Learn-to-earn platforms have become a highly popular way of promoting various protocols, and more platforms are beginning to offer crypto rewards for online learners.

In many cases, all users need to do is register an account and open a wallet with learn-to-earn platforms to start receiving cryptocurrency. As a result, over time, it’s even possible to build a fair portfolio without having to make a deposit.

But what learn-to-earn platforms are available out there? And how does the process work? Can you really earn free crypto for learning about crypto?

How Does Learn-to-Earn Work?

For the many still fully immersed in more traditional forms of finance, the concept of “learn-to-earn” may sound too good to be true. Still, there is a strong movement within crypto where users can be rewarded in digital currency in return for learning about different areas of the industry.

Learn-to-earn programs typically require users to watch videos or read articles before taking a quiz that tests their knowledge of the content they’ve just consumed. Upon answering a small number of questions correctly, learners will be rewarded with a relatively small denomination of cryptocurrency, usually equating to around $1-$3.

Why do platforms offer learn-to-earn with crypto? In many cases, crypto-facing protocols allocate small pools of their currency to learn-to-earn platforms to improve user awareness and knowledge. Furthermore, assets with more holders can help to improve a cryptocurrency’s value and generate better market momentum.

Many learn-to-earn platforms also allow learners to instantly convert their assets to mainstream cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, adding a layer of flexibility. But where are these learn-to-earn platforms, and how can you get started? Let’s take a look at the biggest examples of learn-to-earn in crypto today:

1. Coinbase

The first and one of the most renowned learn-to-earn platforms on our list is Coinbase. As one of the largest crypto exchanges in the world and a Nasdaq-listed company, Coinbase is a trustworthy platform for users to earn crypto through learning.

As you can see from the screenshot above, Coinbase splits its learning platform into different protocols and breaks quizzes down into three or four parts. These miniature modules usually involve reading some paragraphs of information and consuming some educational graphics before answering a multiple-choice question with four possible answers.

Although payouts can change, each question answered is usually worth about $1 of crypto. In addition, learning modules are frequently added so users can build a useful portfolio through learning alone over time.

2. Binance

Another renowned crypto exchange that offers learn-to-earn features is Binance. Similar to Coinbase, Binance users need to sign up to create an account, verify their identity, and sign up to Binance Academy to gain access to a sprawling suite of educational modules that are categorized by difficulty.

Here, it’s worth noting that different courses have different entry requirements, and those that enable learners to earn money typically specify above the course title.

3. Earnathon

Earnathon is a specialist learning platform that hosts various educational courses that reward learners with crypto assets.

At Earnathon, courses can be introductory and more generalized, such as learning about how cryptocurrency wallets work, or they can be more intricate, dealing with specific protocols and blockchain networks.

The great thing about Earnathon is the different ways that users can learn-to-earn. The platform has its own cryptocurrency to help make rewards more consistent. It is in the process of introducing its own “Black Apple” rewards scheme whereby learners can compete with one another on leaderboards to earn bigger prizes.

4. CoinMarketCap

Popular market cap and price ticker site CoinMarketCap also features a resourceful learn-to-earn function. Rather than functioning as a crypto exchange primarily, CoinMarketCap is a price-tracking platform that sees learn-to-earn as a strong approach to promoting greater crypto literacy among users.

Through CoinMarketCap Earn, users can watch videos, take lessons, and earn cryptocurrency through on-site assessments.

Lessons within this platform are more extensive than the likes of Coinbase, which is a good thing for those interested in learning more about new and upcoming protocols as they go. Thanks to CoinMarketCap’s range of partnerships with developing projects, many of the rewards distributed empower users to earn the native currency of the platforms they’re learning about.

5. BitDegree

In a refreshing approach to the cryptocurrency landscape, BitDegree identifies itself as a crypto learning hub that specializes in promoting understanding and comprehension of products. In the future, the platform has announced that it plans to launch the “Learnoverse,” which is set to be a crypto learning metaverse that offers a wholly immersive experience for users.

Here, learners watch video content known as “Learndrops” before completing assessments on what they’ve studied to be rewarded in cryptocurrency based on their performance.

6. Cake DeFi

Cake DeFi is another platform from a different area of the crypto landscape to offer learning capabilities. However, unlike the other options we’ve looked at, Cake DeFi offers lessons in some of the biggest assets throughout the world of crypto: Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Although lessons can be limited, Cake DeFi is one of the more straightforward ways of earning cryptocurrency in return for your knowledge of the world’s largest crypto assets.

7. Phemex

Crypto trading and investment platform Phemex possesses a great range of informative, educational modules that allow users to earn cryptocurrency as they build their knowledge of the industry.

Crucially, unlike other learn-to-earn platforms that promote the education of partnered protocols that are paid out in native cryptocurrencies, Phemex offers modules that can provide strong overviews of some of the most important aspects of the industry, like “what are crypto derivatives?” and “fiat currency vs. cryptocurrency?”.

Because lessons are more geared toward general questions concerning the crypto landscape, Phemex’s learn-to-earn platform is an excellent place to start for beginners.

8. EarnCrypto

Another specialist crypto learning platform, EarnCrypto offers learners many ways to earn cryptocurrency via the help of informative videos and assessments, as well as more generalized approaches like completing surveys and various online tasks.

As we can see from the platform’s home page, more than 57,000 payments have already been awarded to users, and EarnCrypto currently stands as one of the landscape’s best payout ratios for those looking to earn their way to a healthy portfolio.

9. Publish0x

Okay, so for full disclosure, Publish0x isn’t strictly a learning platform, but it does empower users to earn crypto by simply reading or viewing crypto-facing content within the platform. In this sense, by learning about crypto through viewing themed content, you can still learn and earn at the same time, and the lack of an assessment to confirm the transaction at the end may come as a bonus for some users.

It’s also possible for users to earn crypto by publishing their own content, which means you could theoretically earn even more by sharing what you’ve learned in your own articles.

10. Crypto PopCoin

Again, Crypto PopCoin isn’t quite a learn-to-earn platform, but it does help newcomers to learn about some of the landscape’s most popular coins in an engaging way, all while earning free crypto.

Crypto PopCoin is a downloadable game that follows a similar format to the likes of CandyCrush. However, instead of grouping candies together to win, users must group together cryptocurrencies to “pop” them and progress further.

This can help players better understand the assets that populate the crypto space and earn tokens in an enjoyable manner.

Great for Newcomers to Crypto

Whether you’re keen to familiarize yourself with the world of crypto or are cautious about parting with your money to make your first crypto investment, learn-to-earn platforms offer a great entry point into the industry–helping you to make your first micro-investments to learn the ropes while gaining a better understanding of how cryptocurrencies work.

For this reason, it’s certainly worth giving learn-to-earn platforms a try, and it’s even possible to gain a reasonable amount of crypto in the process. However, it’s also worth keeping vigilant against scams that promise crypto for giving up personal information or wallet details. If you ever feel unsure about the legitimacy of a website, it’s always best to stay cautious.

​The information on this website does not constitute financial advice, investment advice, or trading advice, and should not be considered as such. MakeUseOf does not advise on any trading or investing matters and does not advise that any particular cryptocurrency should be bought or sold. Always conduct your own due diligence and consult a licensed financial adviser for investment advice.