Top Crypto Affiliate Programs for Content Creators (What to Pick)
Crypto affiliate programs can be a steady revenue stream for creators and publishers who teach crypto workflows, and for agencies that run newsletters, blogs, or media channels. This guide is not for token issuers looking for investors or token buyers, it is for people promoting tools and platforms responsibly.
- Pick programs that match your audience intent first, payout comes second.
- Prefer 1 primary offer per page, plus 1 backup to avoid choice overload.
- Treat rates, cookies, and product eligibility as terms that change, verify inside each affiliate dashboard.
- Use the comparison table, then read the program notes to spot trust and compliance risks.
- Jump to the comparison table or FAQ.
Who this shortlist is for (and who it is not)
This page is for:
- Crypto creators, publishers, and newsletter owners monetizing educational content.
- Agencies and service providers who also publish content and want clean, non-scammy monetization.
This page is not:
- A playbook for token issuers trying to find buyers, investors, or liquidity.
- Financial advice, trading advice, or a promise of earnings.
How to evaluate crypto affiliate programs
A good affiliate offer should reduce reader risk, not increase it. Before you sign up, score each program on a few practical dimensions.
Fast scoring checklist (copy this into a notes doc)
| Criteria | What to check | Red flag to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Audience fit | Does your audience already ask for this workflow? | You have to "convince" people to need it |
| Trust | Brand reputation, support responsiveness, clear docs | Vague terms, hard to find restrictions |
| Payout model | Revenue share, CPA, retail commission, or hybrid | Incentives that push bad behavior |
| Attribution | Cookie window, account-level attribution, sub-IDs | No clarity on what counts as a referral |
| Restrictions | Regions, KYC, leverage, derivatives, age gates | Your audience cannot legally use it |
| Creative assets | Landing pages, banners, deep links, tracking | You can only link to one generic page |
| Reporting | Basic dashboard clarity, payout timing, dispute flow | You cannot tell what is working |
Affiliate programs update commission structure, cookies, eligible products, and geos. Any numbers you see in affiliate marketing content should be treated as needs confirmation until you verify them in the official program dashboard.
Comparison table: top crypto affiliate programs
This is a practical shortlist across three buckets: exchanges, instant swaps, and hardware wallets. It is designed for creators who want to promote a small portfolio, instead of sprinkling ten links across every post.
| Program | Category | Payout model (high level) | Attribution (high level) | Best fit content | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binance | Exchange | Trading-fee revenue share (terms vary) | Cookie and/or account tagging (terms vary) | Global exchange explainers, comparisons | Selective approval in some cases |
| Coinbase | Exchange | Time-boxed fee share (terms vary) | Cookie and/or account tagging (terms vary) | Beginner on-ramp tutorials | Availability varies by region |
| Kraken | Exchange | Fee share, sometimes capped (terms vary) | Cookie and/or account tagging (terms vary) | Security-first guides | Read caps and exclusions closely |
| Bybit | Exchange | Tiered fee share, may include sub-affiliates (terms vary) | Cookie and/or account tagging (terms vary) | Derivatives education (compliance aware) | Derivatives restrictions can apply |
| KuCoin | Exchange | Tiered fee share (terms vary) | Cookie and/or account tagging (terms vary) | Altcoin discovery workflows | Shorter decision windows can matter |
| Bitget | Hybrid CeFi/DeFi | Fee share across products (terms vary) | Varies by product flow | CeFi-to-DeFi bridge guides | Confirm which products are eligible |
| Phemex | Exchange | Fee share, may include sub-affiliates (terms vary) | Varies by program | Platform walkthroughs | Confirm how tracking works per product |
| Changelly | Instant swap | Rev share, sometimes CPA/hybrid (terms vary) | Session and/or account tagging (terms vary) | How-to swap tutorials | Widget and embedded flows can help |
| Ledger | Hardware wallet | Retail commission per sale (terms vary) | Cookie-based tracking (terms vary) | Self-custody and safety checklists | Seasonal promos can shift demand |
| Trezor | Hardware wallet | Retail commission per sale, may be tiered (terms vary) | Cookie-based tracking (terms vary) | Setup guides and comparisons | Confirm payout method and cadence |
Program notes (what to promote, and what to watch)
Binance: exchange affiliate program
- Category: Exchange
- Best content: Exchange comparisons, onboarding walkthroughs, fee explainers
- Why it can work: Brand recognition can reduce friction for global audiences
- Watch-outs: Approval requirements and regional restrictions can change, treat commission claims as needs confirmation
Official link: Binance Affiliate Program
Coinbase: exchange affiliate program
- Category: Exchange
- Best content: Beginner "first buy" guides, compliance-forward explainers
- Why it can work: Simple onboarding can suit top-of-funnel readers
- Watch-outs: Program availability and terms can vary by region, confirm current terms inside the dashboard
Official link: Coinbase Affiliates
Kraken: exchange affiliate program
- Category: Exchange
- Best content: Security-first tutorials, custody and risk explainers
- Why it can work: Trust positioning can matter for cautious readers
- Watch-outs: Some programs include referral caps or exclusions, verify details before you publish them
Official link: Kraken Affiliate overview
Bybit: exchange affiliate program
- Category: Exchange (often derivatives-heavy)
- Best content: Derivatives primers, platform walkthroughs, risk controls and guardrails
- Why it can work: Active traders can create recurring fee-share potential
- Watch-outs: Derivatives eligibility is often geo-dependent, add region notes and avoid hype language
Official link: Bybit Affiliates
KuCoin: exchange affiliate program
- Category: Exchange (often strong long-tail listings)
- Best content: "Where to buy" workflows, altcoin research checklists, exchange comparisons
- Why it can work: Useful when readers want access beyond the most common listings
- Watch-outs: Shorter attribution windows or stricter rules can reduce earnings if your audience takes longer to decide
Official link: KuCoin Affiliate
Bitget: hybrid CeFi/DeFi affiliate program
- Category: Hybrid CeFi and web3 products
- Best content: CeFi-to-DeFi transition guides, copy-trading explainers, wallet connection walkthroughs
- Why it can work: Multiple product surfaces can map to different reader intents
- Watch-outs: Product eligibility and attribution can differ across features, confirm what you are actually promoting
Official link: Bitget Affiliates
Phemex: exchange affiliate program
- Category: Exchange
- Best content: Step-by-step platform tutorials and UI walkthroughs
- Why it can work: Clear, product-led content can convert when readers are already comparing tools
- Watch-outs: Make sure you understand what counts as a referred action and when it is credited
Official link: Phemex All-Star Program
Changelly: instant swap affiliate program
- Category: Instant swap
- Best content: "How to swap token A to token B" tutorials, bridge-adjacent workflows, quick-fix guides
- Why it can work: Converts readers who want an immediate swap flow, not a full exchange onboarding
- Watch-outs: Embedded widgets and referral tracking rules vary, confirm the tracking model before you rely on it
Official link: Changelly Earn
Ledger: hardware wallet affiliate program
- Category: Hardware wallet
- Best content: Self-custody basics, setup guides, backup and recovery checklists
- Why it can work: Wallet purchases often follow a reader's first exchange onboarding, it is a natural second step
- Watch-outs: Retail promos and inventory cycles can affect conversion, keep recommendations practical and calm
Official link: Ledger Affiliate Program
Trezor: hardware wallet affiliate program
- Category: Hardware wallet
- Best content: Setup tutorials, "Ledger vs Trezor" comparisons, recovery walkthroughs
- Why it can work: Fits readers who care about transparency and device-level security
- Watch-outs: Commission tiers and payout methods can change, verify terms and avoid publishing hard numbers without confirmation
Official link: Trezor Partners
Common mistakes to avoid
- Chasing the biggest headline payout instead of the offer your audience already wants.
- Stacking too many exchange links on a single page, which creates decision paralysis and weak attribution.
- Burying disclosures in the footer, add a short disclosure near each cluster of affiliate links.
- Promoting restricted products without geo notes, especially derivatives and leverage products.
- Publishing specific rates or cookie windows without verifying them, treat all numbers as needs confirmation unless you can validate them today.
Disclosure and trust basics (keep readers safe)
Write like a trusted guide, not like an affiliate marketer.
- Place a plain-language disclosure near affiliate links, not only in a site-wide footer.
- Avoid promises of returns, "guaranteed" outcomes, or pressure tactics.
- If you mention leverage, derivatives, or advanced products, add clear risk warnings and region notes.
- Keep one "safe default" recommendation per page, then offer one alternative for edge cases.
How to pitch sponsors (quick notes)
Affiliate revenue and sponsorships often complement each other, the same content that converts affiliates can also support paid placements if you handle disclosures correctly.
- Lead with your audience and formats: channel mix, typical views, newsletter sends, and who you reach.
- Offer clear placement options: one video integration, one newsletter slot, one resource page mention.
- Use compliance-forward language: disclosure, no performance promises, and a refusal policy for sketchy offers.
- Package your proof: past sponsors, example content, and your review process.
For a deeper monetization and pitching playbook, see Trending crypto topics and monetization tips for YouTubers.
If you also pitch services to token projects (PR, growth, dev, audits), this positioning guide can help you package offers without hype: Services for crypto projects.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: How do crypto affiliate programs usually pay?
Most programs use one of three models: a share of fees over time (revenue share), a one-time bounty for a defined action (CPA), or a retail commission on product sales. Attribution rules vary, so always confirm what counts as a referral and how long you have to earn credit after a click.
Q2: How many programs should I promote at once?
For most creators, fewer is better. Aim for one primary offer per page and one backup that fits a different reader segment. If you want more options, route readers to a separate comparison page instead of adding extra CTAs everywhere.
Q3: What content formats convert best?
Step-by-step tutorials and comparison content usually convert best because they match high intent. Security and self-custody content can perform well as a second step after onboarding content, because readers often buy wallets after their first exchange setup.
Q4: Do I need a disclosure near every link?
Yes, it is the safest approach. Keep disclosures short, place them close to the affiliate link cluster, and avoid legal jargon. If you operate across regions, include simple eligibility notes when an offer is restricted.