September 14, 2022
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Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies continue to surge in search engine queries and public interest. That has ignited a growing desire for bitcoin, blockchain, and digital currencies, producing many exchanges, apps, products, services, blogs, and YouTube channels. However, making money with bitcoin and cryptos goes beyond trading and investing, for example, affiliate marketing. Therefore, in this post, let’s review the best crypto and bitcoin affiliate programs.
Many crypto companies utilize affiliate marketing programs to grow their customer base, sales, and trading volumes. A merchant may use one or multiple cost per action (CPA) models, including cost per sale/pay per sale, cost per lead/pay per lead, and cost per transaction/pay per transaction. A transaction could be a trade, money transfer, or money-related activity involving money. For instance, the merchant will pay affiliates a commission rate of 40 percent on referral trading fees. That compensation plan is equivalent to a revenue-sharing program.
Crypto exchanges and trading apps make up the bulk of affiliate program offers, followed by wallets and payment tools. Many programs don’t disclose their cookie duration, but you can assume 30 to 90 days. Many merchants lure publishers with recurring commission affiliate programs that pay for a user’s lifetime trading activities. For example, suppose you refer Alice to Paxful. Next, Alice gets verified, starts trading, takes a break for a year, and then resumes trading. You’ll earn a percentage of Alice’s trading fees regardless of her trades. On the other hand, some companies limit recurring payouts to months or cycles; for example, Coinbase limits payments to three months.
Here are the top crypto affiliate niches and sample commission rates.
| Top Niches | Commission Examples |
| Trading | $1,200 per active user |
| Lending | $500 per transaction |
| Wallets | 15% per sale |
| De-Fi | $25 per transaction |
| Payments | 10% per sale |
| NFTs | 20% per sale |
Best Cryptocurrency Affiliate Programs
Many crypto merchants compensate affiliates with cash, bitcoins, and cryptos, including litecoin, ethereum, and ripple. Furthermore, several companies run programs on Impact and CJ Affiliate. The benefits of dealing with those networks are their reputation, tracking, and payment efficiencies. You’ll also find many merchants using in-house affiliate marketing software.
Some bloggers limit your earning potential and possibilities by listing 10 to 15 programs. Instead, I’ll provide you with a robust list of legitimate programs to increase your income and options. My list considers company reputation, customer reviews, website rankings, earnings per click (EPC), payout minimum, and personal fortunes made (well, maybe not “fortunes”).
Crypto Trading Affiliate Programs
Paxful
Paxful is a leading exchange for buying and selling Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether.
The Paxful affiliate program pays 50 percent recurring commissions on referral transactions.
- Commission rate: 50%
- Payment type: Cryptocurrency
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
Crypto.com
Crypto.com offers standard, margin, and derivatives trading, a Visa card, a wallet, decentralized finance, interest, credit, payment rewards, and NFT products. Additionally, it offers one of the most advanced trading platforms in the industry.
The Crypto.com affiliate program pays 10 percent recurring commissions on referral transactions and up to $20 for leads on CJ Affiliate.
- Commission rate: 10% or up to $20
- Payment type: Cryptocurrency or cash
- Affiliate software/network: In-house and CJ Affiliate
Eightcap
Eightcap offers trading of 1,000+ financial instruments and securities, including 250+ cryptos, forex, indices, commodities, shares, and derivatives. It also provides MT4 and MT5 software to support trading, with multiple tools, including Capitalise.ai, Cryptocrusher, Amazing Trader, and Forex VPS.
The Eightcap affiliate program pays one-time commissions of up to $900 for active clients or rebates up to $6 per lot.
- Commission rate: Up to $900 CPA or up to $6 per lot
- Payment type: Cash
- Affiliate software/network: Cellxpert
StormGain
StormGain offers an efficient trading platform to profit from the growth or decline of crypto-assets with a 300x multiplier. Also, users can get trading signals, trade options, practice trading, and trade commission-free.
The StormGain affiliate program pays one-time commissions of up to $1,200 for qualified traders or up to 50 percent of gross revenue (spread) on transactions.
- Commission rate: Up to $1,200 CPA or up to 50% on gross revenue
- Payment type: Cash
- Affiliate software/network: Cellxpert
ChangeNow
ChangeNOW provides a fast and straightforward cryptocurrency exchange. It has almost 300 coins available and doesn’t place trading limits, i.e., users can exchange as much as they want, whenever they want.
The ChangeNow affiliate program pays 0.4% commissions on the total amount of referral transactions.
- Commission rate: Up to 1.8%
- Payment type: Cryptocurrency
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
SimpleSwap
SimpleSwap is a user-friendly and reliable service for cryptocurrency exchanges, supporting more than 450 crypto and fiat currencies. Swap Bitcoin, Ether, Ripple, Monero, Zcash, Tezos, and other coins quickly and securely.
The SimpleSwap affiliate program pays 0.4% commissions on the total amount of referral transactions.
- Commission rate: 0.4%
- Payment type: BTC
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
Pionex
Pionex is a cryptocurrency exchange with 11 built-in trading bots for high-profit, low-risk participation in digital investment markets. Users can safely and automatically trade 190+ pairs for a 0.05% trading fee.
The Pionex affiliate program pays up to 50% recurring commissions on referral transactions.
- Commission rate: Up to 50%
- Payment type: Cryptocurrency
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
StealthEX
StealthEX is a non-custodial cryptocurrency exchange, supporting 450 assets and unlimited swaps through wallet-to-wallet transfers. Also, users don’t need to create accounts, complete KYC forms, or disclose personal information to transact on StealthEX, making it a fast crypto exchange platform.
The StealthEX affiliate program pays 0.4% commissions on the total amount of referral transactions.
- Commission rate: 0.4%
- Payment type: BTC
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
Coinbase
Coinbase’s offerings include a wallet, a stablecoin (USD Coin), private client services, NFTs, lending, a debit card, payroll, coin tutorials, and advanced trading tools. In addition, businesses can use Coinbase for payments, asset listings, compliance, direct exchange access, and institutional services. Lastly, developers can access various tools, such as APIs, stacking, and blockchain data.
The Coinbase affiliate program pays 50 percent recurring commissions on referral transactions for three months. (Note: multiple news reports indicate Coinbase has suspended its affiliate program. While their affiliate page and program are still active, commission rates have dropped to zero for most countries, and only 2 percent of affiliate applications are accepted on Impact.)
- Commission rate: 50%
- Payment type: Cash
- Affiliate software/network: Impact
Binance
Binance is a leading blockchain and cryptocurrency platform with a product suite that includes the largest digital asset exchange by volume. Its products and services include trading, storage (Trust Wallet), proprietary coins (BUSD and BNB), education, data, research, social good, funding, decentralization, infrastructure solutions, APIs, and a debit card.
The Binance affiliate program pays up to 50 percent recurring commissions on referral transactions.
- Commission rate: Up to 50%
- Payment type: Cryptocurrency
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
Bitfinex
Bitfinex’s mission is to give its users the ultimate cryptocurrency trading experience. It offers trading and lending products, margin funding and trading, innovative technologies, advanced chart tools, and excellent customer service.
The Bitfinex affiliate program pays up to 55 percent recurring commissions on referral transactions.
- Commission rate: Up to 55%
- Payment type: Cryptocurrency
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
BitMart
BitMart is a cryptocurrency services company offering spot, margin, derivatives, and OTC trading. Furthermore, users can save, stake, launch tokens, and complete tasks for additional earnings.
The BitMart affiliate program pays up to 70 percent recurring commissions on referral transactions.
- Commission rate: Up to 70%
- Payment type: Cryptocurrency
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
Bybit
Bybit is one of the fastest-growing cryptocurrency exchanges, with more than a million registered users. Its products and features include spot and marketing trading, leveraged tokes, trading bots, VIP and broker programs, leaderboards, institutional services, perpetual and inverse contracts, options, mining, and more.
The Bybit affiliate program pays 30 percent recurring commissions on referral transactions.
- Commission rate: 30%
- Payment type: Cryptocurrency
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
CEX
CEX is a secure platform to buy, sell, trade, and earn cryptocurrencies. Its products include spot and margin trading, APIs, staking, lending, debit cards, instant buying, competitions, and more.
The CEX affiliate program pays 30 percent recurring commissions on referral transactions.
- Commission rate: 30%
- Payment type: Cash
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
Changelly
Changelly is a fast and secure way to exchange, trade, and purchase 150+ cryptocurrencies in minutes. Its exchange partnerships include Binance, Trezor, Coinomi, Exodus, and ZenGo.
The Changelly affiliate program pays up to 50 percent recurring commissions on referral transactions.
- Commission rate: Up to 50%
- Payment type: Cryptocurrency
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
Coinmama
Coinmama offers an easy, fast, and secure way to purchase Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptos. Purchase options include bank account, SWIFT, SEPA, and debit card.
The Coinmama affiliate program pays up to 30 percent recurring commissions on referral transactions.
- Commission rate: Up to 30%
- Payment type: Cryptocurrency
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
Coinrule
Coinrule empowers cryptocurrency traders to compete with professional algorithmic traders and hedge funds with trading bots. No coding is required, making it easy to get started.
The Coinrule affiliate program pays up to 30 percent on sales.
- Commission rate: Up to 30%
- Payment type: Cash
- Affiliate software/network: CJ Affiliate
CoinSmart
CoinSmart takes the cryptic out of crypto and offers trading tools for beginners and experts. Its SmartTrade feature enables one-click trading from one coin to another without trading to Bitcoin or Ethereum first. In addition, SmartPay allows you to instantly convert your BTC to fiat with same-day payouts wired to your bank account.
The CoinSmart affiliate program pays one-time commissions of up to $50 for referral verifications and trades.
- Commission rate: Up to $50
- Payment type: Cash
- Affiliate software/network: Impact
FTX
FTX is an exchange built by traders for traders. It offers innovative products, including derivatives, options, volatility products, and leveraged tokens. Users can also speculate on global events, for example, who will become the next president.
The FTX affiliate program pays up to 40 percent recurring commissions on referral transactions.
- Commission rate: Up to 40%
- Payment type: Cryptocurrency
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
Gemini
Gemini is a secure and regulated exchange and custodian. Customers can buy, sell, and store more than 30 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ether, Litecoin, and Zcash. Additionally, users can earn interest with Gemini Earn and rewards with Gemini Credit Card.
The Gemini affiliate program pays a one-time commission of up to $55 for a referral’s first trade.
- Commission rate: Up to $55
- Payment type: Cash
- Affiliate software/network: Impact and Rakuen Advertising
Kraken
Kraken is one of the world’s largest and oldest bitcoin exchanges with a wide selection of digital assets and fiat currencies. It offers margin trading, indices, futures, OTC, account management, and staking.
The Kraken affiliate program pays 20 percent recurring commissions on referral transactions.
- Commission rate: 20%
- Payment type: Cash
- Affiliate software/network: Impact
KuCoin
KuCoin allows you to buy, sell, and trade hundreds of cryptocurrencies. It provides spot and derivative trading, lending, staking, APIs, promotion, rewards, DeFi, Web3, bots, mining, P2P, and more.
The KuCoin affiliate program pays up to 40 percent recurring commissions on referral transactions.
- Commission rate: Up to 40%
- Payment type: Cryptocurrency
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
LocalBitcoins
LocalBitcoins is one of the largest and most trusted P2P crypto trading platforms doing billions in annual trading volume. It allows users to create advertisements, including the payment method and exchange rate for buying and selling bitcoins from and to another user.
The LocalBitcoins affiliate program pays up 40 percent recurring commissions on referral transactions for one year.
- Commission rate: 40%
- Payment type: Cryptocurrency
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
OKX
OKX makes it easy to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies. It offers multiple products and services, including spot and margin trading, derivatives, perpetual swaps, trading bots, block trading, multi-leg structures, DeFi, staking, fixed income, savings, and loans.
The OKX affiliate program pays up to 60 percent recurring commissions on referral transactions.
- Commission rate: Up to 60%
- Payment type: Cryptocurrency
- Affiliate software/network: In-house and Impact
Wazirx
Wazirx is one of India’s most trusted cryptocurrency exchanges to buy, sell, and trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Tron, Litecoin, and other coins. Wazirx’s REST API for spot transactions helps you automate trades in real-time, stream live crypto rates, and build different integrations for trading.
The Wazirx referral program pays 20 percent recurring commissions on referral transactions.
- Commission rate: 20%
- Payment type: WRX
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
Bitpanda
Bitpanda is an Austrian-based investment platform that allows you to buy, sell, and swap 100+ digital assets like crypto, stocks, precious metals, ETFs, and crypto indices. Also, it offers a wide range of payment and payout providers and investment automation.
The Bitpanda affiliate program pays a $65 commission for new user deposits.
- Commission rate: $65
- Payment type: Cash
- Affiliate software/network: Impact
Crypto Payment Affiliate Programs
Blockonomics
Blockonomics is a decentralized and permissionless Bitcoin payment solution. As one of the highest and most rated WHMCS plugins, it allows you to accept Bitcoin for your online store, create and send invoices anonymously, and track your activities.
The Blockonomics affiliate program pays 30 percent recurring commissions on referral transactions.
- Commission rate: 30% (on the 1% it charges users)
- Payment type: Cash
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
CoinGate
The CoinGate payment gateway allows you to buy, sell, trade, and accept 70+ cryptos. It also offers a merchant directory and gift cards.
CoinGate’s referral and affiliate programs pay 10 percent commissions on sales.
- Commission rate: 20%
- Payment type: Cash
- Affiliate software/network: Impact
CoinPayments
CoinPayments is a digital currency payment solution allowing merchants to accept Bitcoin and 1,700+ altcoins in their stores through user-friendly plugins, APIs, and POS interfaces.
The CoinPayments affiliate program pays 25 percent recurring commissions on payment transactions.
- Commission rate: 25%
- Payment type: Cash
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
Other Crypto Affiliate Programs
Koinly
Koinly calculates your cryptocurrency taxes and helps you reduce them for next year. It supports 350+ exchanges, 50+ wallets, 160+ blockchains, and 10+ services to make calculating your taxes simple, quick, and reliable.
The Koinly affiliate program pays up to 40 percent recurring commissions on sales.
- Commission rate: Up to 40%
- Payment type: Cash
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
BlockFi
BlockFi helps crypto investors manage digital assets with interest and trading accounts, personalized yields, wallets, and crypto-backed and mining loans.
The BlockFi affiliate program pays commissions of up to $500 on referral transactions.
- Commission rate: Up to $500
- Payment type: Cash
- Affiliate software/network: Impact
Bitcoin IRA
Bitcoin IRA allows you to invest in 60+ cryptos and gold for your Individual Retirement Account. Moreover, it supports IRA rollovers, Roth, SEP, Employer Plan 401(k)s, and new and existing traditional IRAs.
The Bitcoin IRA affiliate program pays commissions of $50 per lead.
- Commission rate: $50
- Payment type: Cash
- Affiliate software/network: CJ Affiliate
Ledger Wallet
Ledger is a leader in security and infrastructure solutions for cryptocurrencies and blockchain applications. It sells hardware wallets, accessories, cases, and capsules. Also, Ledger Live allows you to buy, sell, send, and receive crypto, grow your assets, and manage NFTs.
The Ledger Wallet affiliate program pays 10 percent commissions on sales.
- Commission rate: 10%
- Payment type: Cryptocurrency
- Affiliate software/network: In-house and Amazon Associates
Trezor
Trezor retails hardware wallets providing advanced security for 1,000+ cryptos. Users can manage coins, keys, and passwords with ease.
The TREZOR affiliate program pays up to 15 percent commissions on sales.
- Commission rate: Up to 15%
- Payment type: Cash
- Affiliate software/network: Not disclosed
Your Next Move
Can you make money with bitcoin and crypto affiliate programs? Yes, you can. Demand and access are increasing, millions of people trade cryptos, adoption is growing among institutional investors and big companies, and skeptics like Jamie Dimon are coming around. Additionally, news about digital currencies and blockchain are breaking daily, with M&A activity occurring frequently. Case in point, Binance acquired CoinMarketCap, a leading data source for the industry. Finally, bad actors, legal dramas, and theft will also make headlines, so stay close to developments to understand how those items impact the landscape.
Scour the marketplace for high-paying affiliate programs, and referral offers because many exist. The crypto industry blurs the line, and many merchants offer both. Binance and Coinbase, for instance, have referral and affiliate programs. Typically, referral programs are for existing customers to promote to their family and friends. Also, they lack sophisticated tracking and reporting. On the other hand, affiliate programs are for marketers and content creators to promote to their followers, subscribers, and fans.
Get paid twice. Not only do crypto referral programs pay some of the highest recurring commission rates in affiliate marketing, but some merchants pay commissions on sub-affiliate earnings. A sub-affiliate is an affiliate recruited by another affiliate. You can think of them as first and second-tier affiliates. For example, Paxful, ByBit, BitMart, Bitfinex, KuCoin, and OKX have sub-affiliate programs paying up to 30 percent.
Amazon and eBay have affiliate programs and sell crypto-related products, including apparel, books, accessories, and more. In addition, Coursera, Skillshare, and other e-learning sites have online courses on the topic. You might also promote other financial affiliate programs to increase your commissions. Lastly, promote the companies you use, like, and trust to legitimize your recommendations on your tools and resources page.
The crypto market is volatile and not for everyone. So, consider if your audience is a good fit. However, digital currencies are an exciting development, so explore the many ways to make money with bitcoin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are crypto affiliate programs?
Crypto affiliate programs pay content creators (bloggers, YouTubers, etc.) for leads and new users. Many of these programs share revenue with affiliates based on trading fees.
What is the best bitcoin affiliate program?
While there are many excellent crypto and bitcoin affiliate programs, Paxful is one of the best because of its high commission rate and sub-affiliate program, which allows you to earn twice.
How do I promote crypto affiliate programs?
You promote recurring affiliate programs the same way you would standard programs, i.e., by creating and posting high-quality content about digital currencies via blogging, YouTube, social media, etc.
Does Blockchain have an affiliate program?
Yes, it does. Learn more about the Blockchain.com affiliate program.
How much money can you make with crypto and bitcoin programs?
You can make a lot of money depending on a program’s commission rate and cookie duration. So, those two factors will influence how much passive income you make. The public’s interest and trading volumes will also determine your financial gain.
