Earn Interest on Bitcoin: Your Comprehensive Guide

Users of Bitcoin have many advantages over those who use fiat money or the traditional banking system. One of the biggest perks of owning Bitcoin is the ease of building wealth over time. While trading Bitcoin is a good investment strategy in and of itself, earning interest on Bitcoin has become one of the fastest and comparatively safer ways to make money.

However, before thinking about how to earn interest on Bitcoin, there are a few things you need to understand. Considering the value of Bitcoin reached USD 65,000 before falling by 30% within hours, it makes sense to question whether it is safe to put your funds into Bitcoin. This article covers all you need to know to begin earning interest on Bitcoin.

Intro

Bitcoin was launched in January 2009 by the anonymous Satoshi Nakamoto. It didn't gain much traction for the next couple of years, and its value ranged around USD 1 for quite some time. The price of Bitcoin kept climbing after 2011 and received a drastic spike in 2017 when its price surged by 1000%, and people finally started considering it as a worthwhile investment.

Bitcoin has long been considered the next big thing in finance, and people have finally caught on to an age-old concept: earn money with money. Initially, people were skeptical of owning digital assets during the early days of Bitcoin. Many people and institutions are slowly coming around to appreciate Bitcoin's role in the financial world.

With the emergence of multiple platforms that offer access to a wide range of tools designed to reduce the need for intermediaries and enhance returns, Bitcoin holders can earn high-interest rates on their assets.

What is a Bitcoin Interest Account?

Bitcoin interest accounts are similar to traditional savings accounts offered by banks. By depositing funds into a traditional account, the bank has permission to lend the funds in the account to a third party for a certain period in exchange for a set interest rate every year. In the same way, you agree to let someone borrow your bitcoin in exchange for interest that is paid to you regularly.

The interest rates on Bitcoin are typically higher than those on traditional bank accounts. Also, people with interest accounts get paid weekly for their idle Bitcoin, while traditional investments like fixed deposits and mutual funds earn interest over a long period of time.

Interest accounts are smart investments for Bitcoin owners looking to hold onto their assets for the long haul. These accounts are also great for people who want to earn interest and generate a passive income without going through the hassle of trading Bitcoin.

Furthermore, interest accounts give you a way to save and make money simultaneously.

Bitcoin interest accounts are to be viewed as a financial investment vehicle. If you believe in the prospect of Bitcoin and consider it to be well worth the risk, earning regular yields on it is an effective way to gain a steady income.

How to Choose a Bitcoin Savings Account?

There are many platforms available that you can choose to deposit your bitcoin into, and they offer different interest rates and features that may or may not be what you are looking for.

Some common topics that should help you in choosing a Bitcoin investment platform are:

Interest Rates

The annual percentage yield, or APY rate, is the most important thing to think about when choosing a platform. These interest rates vary from platform to platform and help determine whether a platform is worth investing in. Choose only a platform with the best, most realistic interest rate, and ensure that it has a track record of paying its users as promised.

Hidden Fees

Ensure your preferred platform does not charge hidden fees. Most investment platforms charge service fees on your withdrawals, trades, and even investments. While some platforms offer free withdrawals once a month, the withdrawal fee could catch you off guard.

Security

Authentication checks are done every time a user tries to access their wallet or make a trade on a Bitcoin investment platform. This is done to protect their wallets. These security measures can be in the form of Google's 2FA, fingerprint sensing, face recognition, or even something as simple as a password. The less likely it is that hackers will be able to get into your wallet, the more security measures you have.

Also, it's important to know that most Bitcoin platforms require users to verify their ID before they can use all of the platform's features.

Compound Interest

In traditional interest, your principal amount stays the same even as you earn regular interest. In compound interest, however, any interest you earn is added to the principal amount you invest.

Consider this scenario: if you were to invest 1 bitcoin at 6% per annum, you would gain 0.06 bitcoin as interest. At the end of the first year, this interest would be credited to your wallet, and the principal would become 1.06 BTC for the next period.

This would net you 0.0636 BTC in interest for the next term. So, the amount of interest earned increases with compound interest. Ensure that the platform you choose offers compound interest on your Bitcoin assets.

Steps to Earn Interest on Bitcoin

1. Create an account. First, you need to create an account on the investment platform of your choice. Most platforms offer mobile apps, so you can sign up by providing your email address and setting up your password. You will be able to access your wallet once you verify your email.

2. Deposit Bitcoin in your wallet. After setting up your account, the next step is to add your Bitcoin assets to your wallet. There are two ways you can do this: either by transferring your BTC from another wallet or buying Bitcoin and setting up a new portfolio.

If you want to deposit Bitcoin from another wallet, copy your newly created wallet's address. Use it as the withdrawal address on your original wallet, and transfer the amount of Bitcoin you wish to invest.

If you plan to build a new portfolio, platforms such as Kraken allow you to purchase Bitcoin from the app itself. Otherwise, you need to buy Bitcoin from an external exchange and deposit it into your wallet. Be aware that doing so may incur some transaction fees.

1. Earn yields. Once your wallet is credited with BTC, you can begin learning interest by using the instruments and services offered by the platform. Some platforms, like Binance, provide multiple means to earn interest, each with its own set of pros and cons. One instrument might allow you to acquire higher yields at the cost of locking your Bitcoin for a specific period. In contrast, another tool might allow you to earn comparatively lower profits but allow you to withdraw your assets as you see fit.

Best Platforms for Earning Interest on Bitcoin

YouHodler

YouHodler is an investment platform that offers 3.05% interest on Bitcoin. YouHodler allows you to buy Bitcoin via wire transfer without charging any fees on the transaction.

The Multi HODL service enables you to earn a profit even if the market is in a downtrend. You can also invest your bitcoin in the savings account, which offers less risk than multi-HODL.

YouHodler uses a mix of hot and cold wallets, and the assets of its users are kept in the care of Ledger Vault. It is also a member of the Blockchain Association.

How to earn Bitcoin interest on YouHodler?

1. Download the mobile app from Google Play or App Store, or you can use this link to access YouHodler from a desktop.

2. Sign up by providing your email address and creating a password.

3. Verify your email address and phone number to deposit your Bitcoin.

Nexo

Nexo is a Bitcoin investment platform that allows you to earn interest rates up to 7% APY on Bitcoin, and you can access its features and services from any system, thanks to its web application. It doesn't charge you anything to make a transaction, and you can instantly exchange any of the cryptos in your portfolio for Bitcoin or vice versa.

Nexo has security that is on par with that of the military, and Bitgo, Ledger, and Bakkt cover it for up to USD 775 million.

Caution: The higher interest rates of 7% APY on Bitcoin are only available to investors who earn interest in Nexo's token cryptocurrency.

How to earn Bitcoin interest on Nexo

1. Download the mobile app from Google Play or App Store. Alternatively, you can use the web application.

2. Sign up by providing your email address and setting a password.

3. Verify your email address to start adding Bitcoin to your wallet.

CoinLoan

CoinLoan is an Estonia-based investment platform that offers solid APY rates of up to 3.2% on your bitcoin. CoinLoan also features a web application that you can access from any OS and a convenient mobile app that allows investors to use its services.

CoinLoan does not charge any fee when you deposit or withdraw bitcoin.

CoinLoan has SSL with TLS 1.3, DNSSEC, and HSTS encryption standards, which are all security features. It utilizes a web application firewall and DDOS protection to reduce the risk of external tampering with wallets by hackers.

How to earn Bitcoin interest on CoinLoan?

1. You can either download the mobile app from Google Play or the App Store or use the web application to sign up.

2. Register by submitting your email address and a password.

3. Verify your identity by providing your personal information, ID proof, and a selfie.

4. That's it. You can now deposit Bitcoin into your CoinLoan wallet and start earning interest.

Safety Tips When Choosing a Platform

Accountability

Every platform should have information about its founder(s), where it is based, and the total number of assets it owns. While all this information may seem unnecessary, it goes a long way to prove the legitimacy of a platform.

Also, the platform should be regulated by a license such as the AML (anti-money laundering) license. It should also offer security options to keep hackers from getting into the wallets of its users and insurance for its users.

The best way to determine whether a platform is trustworthy is through proper research and customer reviews.

Lock-in Period

Many platforms require you to lock your bitcoin for a set period of time before you can withdraw it. If the market were to go on a downswing, the value of your investment would decrease since you couldn't withdraw your assets.

So, keep the lock-in period in mind whenever you invest your bitcoin.

Pros and Cons

Pros

High-Interest Rates

When compared to getting interest on fiat currencies, the main benefit of investing in bitcoin is the extra money you can make. The traditional banking system offers as little as 1% interest on savings annually. The rates are five times higher than traditional savings accounts with a Bitcoin interest account.

Frequent Payouts

Bitcoin investment platforms provide interest at frequent intervals. Platforms such as YouHodler allow you to withdraw your interest as often as every week. Bitcoin payouts happen a lot more often than payouts from investments in fiat currencies, which can take months or even years.

Cons

Fluctuating Value

One of the most significant risks associated with Bitcoin is its volatility. If you want to invest in Bitcoin, you have to accept that its value will be a bit uncertain.

Although the price of Bitcoin has risen exponentially over the last decade, it has also plummeted plenty of times as the Bitcoin market is prone to a lot of turmoil.

Hacking

Hackers can break into platforms with weak encryption and poor security infrastructure and steal your assets. Cyberattacks, phishing attacks, and hacks are likely to happen on Bitcoin lending platforms that don't have a license.

Borrowers' Default

Most of the time, borrowers don't pay back Bitcoin loans because the lending platform didn't check the borrower's identity before giving them the money. Companies with strict lending requirements and transparent lending standards have lower risk levels. To avoid the borrower default trap, a background check must be performed ahead of time.

FAQs

Can you earn interest on Bitcoin with Coinbase?

No, Coinbase allows you to earn interest on coins such as Ethereum, Algorand, Cosmos, Tezos, Dai, and USD Coin. However, this is only possible on the Coinbase wallet. You can't earn interest on bitcoin with any Coinbase product.

Can you earn interest on Bitcoin with Ledger?

No. Since Bitcoin can’t be staked, you can’t earn interest on it via the ledger. Furthermore, you can’t lend bitcoin with Aave or Compound, so lending bitcoin with Ledger is also not possible.

Can you stake Bitcoin?

No. You can only stake coins that use the proof of stake (POS) mechanism. Bitcoin is based on the proof-of-work model and, hence, does not support staking.

Summary

Bitcoin has a lot of potential as an investment. You can generate a steady passive income by using Bitcoin investment accounts. It's very important to choose an investment platform and learn about its features and services.

The high interest rates on Bitcoin come with their own set of risks. So, you should think about the risks you are willing to take before you jump into Bitcoin lending and savings accounts.