How to Earn Passive Income by Staking on Crypto.com

Staking means committing coins to help secure a proof-of-stake blockchain. In return, the network pays rewards, usually in the same coin. When you run your own validator, you need technical skills, uptime and often a large minimum balance. Crypto.com offers a simpler route: you hold supported coins in your account, choose a staking option and the platform handles the validator side on your behalf.

That convenience has a trade-off. Staking through an exchange is custodial. The platform holds your assets, decides which validators or infrastructure to use, and sets the terms for lock-ups and withdrawals. The reward you see is typically the network reward minus whatever the platform keeps, so it can be lower than what a direct validator or an on-chain pool would pay.

It also helps to separate a few terms that are often mixed together:

• Staking: coins are delegated to a proof-of-stake network and earn protocol rewards.
• Earn or lending-style products: coins are lent out or deployed by the platform, and the yield comes from that activity rather than from network consensus.
• Liquid staking: you receive a transferable receipt token for your stake, which is how Lido, Rocket Pool and Jito work on-chain.

The label in the app tells you which type of product you are looking at, and the risks differ. "Passive income" is a fair description of the effort involved, but not of the risk: rewards are paid in a volatile asset, and the value of your principal can fall by more than the rewards add.

Staking features depend on where you live and how far you have verified your account. Before you plan around any yield, check the following.

Eligibility and verification

• Complete identity verification in the app. Exchanges are legally required to verify users, and staking is normally available only to verified accounts.
• Check whether staking is offered in your country or state. Availability for some products has changed over time and varies by region. The app's own terms and help pages are the right source, and local regulation applies to you regardless.
• Do not use workarounds to bypass regional limits or verification. It can breach the platform's terms and put your funds at risk of being frozen.

Account security

• Turn on two-factor authentication using an authenticator app instead of SMS where possible.
• Set up anti-phishing and withdrawal protections if the app offers them, such as address whitelisting.
• Use a strong, unique password and a separate email address for your exchange account.

Decide what you are staking

• Pick coins you already intend to hold. Staking is not a reason to buy an asset you would not otherwise own.
• Work out an amount you can leave locked without needing it for bills, emergencies or a planned trade.
• Note the coin's own risks: a high advertised reward on a small or inflationary token often reflects higher risk or heavy dilution.

Taking ten minutes to check these points avoids most of the regrettable outcomes later.

The exact menus change with app updates, but the process has followed the same shape for a long time. Use this as a checklist and follow the on-screen wording in the current version.

1. Create and verify your account. Install the official app from your phone's store or sign in through the official website, and finish identity verification.
2. Secure the account. Enable two-factor authentication before you deposit anything.
3. Fund the account. Buy a supported coin with a payment method available in your region, or deposit it from another wallet. For deposits, send a small test amount first and confirm you chose the right network.
4. Find the staking or earn section. Look for the staking, earn or similar tab and filter for the coin you hold.
5. Open the asset's staking page. Read the displayed reward rate, the minimum amount, the lock-up or unbonding terms and how often rewards are paid.
6. Enter an amount and choose a term if options exist. Some assets give a flexible option and one or more fixed terms.
7. Review the confirmation screen. Check the amount, the term, whether the rate is variable, and what happens if you want to withdraw early.
8. Confirm and monitor. Rewards usually appear in the app on a schedule. Keep a record of the date and amount for tax purposes.

If the coin you want is not listed, it is not supported for staking in your region or account type. Do not move funds elsewhere in a rush; compare alternatives calmly, as the later sections explain.

A staking rate is an estimate, not a promise. It reflects the network's reward schedule, how many coins are staked overall, and the platform's share. Several factors move it.

• Network inflation and issuance. Many proof-of-stake chains create new coins to pay stakers. When more people stake, the reward per coin generally falls.
• Total amount staked. A larger staking pool dilutes each participant's share.
• Platform fees or commission. The displayed rate is usually what you receive after the platform's cut, but check how the app describes it.
• Validator performance. Validators that go offline or misbehave earn less, and in serious cases can lose a portion of staked coins.
• Promotional rates. Some products show a higher rate for a limited period or a capped amount. Read the conditions.

Nominal rate versus real return. A reward paid in the same coin increases your coin count, not necessarily your purchasing power. If the coin's price falls 30 percent while you earn single-digit yield, you are behind. If network inflation is high, the percentage you earn may mainly offset dilution rather than create real gain.

Where to check current figures. Rates change frequently, so do not rely on any number quoted in an article. Read the live rate on the app's staking page, compare it with the network's published staking reward data from a reputable explorer or analytics dashboard, and see whether the gap seems reasonable given the platform's fees.

Compounding. If rewards are paid out to your balance but not automatically re-staked, you may have to stake them again manually. Check whether auto-compounding applies.

Lock-up terms matter as much as the headline rate, because they decide when you can react to market moves. Terms vary by asset and product, so read them on each staking page before confirming.

Common structures

• Flexible staking: you can usually withdraw whenever you like, sometimes after a short processing delay. The rate is often lower.
• Fixed-term staking: you commit for a set period, such as weeks or months, in exchange for a higher rate or a promotional benefit. Early withdrawal may be blocked or may forfeit rewards.
• Unbonding period: many networks make you wait after you request to unstake. During that time your coins earn nothing and may not be tradable, which can span days or weeks depending on the chain.

Questions to answer before you confirm

1. Can I withdraw early, and what does it cost?
2. Is there an unbonding delay, and do rewards stop during it?
3. Are my staked coins still counted as available for trading or collateral?
4. When are rewards paid, and can I claim them separately?
5. Does the rate stay fixed for the term or change at any time?

A practical rule is to match the lock-up to your time horizon. If there is a realistic chance you will need the funds, choose a flexible option, or do not stake that portion. A higher rate on a long lock-up only helps if you are comfortable holding through any price drop without wanting to sell.

Crypto.com has linked its native token, CRO, to account benefits at various times, including card tiers, rewards and other perks that depend on staking CRO for a set time. The rules have been revised over the years, so do not assume that older descriptions still apply.

What to check on the current terms

• The amount of CRO required for each benefit tier.
• The minimum lock-up period and whether unstaking early removes the benefit.
• Whether the benefit applies to your region, since card and rewards programmes differ by country.
• Whether any rewards from the benefit are paid in CRO, in another coin or as a rebate.

How to think about it

Staking CRO to unlock perks makes sense only if the perks are worth more to you than the cost of holding a single volatile token. If you would not buy and hold CRO otherwise, then the effective cost includes the price risk of the token, the lock-up and the opportunity cost of other uses of that money. Run the numbers using your own spending: a rebate on a card is only valuable in proportion to what you spend.

The same caution applies to any exchange token. Platforms can change rewards, caps and tier thresholds, and a token that is attractive today because of its perks can lose that appeal if the programme changes. Make decisions on the terms currently published in the app, and leave out anything you have read in older reviews or social posts.

Passive income does not mean risk-free income. Keep these risks in view.

• Price risk. Rewards are paid in a coin whose value can fall quickly. This is usually the biggest risk by far.
• Custodial and counterparty risk. When an exchange holds your coins, you rely on its security, solvency and operational controls. Withdrawals can be paused during outages, investigations or legal events. Do not keep more on any single platform than you can afford to have inaccessible.
• Slashing and validator risk. Proof-of-stake networks may penalise validators for downtime or double-signing. Platforms may absorb these losses or may pass them on under their terms, so read how the app handles it.
• Lock-up risk. If the market drops while you are locked or unbonding, you cannot sell at the price you wanted.
• Rate risk. A variable rate can fall after you stake, and a promotional rate can end.
• Regulatory risk. Staking products have attracted regulatory attention in several jurisdictions, and platforms can withdraw or alter features accordingly.
• Account takeover and scams. Fake support agents, phishing emails and fake apps target exchange users. Staff will never need your password or two-factor codes.

Defensive habits

1. Stake only a portion of your holdings.
2. Use authenticator-based two-factor authentication and withdrawal whitelists.
3. Open the app only from official sources, and ignore unsolicited messages offering to boost your staking.
4. Keep long-term holdings you do not intend to stake in a hardware wallet.
5. Diversify across coins and platforms so one failure is not decisive.

Tax treatment of staking differs by country, and it has changed in several places as authorities issue guidance. The following points are general and not tax advice.

• Rewards as income. Many tax systems treat staking rewards as income at their market value on the day you receive them. Others may treat them differently, or at a later point such as when they are sold.
• Capital gains on disposal. When you later sell, swap or spend the rewarded coins, you may owe tax on any gain measured from the value you recorded when you received them.
• Moving between products. Converting a coin to another before staking can itself be a taxable event.
• Losses. Falling prices can create a capital loss that may offset gains, depending on local rules.

Record-keeping habits

1. Download the transaction and rewards history from the app regularly, rather than waiting until a deadline.
2. Note the date, coin, amount and fiat value of each reward.
3. Keep deposit and withdrawal records, including the wallet addresses involved.
4. Store the files somewhere that does not depend on your exchange account.
5. Use a reputable crypto tax tool or a qualified accountant in your country if you have more than a handful of transactions.

If the platform provides a tax report, treat it as a starting point and verify it against your own records. Exchanges may not capture transfers you made to and from other wallets, which can produce gaps in cost basis.

Staking on an exchange is only one route. Others suit different priorities, and comparing them shows what you are giving up for convenience.

Approach	Custody	Effort	Main extra risk	Examples
Exchange staking	Platform	Low	Counterparty and withdrawal limits	Crypto.com, OKX, Bitvavo, CEX.IO, Coinsquare
Liquid staking on-chain	You (wallet)	Medium	Smart contract and token depeg risk	Lido, Rocket Pool, Jito, Marinade
Native staking to a validator	You	Higher	Slashing, unbonding delays	Marinade Native for Solana
Lending or savings yield	Varies	Low to medium	Borrower, liquidation and protocol risk	Compound V3, Spark Savings

When exchange staking fits. You value simplicity, want fiat on-ramps in the same place and are comfortable with custody. It suits small to moderate amounts and people who do not want to manage wallets.

When on-chain staking fits. You want to control your keys, use a receipt token such as stETH, rETH or JitoSOL in other applications, or avoid platform withdrawal restrictions. You also take on wallet security, gas fees and smart contract risk, so start with a small test amount and check audits and track records.

Comparing fairly. Compare rates after fees, include lock-up and unbonding times, and consider the cost of moving funds. A slightly higher on-chain rate may disappear after gas costs on a small balance. Liquid staking tokens add a risk that the token trades below the value of the underlying coin during stress.

None of these is universally better. Match the method to your skill, time horizon and how much risk you can accept.

A simple routine keeps staking boring, which is what you want from passive income.

Before staking

1. Confirm staking is available to you under local rules and the app's terms.
2. Enable two-factor authentication and withdrawal protections.
3. Choose a coin you are happy to hold for the long term.
4. Decide how much you can leave untouched for the full lock-up.

When staking

1. Read the rate, term, unbonding and early-exit rules on the confirmation screen.
2. Stake a modest first amount and watch the first reward arrive before adding more.
3. Record the amount, date and terms in a spreadsheet.

While staked

• Check the live rate occasionally rather than daily. Daily price watching tends to cause rash decisions.
• Watch for announcements from the platform about changes to terms, supported assets or regional availability.
• Reassess if the coin's fundamentals change, such as a major protocol change or a sustained drop in network activity.
• Revisit your allocation once or twice a year, and move long-term holdings you are not staking into self-custody.

When unstaking

• Allow for the unbonding delay in your plans.
• Export your reward history before withdrawing or closing a position.
• Withdraw to an address you have verified, and test with a small amount first when sending large sums.

Past staking returns do not predict future ones. Treat the yield as a modest bonus on an asset you chose for other reasons, not as the reason to hold it. This article is educational and not financial advice.