Crypto

Browser

I used Brave browser for over 9 months and earned almost 40 BAT tokens (~$20).

Initially, getting paid for viewing ads was a novel experience. However, the payout was minimal, and my tax return became more complicated due to the crypto earnings. Additionally, I didn't want to be distracted whenever I used the browser.

Although I could turn off the crypto feature in Brave, there was no compelling reason to use it over Chrome or Firefox. After all, the crypto feature was the primary reason I tried the browser.

Ultimately, I switched back to Chrome.

Broker

I have an account with Gemini. When Gemini was offering an 8% APY for holding GUSD stablecoin, I deposited some money to test the waters. The experience was smooth and without any issues.

However, due to recent bankruptcies in the crypto world and the reduction in interest rates, I withdrew my funds. This decision proved to be wise, as Gemini halted withdrawals in November 2022.

Staking

For some cryptocurrencies, new transactions are validated either through mining or staking.

To explain staking, let's use an example: I hold some tokens in ABC exchange. ABC can use my holdings to validate a new block. If ABC is chosen by the network and successfully creates the block, they will distribute the rewards to their users.

This process is similar to a savings account, where I deposit my money and the bank pays me a small interest. However, a savings account is safer because it is insured. In the worst-case scenario, if the bank goes out of business, I can still recover my funds.

There is no insurance for crypto, which explains the higher staking rewards.