Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. If you click through and purchase an item, I may earn a commission. See my terms of service for details.

Over the past few years, bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have surged in search engine queries. A growing desire for all things blockchain and digital currency has produced many exchanges, applications, products, and services. The appetite to trade cryptocurrencies has increased as well. However, making money with bitcoin and cryptos aren’t limited to only buying and selling them.

How to Make Money

Many creators use YouTube and blogs to monetize their traffic and content. Although there are many ways to profit on YouTube, ad revenue and affiliate marketing are two conventional methods. Ad revenue comes from Google running ads on videos. Earnings are split between Google and channel owners and paid through AdSense. Companies pay affiliates when their marketing efforts result in sales or leads.

The Top Affiliate Programs

Publishers want to promote the top affiliate programs because they can yield more commissions. It’s as simple as that. Other articles highlight “the best programs,” but most of them include random and unvetted merchants that won’t increase your earnings. Let’s identify what excellent and profitable affiliate programs have in common.

A Generous Percentage-Based or Fixed Commission

Advertisers who pay single to low double-digit commission rates (or who nickel and dime publishers) aren’t worth your consideration. (Note: some industries pay low commission rates because they operate on thin margins.) A commission rate of 20 percent is the benchmark I use, whereas the fixed commission amount will vary.

A Minimum Cookie Length of 30 Days

Giving marketers one or a few days to convert traffic is ridiculous and unfair. By contrast, a 30-day conversion period allows for prospects to become customers and affiliates to get credit for their promotional efforts. Although thirty-day referral periods are a standard industry practice, a minimum of 90 days should be commonplace.

Excellent Affiliate Tracking Software

Affiliate tracking software is the cornerstone of success, and there are good and bad applications. Reliable tracking, user-friendly dashboards, and robust reporting make for excellent user experiences. Activity data—such as impressions, clicks, and conversions—should be available. Applications that omit activity data and reporting make it difficult to track and evaluate performance.

Other Factors

Other factors you should consider are a program’s earnings per click (EPC), payout threshold, deep linking capabilities, and affiliate support. You’ll want to partner with merchants/affiliate managers who are intelligent, fair, responsive, and quick to resolve inquiries. Learn how to choose affiliate products and programs.

Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency Affiliate Programs

Let’s review the best bitcoin and crypto affiliate programs. Although the advertiser pool remains small, new programs are surfacing each day. Many programs pay affiliates in bitcoins and cryptos, including litecoin, ethereum, ripple, but cash is common too. One-time, recurring, fixed and percentage-based commissions are standard.

Some of the programs on this list are available on the top affiliate networks, including ShareASale, Impact, CJ Affiliate, and FlexOffers. These programs and networks are excellent for bloggers, YouTubers, beginners, and experienced marketers. A company might not mention an affiliate program on its website but may have one. Merchants typically link to their affiliate programs in their website menus and footers, and some offer programs on multiple networks.

Trading Affiliate Programs

• Binance – Up to a 40% commission

Binance is a global cryptocurrency exchange that provides a platform for trading more than 100 cryptocurrencies. Learn about the Binance affiliate program.

• Coinbase – 50%

Coinbase is a digital currency exchange and wallet where individuals and businesses trade digital currencies like bitcoin, ethereum, and litecoin. Learn about the Coinbase affiliate program.

• Revolut – Up to £20.00

Revolut offers a secure, mobile-based current account that allows you to hold, exchange, and send cryptocurrencies. Learn about the Revolut affiliate program.

• Paxful – 50%

Paxful allows buyers and seller to meet online and trade Bitcoins. It has a wide range of payment methods and buying options, which can’t be found on traditional exchanges. Learn about Paxful affiliate program.

• Changelly – 50%

Changelly is a cryptocurrency exchange providing the ability to instantly and seamlessly exchange digital currencies. Learn about the Changelly affiliate program.

• Bitcoin.de – 10%

Bitcoin.de is a German bitcoin exchange and one of the largest bitcoin exchanges in Europe. Learn about the Bitcoin.de affiliate program.

• BitMEX – Up to 20%

BitMEX is a P2P trading platform that offers leveraged contracts that are bought and sold in Bitcoin. Learn about the BitMEX affiliate program.

• Bitpanada – 20%

Bitpanda is a leading retail broker in Europe for buying and selling cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, IOTA and more. Learn about the Bitpanada affiliate program.

• Bleutrade – 10 %

Bleutrade is a cryptocurrency exchange with lightning-fast trade execution and industry-leading security practices. Learn about the Bleutrade affiliate program.

• CEX.io – 30%

CEX is leading cryptocurrency exchange offering Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin Gold, Ethereum, Zcash, Dash and other trading options. Learn about the CEX affiliate program.

• Changer – 15%

Changer streamlines the exchange of one digital currency to another instantly. Learn about the Changer affiliate program.

• CoinCorner – £10

CoinCorner sells bitcoins, runs a BTC wallet app, and provides bitcoin payment processing for websites. Learn about the CoinCoiner affiliate program.

• Coinmama – 15%

Coinmama offers an easy, fast, and secure way to purchase Bitcoin and Ethereum. Affiliates earn Bitcoins while helping Coinmama gain new customers. Learn about the Coinmama affiliate program.

• Coinsquare – Up to 45%

Coinsquare is Canada’s leading platform for simple and secure trading of bitcoin, ethereum, gold and more. Learn about the Coinsquare referral program.

• Cryptohopper – 15%

Cryptohopper is a fully automated cryptocurrency trading bot and a platform where users can buy and sell top-performing trading strategies. Learn about the Cryptohopper affiliate program.

• DSX – 30%

DSX is a cryptocurrency exchange based in the United Kingdom. Learn about the DSX affiliate program.

• Exmo – 25%

Exmo is a cryptocurrency exchange and wallet that promises to offer low commissions, high security, fast deposits/withdrawals, and a user-friendly interface. Learn about the Exmo referral program.

• HitBTC – 50%

HitBTC is an advanced cryptocurrency exchange. Since 2013, it has been providing markets for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and more than 300 cryptocurrencies in total. Learn about the HitBTC affiliate program.

• KuCoin – 50%

KuCoin is a cryptocurrency exchange that specializes in many unique low-market cap altcoins, as well as the tried-and-true giants. Learn about the KuCoin affiliate program.

• LiveCoin – Up to 50%

Livecoin is a trading platform for accessing cryptocurrency exchange markets with a very simple interface and low trading fees. Learn about the LiveCoin affiliate program.

• LocalBitcoins – 40%

LocalBitcoins allows users to post advertisements regarding exchange rate and payment methods for buying and selling bitcoins. Learn about the LocalBitcoins affiliate program.

• Paybis – Up to 40%

Paybis.com enables you to buy, sell, and exchange bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. It provides a secure platform, credit card funding, live customer support, gift cards, and more. Learn about the Paybis referral program.

• ShapeShift – 0.25%

ShapeShift’s goal is to be the fastest, most private, and most convenient way to swap digital currencies. Learn about the ShapeShift affiliate program.

• SimpleFX – Up to 25%

SimpleFX is an online trading provider that offers forex CFDs on Bitcoins, Litecoins, indices, precious metals, and energy. Learn about the SimpleFX affiliate program.

• SpectroCoin – 10%

SpectroCoin is an all-in-one solution for Bitcoin. From exchanges to Bitcoin e-wallets, it has you covered. Learn about the SpectroCoin affiliate program.

• Superorder – 25%

Superorder.io is a trading terminal that is focused on simplicity and automation. It offers users a new way to manage trades across multiple exchanges under one roof. Learn about the Superorder affiliate program.

Wallet Affiliate Programs

Like a traditional wallet that you use to store money, an altcoin or bitcoin wallet is used to store private keys—a string of letters and numbers that produce a specific bitcoin address. There are different types of wallets, and wallets are usually encrypted with passwords for maximum security.

• Cryptopay – 10%

Cryptopay allows users to utilize all the benefits of a secure wallet. Also, customers can buy cryptocurrencies and prepaid cards with their debit or credit cards. Learn about the Cryptopay affiliate program.

• Ledger Wallet – 10%

Ledger is a leader in security and infrastructure solutions for cryptocurrencies and blockchain applications. Learn about the Ledger Wallet affiliate program.

• KeepKey – $20

KeepKey is a hardware wallet that secures bitcoin, ethereum, litecoin, and other altcoins. Learn about the KeepKey affiliate program.

• TREZOR – Up to 15%

TREZOR is a hardware wallet providing advanced security for handling bitcoin private keys. Learn about the TREZOR affiliate program.

• Wirex – Up to $10

Wirex is the world’s most popular provider of cryptocurrency wallets. Wallets can be linked to physical and virtual VISA debit cards. Learn about the Wirex affiliate program.

Tax Affiliate Programs

• TokenTax – 20%

TokenTax.co is the easiest way to report taxes on bitcoin, altcoins, and other digital currencies. Take the complexity out of your cryptocurrency taxes. Learn about the TokenTax affiliate program.

• CryptoTrader – 25%

CryptoTrader.Tax makes it easy to calculate your bitcoin and crypto tax liability. Learn about the CryptoTrader affiliate program.

IRA Affiliate Programs

• BitcoinIRA – $15 per minimum deposit

BitcoinIRA is a full-service solution that allows you to invest in Bitcoin and Ethereum using an Individual Retirement Account. Learn about the BitcoinIRA affiliate program.

• BitIRA – $30 per minimum deposit

BitIRA helps Americans purchase digital currencies, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple and more, for their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Learn about the BitIRA affiliate program.

Payment Affiliate Programs

• Blockonomics – 30%

Blockonomics is a decentralized payment processing system for merchants accepting digital currencies. Learn about the Blockonomics affiliate program.

• SpectroCoin–see above.

Other Affiliate Programs

• Amazon Associates – Up to 10%

As an Amazon affiliate, you can promote cryptocurrency wallets, books, apparel, physical coins, and key chains for commissions.

• Bitbond – Up to 50%

Bitbond is a global lending platform for small business loans. It leverages blockchain technology to connect creditworthy borrowers with individual and institutional investors. Learn about the Bitbond affiliate program.

• CoinTracking – 20%

CoinTracking analyzes all your trades and generates real-time and useful information such as the profit/loss of your trades, the value of your coins, balances, and more. Learn about the CoinTracking affiliate program.

• Earn.com – $1

Earn has made it possible to use digital currency to send and receive targeted, paid microtasks. Users can earn bitcoin by replying to emails and completing tasks. Sign up to Earn to access the Earn referral program.

• Fiverr – Up to $150

Fiverr is the largest online marketplace for freelancers with services starting at five dollars. Hundreds of freelancers offer “gigs” for Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, which you can promote. Learn about the Fiverr affiliate program.

• Kaiko – 15%

Kaiko collects, stores, and organizes digital assets information to help businesses succeed. It provides trade and order book data for all major cryptocurrency exchanges. Learn about the Kaiko affiliate program.

• Lolli – $5

Lolli is the first bitcoin rewards app that lets customers earn and own bitcoin when they shop online. It has partnered with 500+ top brands to help drive sales. Learn about the Lolli referral program in their FAQ.

• Online Courses –  Up to 45%

Several e-learning platforms offer courses about Bitcoin, for example, Coursera offers “Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies.” Learn about the Coursera affiliate program.

• xCoins – Up to 50%

xCoins is a peer-to-peer bitcoin lending platform. All loans originated at xCoins are person to person loans. xCoins does not lend funds or exchange bitcoin. Learn about the xCoins affiliate program.

*Contact me on LinkedIn to add your affiliate program to the list.