What Happened to Coinbase Earn? Free Crypto Program Ended in May 2025

Coinbase Earn, which was a popular program allowing users to earn free cryptocurrency by completing educational activities, has officially ended. This program was a key part of Coinbase’s goal to make crypto education accessible to everyone. However, it stopped operations after May 27. Many users and industry experts are wondering why this decision was made and how it will affect the crypto world. Lets explore what happened to Coinbase Earn, why it was discontinued, and share insights from leading voices in the crypto community about this important change.

The Rise and Fall of Coinbase Earn

Launched as an innovative learning platform, Coinbase Earn rewarded users with small amounts of cryptocurrency for watching educational videos and completing quizzes about various blockchain projects. Its mission was to onboard newcomers to the crypto ecosystem while promoting lesser-known tokens. For many people, Coinbase Earn served as a gateway to understanding decentralised finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and other emerging crypto concepts, all while earning rewards such as Stellar Lumens (XLM), Algorand (ALGO), or The Graph (GRT).

However, in recent years, the program faced mounting challenges. Rising operational costs, increasing regulatory scrutiny, and a strategic shift within Coinbase likely contributed to the decision to sunset Coinbase Earn. Although the company has not publicly disclosed detailed reasons, insiders suggest that the expenses involved in maintaining the program along with regulatory complexities surrounding the distribution of free crypto played significant roles. While Coinbase Earn has been a valuable tool, they are now focusing on other ways to educate and engage the community.

So Why Did Coinbase Earn End?

While Coinbase has remained tight-lipped about the exact reasons behind discontinuing Coinbase Earn, several factors likely played a role but at this point it is all speculation:

• Regulatory Pressures: Distributing free cryptocurrency attracts scrutiny from regulators like the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Coinbase has faced investigations regarding potential securities law violations, and offering free tokens especially for lesser-known projects could be perceived as promoting unregistered securities.

• Operational Costs: Running a program that distributes free crypto involves significant resources, including partnerships with blockchain projects, content creation, and strict compliance measures. With increasing competition from Binance, Kraken, and others, Coinbase may have decided to redirect resources toward more strategic priorities.

• Strategic Shift: Coinbase’s recent milestones, such as its inclusion in the S&P 500 and the acquisition of Deribit, indicate a pivot towards institutional investors and advanced trading platforms. While Coinbase Earn was popular with retail users, it might not fit this evolving focus.

• Market Maturity: Since Coinbase Earn’s launch, the crypto landscape has matured considerably. With Bitcoin reaching highs above $111,000 and growing mainstream adoption, the demand for incentivized education may have naturally declined as more users become familiar with crypto fundamentals.

What the End of Coinbase Earn Means?

The closure of Coinbase Earn has sparked mixed reactions in the crypto community. Many people believe that while it was an excellent way to get people interested in crypto without spending money, the growing focus on regulations is pushing companies like Coinbase to focus more on following the rules and making money. Programs like Coinbase Earn were great for getting more people to use crypto, but they were also costly to run and difficult to manage under current laws. Coinbase seems to be shifting its focus to bigger clients, as seen by its recent addition to the S&P 500 and its $2.9 billion purchase of Deribit, a move that shows it’s targeting institutional and wealthy clients.

However, some seem to think that closing Coinbase Earn is a missed opportunity. They argue that the program helped thousands get into crypto for free, and shutting it down feels like a step back from making crypto accessible to everyone. It played a crucial role in helping beginners who didn’t have money to invest, highlighting its importance in promoting inclusivity in the crypto space.

What’s Next for Coinbase Users?

The end of Coinbase Earn doesn’t mean Coinbase is completely stepping away from crypto education. The company has hinted at new projects to keep users engaged, although specific details are not yet available. Future educational content might be offered through different formats, possibly integrated into Coinbase’s mobile app or subscription services.

For those who used Coinbase learn-to-earn about new projects and earn crypto rewards, there are other options available. Platforms like Binance Academy and Kraken’s Learn section provide extensive educational resources, even though they don’t offer the same direct crypto rewards that Coinbase Earn did. Decentralized platforms like Rabbit Hole and Layer3 continue to lead in the “learn-to-earn” space, giving users the chance to earn by completing tasks related to DeFi and Web3.

The closure of Coinbase Earn merely shows how the crypto industry is changing. As regulations get stricter and companies focus more on making money, user-friendly programs like Coinbase Earn might become less common. However, its impact is clear, millions of people got their first crypto through this program, and it has inspired many similar educational efforts.

The end of Coinbase Earn doesn’t mean the end of crypto education; it just means a change in approach. The crypto community is now waiting to see what Coinbase will do next, hoping it will continue to help people learn about and adopt crypto in this fast-changing world.

FAQ’s

1. What was Coinbase Earn?
Coinbase Earn was a learning platform where users could earn free cryptocurrency by completing educational tasks, such as watching videos and taking quizzes about blockchain projects.

2. Why did Coinbase Earn end?
Coinbase Earn ceased operations due to factors like regulatory pressures, high operational costs, and a strategic shift toward institutional services. The program officially ended after May 27.

3. When did Coinbase Earn shut down?
The program stopped operating after May 27, though Coinbase has not publicly specified an exact closure date.

4. Are there alternatives to Coinbase Earn?
Yes, platforms like Binance Academy, Kraken’s Learn section, Rabbithole, and Layer3 offer similar educational content or “learn-to-earn” opportunities, though rewards may vary.

5. Will Coinbase replace Coinbase Earn with a new program?
Coinbase has hinted at new educational initiatives but has not announced a direct replacement for Coinbase Earn. Users can expect updates via Coinbase’s app or blog.