Download MinePi here and start mining free Pi cryptocurrency

To learn everything you need to know about the Pi digital currency, click here for COR's detailed article.

4. XYO Network

XYO is an ERC20 token, based on the Ethereum blockchain, which runs on the XY Oracle Network. XYO is particularly exciting as it can be mined on a smartphone, via the COIN app, enabling users to earn free cryptocurrency. With the COIN App, you can geomine as you go about your day and earn COIN tokens in exchange for providing anonymised location-based data to the XYO Network. XYO operates a decentralised network of devices that anonymously collect and validate geospatial data, i.e. data with a geographic component. At the centre of the system sits an exciting new cryptocurrency that incentivises the ecosystem - the XYO Token.

The digital coins earned in the COIN app can be exchanged directly for XYO once a minimum balance of 10k coins is reached. XYO is traded on a number of crypto exchanges, including KuCoin and Uniswap. Once you reach the minimum balance, you’ll need to have an account on an exchange such as KuCoin which lists XYO. Register with KuCoin here.

XYO is definitely one to follow. If you want to earn more free XYO cryptocurrency, it is worth investing in a little gadget called a Sentinel. By using the Sentinel, your mining rate will be exponentially increased by 12x. The COIN app also offers paid premium plans, which significantly enhance your mining rate and rewards.

How much is XYO coin worth?

XYO’s price was dropping steadily since it peaked in December 2018, then flattened at around the $0.0002 USD mark given the low level of liquidity. However there has been a significant uplift in XYO trading volume since mid-April 2020 and we have seen a significant breakout from this level. The XYO price has recently experienced a significant run, going on a parabolic rise. In mid-June 2020, XYO was up 380% year to date. For those who had been geomining free XYO, this proved to be a phenomenal return on investment.

Download COIN here and start mining free XYO cryptocurrency

To learn everything you need to know about the XYO digital currency, click here for COR's detailed article.

5. Uhive

Uhive is a new social media app that aims to create disruption by placing user privacy at the absolute core of its values and by giving back a substantial share of revenue. Uhive has introduced an entirely new content discovery user experience, whereby individuals are given the option to communicate publicly or try on a new identity and anonymously interact with one another in the ultra-private free world. The revenue-share model rewards users whose content they are able to monetise with an impactful percentage, creating a robust community and giving control to the people who use the app.

Uhive users are able to earn free tokens in its own digital currency. The tokens are built on the Ethereum blockchain and will soon be used to power transactions across the network. You’ll be able to purchase goods and services using your tokens inside Uhive. Uhive tokens can also be purchased through the app or web portal and you can pay for your tokens using several popular payment methods including Paypal and Google Pay. In the future the intention is to enable trading on crypto exchanges for real money or other popular cryptocurrencies. However, free crypto tokens can be earned by using the app and simply posting great content in your spaces. The more you engage with content and the more engagement your content gets - the more you earn!

Uhive tokens have two primary differentiators from other cryptocurrencies. Uhive is the only currency that can be used across every transaction on the Uhive network, whether that’s to purchase goods and services, promote content, buy spaces and space names, or even special effects. The tokens will also be used to cycle back value to users through revenue share, rewards and enhanced gamification.

What’s a Uhive Token worth?

Currently 333 tokens are valued at $1.00. Uhive tokens are limited in supply and are intrinsically linked to Uhive’s Spaces Index which displays in real-time all primary transactions on the network. Where can I keep my tokens? Every account created on Uhive comes with its own in-app digital wallet where you can store your Uhive tokens. Alternatively, because Uhive tokens are built on the ERC-20 Ethereum blockchain, you can move your tokens from your internal wallet to any external wallet that supports ERC-20 tokens. Uhive plans to launch it's HVE tokens on a tier one exchange on 31 march 2021.

Download Uhive here and start earning free HVE crypto tokens

Use this code CA699Z and get 25% extra on all Uhive tokens.

6. Coinbase Earn

Coinbase is a serious player in the crypto world – the leading digital currency exchange headquartered in San Francisco, California. Founded in 2012, Coinbase is a digital currency wallet and platform where merchants and consumers can transact with new digital currencies. At the time of writing, Coinbase offers 18 different cryptocurrencies on its exchange (including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin), broking with fiat currencies in approximately 32 countries. Coinbase provides Bitcoin transactions and storage in 190 countries worldwide.

If you’re looking for a blue chip, safe and easy ‘on-ramp’ into cryptocurrency, Coinbase is the perfect place to start. It’s easy because you don’t hold your own private keys – Coinbase is effectively like a custodian and bank for your crypto.

How you can earn free Bitcoin

As a starter, you can earn free Bitcoin with Coinbase by opening an account from a referral. Once you open your account and buy or sell $100 USD or more (or 100 USD equivalent of your domestic currency) within 180 days of opening the account, you and your referrer will both receive a $10 (or 10 USD equivalent of your domestic currency) referral bonus in Bitcoin when the order completes. Open your account with Coinbase and receive free Bitcoin once you trade here.

Once you have opened your account with Coinbase, you are eligible to participate in Coinbase Earn, where you can earn free crypto assets in exchange for learning about the featured cryptocurrencies.

Why does Coinbase Earn give away free cryptocurrency?

Education is believed by many to be one of the main obstacles to cryptocurrency adoption and development. Coinbase Earn allows anyone to learn about different cryptocurrencies via educational content. To kickstart the movement, Coinbase acquired Earn.com in April 2018 but has since migrated everything in favour of its in-house developed platform, Coinbase Earn. Coinbase claims that the project “has allowed nearly a million unique users in 115+ countries to earn their share of hundreds of millions of dollars in crypto.” This means millions more people now have a trusted, safe and legal bridge to the crypto economy - even if they don't have a credit card or bank account with which to buy cryptocurrency.

How can I earn free cryptocurrency with Coinbase Earn?

Eligible Coinbase users are able to unlock lessons on top of the content where they can earn crypto. The content provided on Coinbase Earn is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. You can currently earn a number of different cryptocurrencies free on Coinbase Earn and these offers are constantly changing, with new tokens being added. Historically, Coinbase Earn has enabled users to earn free XLM, ZEC, BAT, ZRX, EOS, DAI, CGLD, NU, GRT, COMP and even ETH.

If you are logged into your Coinbase account and eligible (your country of residence is a factor), you will be able to start earning crypto immediately. Just complete the mini courses, which take only a minute or two each. Every time you watch a video from the course, you have to answer some simple questions which are related to that video. Once complete, you will receive an amount in that specific crypto in your account. The amount of cryptocurrency you earn for completing a task is based on the USD spot price of the cryptocurrency at the time of earning. While the total number of tokens you've earned stays the same, the dollar value may fluctuate as the price of the cryptocurrency changes.

To earn free crypto with Coinbase Earn, open a Coinbase account here

You can even earn additional crypto on certain Earn opportunities by inviting others to Coinbase Earn via your own referral link.

The post 6 Great Ways to Earn FREE CRYPTO in [2021] appeared first on Crypto On Ramp.

The Step by Step Guide to getting started in Crypto

Crypto On-Ramp — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 21:00:21 +0000

Everything you need to know about getting started with cryptocurrency. This is Crypto On-Ramp's comprehensive step by step guide for beginners and newbies entering the exciting world of crypto.

First things first...the Golden Rules

Take your online security extremely seriously. Mitigate the risks associated with the purchase and storage of cryptocurrencies.
You are your own bank. Not your keys, not your crypto.
Only invest what you can afford to lose.
Never invest out of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). Remember what goes up, must come down.

Crypto On-Ramp's comprehensive step by step guide for beginners getting into cryptocurrency

Step 1: Understand the critical security measures for cryptocurrency investing

Establish the tightest security measures on all your devices and accounts. Ensure you always use super secure passwords (multiple characters in length, using upper and lower cases, alpha-numeric and symbols) and store them safely in a secure password manager. Never use an online password generator site. Take special care to establish maximum security measures on your Google, Microsoft and cell/mobile phone accounts. Always use 2 Factor Authentication on accounts. We recommend Authy over Google Authenticator as it can be further secured with Touch or Face ID. Always double check the URLs of sites that you are visiting to ensure they are authentic and secured by https:// and never store passwords in your browser. Finally, if you are ever setting up security questions, always avoid using 'findable' answers, such as your DOB, Mother's maiden name or facts from your education or career profile.

Step 2: Establish cell or mobile phone account security measures for cryptocurrency

Ensure you have a strong passcode or Touch/Face ID on your cell/mobile phone. Never publish your phone number, especially on social media. To combat the risk of SIM hacking, ensure your cell/mobile account has extra security applied to ensure no-one but you can change the account details or order a new SIM card. If possible, set up a password or passcode that must be disclosed before activating new SIMs on your account.

Step 3: Set up a dedicated, secure and encrypted email for cryptocurrency accounts

Set up a new and dedicated email account. I strongly recommend an encrypted account (free) with ProtonMail. Use something random as an email address, with no obvious guessable connection to you. You will never use it for emailing people. It is ONLY for your crypto accounts. Get the email app on your phone as well. Once set up, add 2FA using Google Authenticator or Authy.

Get Protonmail here

Step 4: Ensure you have a safe and secure back-up for all your crypto data and private keys

Ensure you store and back-up your passwords, seed phrases and keys safely. Always have more than one back-up. It may seem old-fashioned, but it is recommended to write your precious details in a book and store them securely in a fire-proof safe or safety deposit box at a bank - or both! Any small notebook will serve this purpose, but the recommended option is definitely Shieldfolio's Stonebook Notebook for Cryptocurrency Private Keys - a customised offline crypto solution that allows you to back up your entire digital portfolio on templated, durable tear-proof and water-resistant pages.
Use the coupon code crypto-onramp to receive 15% off.

Order your Stonebook here

Step 5: Decide on your cryptocurrency investment level and approach

Although cryptocurrencies offer potentially life changing upside for investors, it is important to remember that this technology is still in the early stages and there are numerous risks to consider. If you follow the advice in the steps above, you will have mitigated a significant proportion of the security risks to protect your holdings from hackers, but the threat is always present unless you are holding everything offline in cold storage. As long as you stick to the principle of only investing what you can afford to lose, then you will keep your sanity on what will be a roller-coaster ride in crypto. These assets are volatile! A big swing on the stock markets is just another Wednesday in the cryptosphere - get used to it and hold your nerves. In the meantime, consider the following investment strategies for your entry into cryptocurrency:

1. Cost Averaging - the safest and most conservative approach is to (Dollar/Pound/Euro) cost average. This means you invest a set amount on a regular basis (e.g. monthly) which will even out price fluctuations over time. When you use this approach, you can sit back, HODL and relax, not panicking over the charts and worrying about the price each day.

2. Buy the Dips - the alternative to Dollar Cost Averaging is to buy the dips. If you are wanting to invest a lump sum, it is advisable to study the price fluctuations of your target cryptocurrencies. Given the volatility in the price of most cryptocurrencies, it is not difficult to spot the dips and these can be opportune moments to invest. The more you study the charts and the price movements over time, the better you will become at understanding the opportunities to be taken in price retracements. A retracement refers to a temporary reversal of the general trend in the price of a cryptocurrency. Unlike a reversal, retracements are short-term movements away from a trend and are followed by a return to the previous direction in price.

3. Never FOMO - the first rule of crypto is 'Never FOMO'; the second rule of crypto is 'Never FOMO'.

Step 6: Understand the fees on cryptocurrency

As with all financial services and investments, you will need to pay fees to on-ramp into crypto. You can learn more about the fees charged by crypto exchanges here. However the main thing you need to understand is that you will pay:

1. A fiat on-ramp fee. This can range from less than 1% up to 3.5%.

2. Possibly a bank transfer fee or a credit card fee (for sending fiat funds/payments to your crypto exchange account).

3. The bid/ask price on the currency pair you are exchanging. Some exchanges offer better rates than others, just like exchanging foreign currency at the airport.

Tip - To avoid the highest fees, use a bank transfer to directly fund your fiat currency wallet at your exchange (e.g. your USD wallet on Coinbase or your GBP wallet on Binance). Then on-ramp into crypto within the exchange from your fiat currency wallet, for example trading USD/BTC or GBP/ETH. On Coinbase for example, this significantly reduces the fees charged to ~1.5% from over 3%. Try not to buy crypto directly with a credit card, as you will pay a lot more in fees.

Step 7: Select your crypto wallet solution

In order to buy, hold and sell crypto, you will need a digital wallet - at least one. But you may choose to have more than one, depending on the activities you wish to follow and the assets you choose to hold. The first thing to consider is your overall appetite for crypto and your comfort level with the associated technology. Although user interfaces and apps have improved significantly over recent years, managing crypto can still be pretty technical and confusing once you start to expand your horizons beyond the basics. The best piece of advice I can offer is to keep it simple at the beginning and to establish confidence gradually as you become more accustomed to dealing with cryptocurrencies and the various crypto applications.

To understand more about crypto wallets, visit Crypto On-Ramp's beginner's guide here, where you can learn about the difference between software and hardware wallets, how wallets are secured with cryptography and the importance of private keys.

For the purposes of this guide however, let's assume that you will want to start with a software wallet - accessible from your smartphone and/or PC. If you want to know about hardware wallets, see Step 9 below. To keep this as simple as possible, I have provided a few different curated options, depending on your situation. Select which is most applicable to you.

Option 1:
"I find this all very daunting and I just want the simplest way to get some exposure to Bitcoin without all the hassle"

If you are daunted or overwhelmed by the complexities of investing in Bitcoin or other major cryptocurrencies but want to get some exposure to the asset class, then the simplest option is probably to buy some crypto via PayPal (if you live in the United States) or an online bank, such as Revolut (if you live in the US, United Kingdom or Europe).

In the US, you can now buy, hold and sell crypto inside the PayPal app. You can choose from these top cryptocurrencies only: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash. Start with as little as $1 and purchase crypto simply in your PayPal Wallet. This is probably the simplest way to start but do please note that you cannot send crypto outside of PayPal. You can buy, hold and sell crypto for yourself or send it to another PayPal user, but your crypto has to stay inside the PayPal ecosystem - it cannot be transferred to an external crypto wallet. Be aware that this is a fully custodial solution and you will not get the best rates, with fees being introduced in 2021.

In the US, UK and many European countries, Revolut is one of a number of 'FinTech' newcomers on the banking scene, offering digital banking services in a mobile app. In addition to its highly competitive multi-currency banking and money transfer services, Revolut offers the ability to buy up to 10 major cryptocurrencies within your account, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. Your crypto will be held in custody by Revolut, enabling you to buy, sell or transfer to another Revolut account but like PayPal, this is a custodial solution and your crypto has to stay inside the Revolut ecosystem - it cannot be transferred to an external crypto wallet.

In short, these options really are a basic beginner's choice if you just want the simplest way to get some exposure to Bitcoin or other crypto without all the hassle. But please note, they have restrictions and limitations, so if you want something more than basic exposure to Bitcoin or Ethereum, move on to the next option.

Option 2:
"I am a complete newcomer to crypto but I want a crypto wallet, so what's the easiest way to get started?"

The simplest on-ramp into 'crypto proper' for beginners is to open a Coinbase account. Founded in 2012, Coinbase is a leading and publicly listed (Nasdaq: COIN) digital currency exchange headquartered in San Francisco, California and offers a custodial digital currency wallet and platform where you can transact in digital currencies. Coinbase enables access to Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, Chainlink, Tezos and many other cryptocurrencies with fiat currencies in approximately 32 countries. Coinbase provides Bitcoin transactions and storage in 190 countries worldwide. Coinbase is the world's largest Bitcoin (BTC) broker. Opening a Coinbase account offers a custodial solution, but unlike the providers in Option 1, you can not only buy, hold and sell crypto with Coinbase, but also transfer your assets to any other external crypto wallet. One great feature of having a Coinbase account is that you can benefit from Coinbase Earn - a way of earning free crypto whilst learning about blockchain and cryptocurrency. To benefit from Coinbase Earn, click here.

Open a Coinbase account here

Option 3:
"I believe in the future of cryptocurrencies and digital assets and I am keen to take advantage of the additional financial benefits available via crypto platforms"

The pace of change in the world of crypto has accelerated hugely in 2020, with so many more options available. As long as you have a smartphone and an internet connection, you can now access digital currencies and financial services even if you do not have a traditional bank account. One of the most popular new ways of on-ramping into cryptocurrency is to open an account with a CeFi (centralised finance) provider like Binance, Swissborg or Nexo. Not only do these solutions offer custodial wallets to on-ramp and transact in crypto, but they also enable you to earn attractive interest rates on your holdings. The rates currently on offer can be significantly higher than you can earn on fiat currency (USD, GBP, EUR) in a traditional bank account and you can also get access to loans quickly and easily, borrowing with your cryptoassets as collateral. However, from direct user experience and in consideration of current market conditions and the fragility of the financial backing behind many of these firms, I would no longer recommend this option. You can buy crypto within these applications or transfer your assets in and out between an external digital wallet or exchange.

Open a Binance account here

Option 4:
"I am tech savvy, I have done my research and I am ready to start investing and trading in cryptocurrencies, including altcoins, tokens and DeFi"

If you are confident with technology, have done your own research and you are ready to step up your game with cryptocurrencies, then the opportunities, rewards and benefits are endless. There is no hiding the fact that this is a broad and complex area of expertise, but if you are willing to put in the time and effort to improve your knowledge, then you will be introduced to a whole new world of financial products. Even seasoned financial professionals would find their minds blown by what is available via crypto. So why is this all relatively unknown? The answer is simple - we are at the very beginning of a whole new financial frontier; a revolution in the very way we think about money. For those who get in early, the upside potential could be life changing.

This is a curated selection of recommended wallet solutions, based on direct research and user experience. There are many other options, but you can't go wrong with the following to get you up and running on your journey into cryptocurrencies and the new frontier of financial products.

Best for holding and earning staking rewards on a range of altcoins

If you are looking for a non-custodial software wallet, which is available on cell/mobile phone and on your PC, then the Atomic wallet is a good option. Atomic offers a broad range of coins and tokens, but most importantly provides the opportunity to earn interest on a dozen cryptocurrencies via its staking feature. Staking on Atomic includes: Zilliqa (ZIL 16% APY), Cardano (ADA 5% APY), Cosmos (ATOM 10% APY), Algorand (ALGO 7.2% APY), Tezos (XTZ 7% APY) and Tron (TRX 5% APY), to name a few. Very simple to set up and the user interface is superb. A really good wallet solution. You can buy crypto within the application or transfer your assets in from an external digital wallet or exchange.

Download Atomic Wallet here

Best for DeFi and Ethereum based smart contract interactions

The term DeFi is an acronym for Decentralised Finance and refers to an ecosystem of digital assets, smart contracts, protocols and decentralised applications (DApps) built primarily on the Ethereum blockchain network. As many DeFi projects share a common technology platform, these applications are highly inter-operable. In order to access this ecosystem of DeFi apps and to interact with smart contracts, you will need an Ethereum digital wallet. These are non-custodial solutions and enable you to hold Ethereum, ERC-20 tokens and to interact seamlessly with the Ethereum blockchain. Options include MyEtherWallet and Coinbase Wallet, but my recommendation is Metamask, which also connects easily with decentralised exchanges, such as Uniswap.

Download Metamask Wallet here

Step 8: Select your chosen crypto exchange

There are a huge number of cryptocurrency exchange solutions available, for example Coinbase Pro, Kraken, Bitstamp and KuCoin, but in the spirit of keeping this simple and based on genuinely positive personal experience, look no further than Binance. For more options however click here.

Binance Global is a global cryptocurrency exchange that provides a platform for trading 150+ cryptocurrencies, offered on 450+ trading pairs. It is one of the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world by trading volume. With Binance, you can easily buy Bitcoin and major cryptocurrencies with cash, as well as other cryptocurrency pairs on the platform. You can use your credit card to directly purchase Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Bitcoin Cash using US Dollars, Sterling or Euro, but as always I highly recommend funding your Fiat account on Binance via a direct bank transfer in your home currency and then trading into crypto from your deposited Fiat funds. This minimises the fees you will incur on any transactions.

Some of the most notable features on Binance include:

Fiat on-ramp

User-friendly interface

Highly trusted reputation

Breadth of markets and currency pairs

Security

Much lower fees than Coinbase for on-ramp into crypto

Constantly developing and enhancing their product offering, with a range of options for earning interest and staking rewards on a range of cryptocurrencies.

Open a Binance account here

To understand more about crypto exchanges, visit Crypto On-Ramp's beginner's guide here, where you can learn about buying and selling crypto, bid/offer spreads, trading currency pairs and what fees cryptocurrency exchanges charge.

Step 9: Decide on where you are going to hold your crypto

As highlighted at the start of this guide, a key consideration when dealing in cryptocurrency is security. If you follow the recommendations in Steps 1 - 4 above, that will provide a strong foundation for your own security protocols. Thereafter and as your portfolio grows, it would be prudent to mitigate your risk further by ensuring you spread your assets across a range of different wallets and/or custodial solutions. Don't have all your eggs in one basket. The recommendations highlighted in this guide provide a range of options to help achieve this strategy. At the end of the day however, there is no safer solution than cold storage.

In the context of centralised cryptocurrency exchanges, the term cold storage refers to the storing of cryptocurrency offline, without the private keys controlling the assets ever being online. This preventative measure mitigates the threat of theft by hackers and malware. Major exchanges see this as a necessary security precaution for their reserves. Exchanges will be keeping the majority of the reserve in cold storage, with only the trading day’s expected liquidity requirements being online. Offline storage of cryptocurrencies – either by individual investors or institutional custodians – is an important safety measure to look for in your choice of wallet and exchange.

As an individual investor, you can achieve cold storage by investing in a hardware wallet. Hardware wallets are available for multiple cryptocurrencies and function to store private keys on a hardware device, such as a USB. Hardware wallets are held offline, which means they are extremely secure, but do support online transactions. Using a hardware wallet requires you to plug the device into an online computer, enter your security details and send or receive currency. Hardware wallets have major advantages over standard software wallets in that private keys are often stored in a protected area of a micro-controller and cannot be transferred out of the device in plain text. They are also immune to computer viruses that steal from software wallets. Furthermore, hardware wallets can be used securely and interactively; private keys never need to touch potentially vulnerable software.

This is a curated selection of recommended hardware wallet solutions, based on direct research and user experience. There are other options, but you can't go wrong with the following:

Buy Ledger Wallet here

Buy Trezor Wallet here

Step 10: Manage your crypto portfolio and tax returns

Once you on-ramp into crypto, a whole new world of financial freedom and opportunities awaits you. As you become more aware and confident in what you are doing, it is likely you will open multiple exchange accounts and hold a number of different wallets. Not only do multiple solutions provide you with access to different platforms, features, benefits and trading pairs but you are also mitigating the risk of holding all your crypto in one place. Remember - you are now your own bank! So in this final step, there are two key aspects to consider: tracking your crypto portfolio and managing your digital asset tax obligations.

In the list below, you will find a curated selection of the applications I recommend, based on personal usage and preferences. I have lost count of how many portfolio tracking solutions I have tested and to be very candid, most of them have issues and limitations as not every wallet or exchange has a simple and functioning API interface for synchronisation and live updates. This can be hugely frustrating! I will continue to update this guide, but at the time of writing, these are my tips.

As for tax, I would leave you with two takeaways. Firstly, be absolutely clear that you are fully obligated to report and pay taxes on your crypto investments. Secondly, that there are great software applications available that make this hugely detailed and complex task very quick and simple indeed.

Best for portfolio tracking on your cell/mobile phone

Blockfolio is one of the most widely used portfolio tracking apps, with over 6 million users worldwide. The app provides support for over 10,000 cryptocurrencies and blockchain assets across 500+ exchanges, providing the latest prices, market data, team updates and news via its Signal feature. Organise your holdings and watch lists across an unlimited number of portfolios on your phone. It's free, simple to set up and the user interface is super slick. If you are getting into crypto, you should be tracking your holdings in Blockfolio.

Get the Blockfolio app here

Best for portfolio tracking on your PC and cell/mobile phone

CoinStats is a crypto portfolio tracker available on both PC and smartphone. The graphical interface is very slick and high quality, with a similar look and feel to Blockfolio. However note that CoinStats is a paid subscription app, with options from $3.49 to $13.99 per month. The plans differ by number of allowable wallet/exchange connections and transactions. API connection to external sources is very simple and quick, enabling auto sync with your wallet and exchange accounts with more than 8000 cryptocurrencies and 300 exchanges available. CoinStats also offers a personalised crypto news feed and live prices on pretty much the entire cryptocurrency market.

Get the CoinStats app here

Best for crypto tax reporting and portfolio tracking

Take it from me - Koinly is awesome. Not only is it the best crypto tax software I've used (especially if you're a UK tax payer), but I have also found it to be the best overall portfolio management tool. Koinly covers the tax reporting of over 20 major countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Germany. Report production is so quick and simple. Admittedly, it's PC only and doesn't have the slick graphics of CoinStats, but for functionality, ease of use and the broadest range of wallet/exchange integrations, it's a clear #1 for me. If you have multiple exchange accounts and wallets, and you execute a lot of transactions, it's a must-have. Just consider that every time you receive a staking reward or loan interest on your crypto, a transaction is created. No more wasting hours downloading CSV files, formatting data or figuring out market prices to get the tax calculations right. This one is a no-brainer!

Get Koinly here

Alternative option for US crypto tax reporting

CryptoTrader.Tax is an alternative to Koinly - a simple and reliable crypto tax software and calculator for US tax payers. Simply connect your wallets and exchanges, import trades and download your tax report in minutes. CryptoTrader.Tax calculates your tax liability using the same methods tax professionals use. Download your completed IRS forms (e.g. IRS Form 8949) to file yourself, send to your accountant or import into software like TurboTax and TaxAct. It also has a built-in feature to help you with tax loss harvesting, enabling you to offset and reduce your capital gains. Cryptocurrencies with the largest tax savings opportunities appear on the tax loss harvesting report to help you plan your future trades. Unlike Koinly, which has a rich portfolio tracking and management functionality, CryptoTrader.Tax really is just a tax management application. If you are a US tax payer in need of a simple solution for your crypto taxes, this is a very good option.

Get CryptoTrader.Tax here

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