Beware! Cloud Mining Scam Exposed, 5 Safer Ways to Make Money-Especially staking crypto

The crypto space is filled with scams and cloud mining is one of the most popular ones and if you’re not aware, you can easily fall victim.

On March 6, 2025, the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) released a warning stating that 38.9% of surveyed regulators expect an increase in AI-driven crypto frauds this year using sophisticated tools to dupe unsuspecting investors.

Cloud mining which promises profits by renting computational power has always been a breeding ground for scams – operators collect funds, promise easy returns, and then disappear. Posts on X echo this frustration as users are lamenting lost investments to shady platforms in recent weeks. Amidst all this chaos, legitimate alternatives like staking crypto provide transparent and blockchain-verified ways to earn crypto staking rewards. This article will delve into the cloud mining conundrum and explore 5 other ways to grow your crypto wealth.

1. Crypto Staking

Crypto staking is the process of locking up your cryptocurrency in a digital wallet to support a Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchain’s operations such as validating transactions and securing the network. Unlike traditional mining which requires energy-intensive hardware to solve complex puzzles, staking is sustainable and only requires you to hold and commit your tokens. Yields depend on the blockchain, staking duration, and market conditions.

OnStaking, founded in 2015, is one of the best crypto staking platforms serving over 735,000 users across more than 70 blockchain networks. With a total investment of $130 million and 250,000 registered accounts, it has built a reputation for reliability and user focus.

Here is a snapshot of their staking plans, combining daily earnings with optional referral bonuses:

Key Features of OnStaking

OnStaking has automated staking with up to 30% APY, way higher than other staking platform rates thanks to their liquidity strategies.

New users get a $100 trial to try it out with minimal risk – a rarity in the staking world.

Optional 5% referral commission which gives a passive income to those who share their unique link with also a bounty program that pays $1-$100 for promoting it on X or Medium.

Security is key in investments. In OnStaking, assets are safeguarded by established protocols and partnerships overseen by a global team including CEO Elliot Spencer, COO Bennett Hayes, and CFO Wyatt Carter.

Has flexible staking plans from $200 POL to $280,000 Ethereum for beginners and high stakers. Crypto staking rewards are delivered directly from the network, not the platform – a big difference from cloud mining’s unverifiable payouts.

2. Liquidity Pools

Liquidity pools are the backbone of decentralized exchanges (DEXs) like Uniswap and PancakeSwap where you deposit pairs of cryptocurrencies like ETH/USDC into smart contracts to facilitate trading. You earn a portion of the trading fees – 0.1% to 0.3% per transaction – which translates to 5%-20% annual returns depending on pool activity and asset stability.

However, impermanent loss – where price shift between paired assets reduces your stake’s value – is a risk, as well as smart contract vulnerabilities. Unlike OnStaking’s automated system, liquidity pools require more involvement and risk awareness with no trial or referral system. However, they’re a also legit alternative that is grounded in verifiable blockchain activity, a good choice for DeFi enthusiasts who want to avoid cloud mining.

3. Yield Farming

Yield farming involves staking or lending crypto in DeFi protocols like Aave or Compound to earn high returns – 20%-50% APY or more – through interest payments or governance tokens. It’s a dynamic strategy where you can chase the best yields by moving assets between pools, but it’s more technical and volatile.

Risks include smart contract bugs, liquidation in volatile markets, and high gas fees on networks like Ethereum. Compared to many Cloud Mining’s empty promises, yield farming’s risks are clear and manageable with research. But it lacks OnStaking’s ease—no trial, no automated trades—making it less beginner-friendly.

4. Crypto Savings Accounts

Crypto savings accounts from Nexo and BlockFi let you deposit BTC or stablecoins and earn fixed interest—5%-12% APY. They’re like traditional savings accounts, with interest paid monthly or weekly, and some providers offer flexible withdrawals while others lock funds for higher rates.

Crypto Saving Accounts are regulated in many countries, so less risk than cloud mining, but returns are low and platform insolvency is also a concern. Unlike OnStaking’s 30% APY or referral bonus, savings accounts prioritize stability over growth, appealing to risk-averse investors.

5. Dividend-Paying Tokens

Dividend-paying tokens like KuCoin Shares (KCS) or VeChain (VET) pay holders a share of platform profits or additional tokens, typically 5%-15% APY. KCS distributes 50% of KuCoin’s trading fees, while VET generates VTHO for holding—a passive income stream tied to ecosystem success. There’s no lock-up, offering liquidity, but returns depend on platform performance and market conditions.

But compared to OnStaking’s structured plans, they’re less predictable and have no automation, but great for patient investors who bet on a platform’s future.

Conclusion

The NASAA’s 2025 warning signals a tough year for unaware crypto investors, with AI-powered scams making cloud mining worse. OnStaking’s 30% APY crypto staking rewards, $100 trial and optional referral system is a safe bet among the best crypto staking platforms. Liquidity pools, yield farming, savings accounts, and dividend tokens each have their pros but require different levels of effort and risk tolerance. In a market shadowed by fraud, let your crypto work smarter with crypto staking.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored press release. Please do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any projects. Read the full disclosure here.