Cryptocurrency can be intimidating at first, but with some research, you'll discover a vast array of opportunities to earn and contribute value. Let's explore some of these methods:

1. 🧑‍💻 Find an occupation that pays you in crypto
   Examples:
   - you work for a company that can pay in crypto (e.g. Coinbase, AvaLabs, Cointelegraph, etc.)
   - you do some gig work in exchange for crypto (direct p2p, or using a decentralized freelancing app)
   - you create a web3 project and collect revenue in crypto (dApp, meme coin, NFT, deSo, etc.)
   Advantages:
   - direct access to crypto
   Risks:
   - may be limited list of crypto-assets (but you can always exchange)
   
   
2. 🏦 Convert (part of) your paycheck into crypto
   Examples:
   - you convert your paycheck to $usdc, then allocate in crypto
   - you directly buy crypto through your wallet using an on-ramp service (e.g. Core App with OnRamper)
   Advantages:
   - you control the amount you buy
   - you can time your buys
   Risks:
   - (variable prices) it's hard to time buys
   
   
3. 🪙 Stake / ⛏️ Mine your coins
   Examples:
   - you stake 2000 $avax and receive a staking fee for securing the network
   - you mine bitcoin and hope you get one of the rewards
   Advantages:
   - you get fairly high return rates
   - you participate in making the blockchain successful and secure
   Risks:
   - opportunity cost with locked assets
   - for staking, you may need to have a large number of tokens; for mining, you may need sufficient hardware to make it economical
   - rewards are distributed, hence potentially taxable (think dividends in stocks)
   
   
4. 🤝 Delegate your coins
   Examples:
   - you use a liquid staking service and buy the underlying asset (e.g. $sAvax)
   Advantages:
   - you can use and trade the asset at any time (i.e less opportunity cost)
   - the asset is usually a wrapped token, so rewards are reflected as "appreciation"
   Risks:
   - lower take rate vs staking
   - delegator risk
   
   
5. 💸 Lend your coins
   Examples:
   - you use a decentralized lending platform, and deposit/supply tokens that will be used by other users to borrow (e.g. BenQi, TraderJoe or Aave)
   Advantages:
   - you may get high return rates at times
   - you are putting your assets at work
   Risks:
   - limited list of tokens that can be supplied
   - variable rates (opportunity cost)
   - platform risk
   
   
6. 🧑‍🌾 Farm for coins
   Examples:
   - you provide liquidity for a token via LP on a decentralized exchange app (dex), and receive fees + potentially the platform token (e.g. TJ or Chikn farmland)
   - you "stake" your coin on a platform in exchange for token rewards (continuous or after lockup period)
   Advantages:
   - you may get high return rates at times
   - you are putting your assets at work
   Risks:
   - dumping of farmed tokens
   - impermanent loss if LP
   - opportunity cost
   - platform risk
   
   
7. 📈 Trade your coins
   Examples:
   - you try to trade your coin for another asset that would appreciate at a higher rate
   - you buy and sell crypto or NFTs
   Advantages:
   - you have control of your actions
   Risks:
   - requires expertise in trading strategies
   - loss of value
   
   
   The key to success lies in developing a strong investment thesis for the crypto assets you choose to hold. We'll delve deeper into some of these concepts in future posts.
   In the meantime, happy hodling and earning!