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When you think about making money online, chances are, you visualize selling something, whether it’s beaded necklaces you make, electronics you don’t use anymore, or a cool product you cooked up. But there are many ways to make money without offering a product, which can eliminate a lot of barriers to entry, along with the hassles of order fulfillment and shipping.

It’s not a cinch, but if you have a clever idea or some expertise, you can make money online without selling anything. For example, if you have an Instagram account with loads of followers, you might earn cash by creating a YouTube channel sharing the secrets of your social media success.

Think about where your strengths and skills lie: Is it coding? Then you might consider building an app. Do you know how to reach out to people and coalesce them into an active, supportive community? Then you might succeed in building a membership website.

Ready to find out how to make money with a website without selling anything? There’s inspiration ahead.

Is It Possible to Make Money Online Without Selling a Product?

Fortunately, there are many ways to make passive income online without manufacturing and selling a product in the traditional sense. If you dread the idea of renting a warehouse or packing up and shipping items, this will be good news.

For example, many influencers on YouTube make money simply by providing informational videos that people find valuable. Once they have a following, they make money through YouTube ads that run on their channel. Did you know, for instance, that YouTuber Mr. Beast set a new high-earning record recently of $54 million? While that’s hardly a typical achievement, it does show that the sky is the limit, as the saying goes.

Beyond YouTube, there are plenty of other ideas for how to make money with a website without selling anything. You might translate your tech knowledge and experience into building an app, or you could create a blog based on your favorite hobby that resonates with a particular audience.

11 Ways You Can Make Money Without Selling Anything

Ready to dig into some specifics? From dropshipping to streaming, the following are 11 ways people make money online without actually manufacturing or selling products.

1. Start Dropshipping

Dropshipping is one way to make money with a website without selling anything. Dropshippers sell products to customers, but they do not own or stock them. For the dropship business model, a customer places an order, and the dropshipper forwards the order to the supplier for a fee. The supplier then takes care of the shipping.

In essence, the dropshipper is the middle man. You don’t need to buy any items or manufacture anything yourself. And it can help you bring in some cash: One recent survey showed that dropshippers earn almost $20 an hour.

Recommended: 11 Benefits of Having a Side Hustle

2. Launch a YouTube Channel

A YouTube channel can be lucrative once you have 1,000 subscribers. At that point, YouTubers can monetize their channel by accepting ads. How do you get 1,000 subscribers? By providing content that people want to see.

That could be showing off your cake decorating skills, your super cute Pomeranian puppy, or your ability to do your own taxes quickly and correctly. Choose a niche where you have expertise and create compelling content on that topic. Use clever headlines that will draw people to your channel, plus keywords to optimize them for YouTube searches and help you gain traction. Keep viewers engaged by producing a series of videos on a topic so that they continue to tune in.

Recommended: Can You Make a Living on Social Media?

3. Write a Blog or Podcast

Have ideas, intel, and opinions you’d like to share? Why not start a blog, which is similar to starting a YouTube channel. The cost of running a blog can be minimal, and it can be an exciting way to share your passions in life. You can create content on a niche topic that people are curious about and that you love. It could be travel, DIY advice, fashion, fitness, or finance.

If you are good, you can build a following. Once your following is big enough, companies will pay you to promote their products or services on your blog through ads and links. Brands may even sponsor you to write about them or invite you to write blogs for their own sites.

4. Create a Membership Website

If you find demand for your content, you could build a website for subscribers only and charge for the membership. The idea is to build a community of like-minded people who want to share knowledge and access exclusive content. A paid membership could offer videos, webinars, other educational products, and the ability to interact with other members.

Membership web-builder software can help you build a site and wrangle your followers, or you could use a third party to do it for you. The software allows you to register new members; process monthly dues, donations, and event payments; update member profiles; send emails to members about upcoming events, and send invites. A simple website builder will run from $20 to a few hundred dollars per month, and help you get your site up and running and hopefully growing.

Recommended: 25 Tax Deductions for Freelancers

5. Try Freelance Work

You probably have had some work-from-home experience due to the pandemic. You might want to transition even more to remote work. Some careers can be transferred to the digital environment. For example, writers, teachers, designers, and coders can all learn how to make money from home. There are marketplaces for freelancers, such as Fiverr and Upwork, and you can establish a website of your own to pull in work.

There are also many job boards for freelancers, such as Flexjobs.com. Freelancers need to build a portfolio of work, which may require taking on lower-paying jobs at first as you work your way up.

Recommended: 15 Low-Cost Side Hustles

6. Become a Writer

Being a writer is an aspiration for many people, and there happens to be a huge market for website content. Many companies want to create informative blogs with SEO-optimized articles that will drive traffic to their websites. If you have expertise and knowledge in a niche area, you could write engaging articles for companies in that niche. Companies want ghostwriters, but there are also opportunities for bylined articles. Look for writing jobs on job boards like Flexjobs.com and Upwork.

7. Be a Product Tester

This is a fun one: You can make money online without selling by being a product tester. Brands often need people to try out their products to see how they rate with consumers. In return for their time and feedback, product testers may receive payment in the form of cash, merchandise, and gift cards.

Popular products for testing include toys, food, electronics, beauty products, household products, baby products, clothes, and websites. These gigs may pay about $25 an hour and can sometimes feel like play time.

You might also take surveys and provide feedback on marketing ideas online, as well. Sign up with a market research firm like I-Say by Ipsos, Opinion Outpost, and Branded Surveys to get started.

8. Accept Micropayments

Looking for more ways to make money online without selling stuff? Let’s say you write a blog that benefits a community. For example, you might be someone on the autism spectrum and blog about your experiences for a supportive audience. You can use a free app like “Buy Me a Coffee” to accept micropayments on your blog; this allows people who want to show their appreciation to send you a bit of money. Readers click on a widget on your blog to donate a few dollars to your site.

9. Set Donation Requests

One step up from accepting micropayments is to request donations directly. An example is Wikipedia, which intermittently asks its visitors to donate to fund the site’s research. Another example is virtual tip jars that appear on websites. Basically, it’s a way to monetize a website. You can collect feedback from engaged users at the same time to better understand what visitors would like to see on your site.

10. Create an App

Even if you are not a coder or app developer, you might have a great idea for an app that would make people’s lives simpler, better, or just more fun. Once you have an idea, a market that you’re targeting, and a brand concept, you can hire an app creator to do the coding for you. Once you have the app, add it to the App Store or Google Play. Start with a free app, and if it is a success, you can offer add-ons or premium features for a fee.

Recommended: How to Pay for Coding Bootcamps

11. Monetize a Twitch Channel

Chances are, you’ve heard of Twitch, the streaming platform that has expanded from gaming to a variety of content types, such as sports and entertainment. Still, gaming is its heartbeat, and Twitch streamers can monetize their love for the platform by sharing their gameplay with fans and subscribers who can hear and watch them live.

Streamers can gain a sizable following by providing consistent entertainment, and they can then sell products and Twitch ads. They can also land brand sponsorships, obtain fan donations, and sell subscriptions. Of course, not everyone will be a success at this, but those with the right skills and personality can thrive. For those who gain a real following, earnings can be in the $3,000 to $5,000 a month range if working 40 hours a week.

How Making Money Online Can Help You on Your Financial Journey

You might not become a billionaire by choosing an online gig, but you can certainly supplement your day job or help with your college expenses. Making money online is flexible, and you can leverage your expertise and your niche. Start small and see where it leads.

Recommended: How to Earn Residual Income

The Takeaway

How to make money online without selling anything comes down to creative thinking and a will to experiment. It’s actually a very accessible marketplace for anyone; you can avoid the typical startup costs en route to making a profit. Plus, you can work from home and tap your particular skills, whether that means creating fitness videos or developing an app.

3 Money Tips

1. When you overdraft your checking account, you’ll likely pay a non-sufficient fund fee of, say, $35. Look into linking a savings account to your checking account as a backup to avoid that, or shop around for an online bank that doesn’t charge you for overdrafting.
2. If you’re faced with debt and wondering which kind to pay off first, it can be smart to prioritize high-interest debt first. For many people, this means their credit card debt; rates have recently been climbing into the double-digit range, so try to eliminate that ASAP.
3. When you feel the urge to buy something that isn’t in your budget, try the 30-day rule. Make a note of the item in your calendar for 30 days into the future. When the date rolls around, there’s a good chance the “gotta have it” feeling will have subsided.

Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 4.60% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

FAQ

Is it hard to make money online?

How to make money online without selling products is not difficult as long as you pick the right niche. It helps to choose an activity where you have an interest and skills. You also need to be creative if you want to scale. Some tenacity and determination will help when you experience a lull or want to get to the next level and grow organically.

What is a great way to learn skills to make money?

There are so many online and offline resources where you can learn skills. If you are interested in programming, you can learn coding languages online. If you are interested in marketing, you can take a course and get certified in Google Analytics and Google Ads. YouTube and webinars can help you train up; just do your research and make sure the so-called expert has solid credentials.

Do donation requests work?

Donation requests work if people value what you are doing. There are quite a few scams out there, and people are becoming more wary. However, if you can establish a following and provide content of value, you’re onto something. The trick is to engage people by connecting them to a community that means something to them.

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Photo credit: iStock/Eva-Katalin

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2023 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a deposit to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate.

SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/24/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

SOBK0822023

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Are you thinking about buying a car? Brace yourself: The average cost of a new vehicle in the United States is nearing $50,000. Couple that with increased wait times for new car orders since the onset of the pandemic, and buying a used car might be a more attractive option.

During your used car search, you may come upon several vehicles with 100,000 miles or more on them. Conventional wisdom used to preach that 100,000 miles was a critical turning point in a vehicle’s value and reliability. In other words, the advice was to proceed with extreme caution. But today, a well-cared-for high-mileage vehicle can still be a wise purchase — if you know what to look for when buying a high-mileage car.

If you’re ready to learn the new rules, read on. You’ll gain insight into:

•   Whether to buy a high-mileage car

•   The pros and cons of buying a high-mileage car

•   Smart tactics that can help you get the best deal possible.

Is It Wise to Buy a High-Mileage Car?

Buying a high-mileage car can be an easy way to save money. In fact, if the price is right, you may be able to buy a used car with cash, meaning you won’t have to worry about monthly car payments and high interest rates.

However, cars with higher mileage are understandably more prone to mechanical issues. When buying high-mileage cars, it’s important to consider models with a clear history of routine maintenance. It is also wise to consider automotive manufacturers that are well-known for building longer-lasting cars; Consumer Reports singles out Honda and Toyota specifically, though some people are loyal to other makes, too.

Recommended: Can I Get a Personal Loan for a Car?

Buying a High-Mileage Car: Pros and Cons

So what are the pros and cons of buying a high-mileage car? Let’s break it down:

Pros of High-Mileage Cars	Cons of High-Mileage Cars
Affordability: Used cars are generally cheaper than new cars; the more miles on the odometer, the more affordable it typically is. And expect continued savings: For the most part, used cars are cheaper to insure than new ones.	Maintenance costs: A high-mileage automobile is more likely to need repair work. Eventually, a necessary repair may cost more than the car’s value, at which point you may want to consider buying a different car.
Depreciation: A new car typically loses 20% of its value in the first year; then 60% by the 5-year mark. By buying an older, high-mileage car, you don’t have to worry about such large depreciation hits.	Safety: A car with high mileage is likely at least a few years old, so it won’t have the industry’s latest safety technologies.
Ease of purchase: You can likely drive a high-mileage car off the lot as soon as you sign. Wait times for some new cars, however, have reached as long as four months in 2022. In addition, you may be able to purchase a high-mileage car with cash, meaning you can skip the credit check and financing discussions./td>	Financing challenges: While paying with cash is an option for a higher-mileage car, the price may still be too steep for your bank account. Because of the increased chances for mechanical issues, lenders might be hesitant to offer financing for cars with more than 100,000 miles on them.

Recommended: What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a Car?

11 Practical Tips for Buying a High-Mileage Car

If buying a high-mileage car is right for your budget, the following tips for buying a used car could be helpful:

1. Having a Budget

Before researching used cars, it’s smart to have an idea of what you are willing to spend. This might involve analyzing your savings or discussing your car loan options with a lender.

Once you have settled on a budget that you can afford, respect that limit. Even if you see a must-have car that’s slightly over your budget, remember that you set a max number for a reason: It’s what you are comfortable paying.

2. Researching Makes and Models with Good High-Mileage Ratings

While most cars can make it to 200,000 miles and beyond when taken care of, not all cars are created equal. Research makes and models that are well-known for lasting beyond 200,000 miles; Consumer Reports is one solid, objective resource for this.

You can also use resources like Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, and Cars.com to understand fair prices for the specific make and model you have chosen, given its mileage and condition.

Recommended: Can You Get a Car With a Credit Card?

3. Researching Reviews on the Car Model

Next up when thinking about what to look for when buying a high-mileage car: What do the experts have to say?

Once you have selected your preferred car model, read independent reviews from popular car sites (like Edmunds, Consumer Reports, and Car and Driver) and actual drivers on car forums. Doing so may help you get a feel for how this model performs, particularly once it has 100,000 or more miles on it.

While it might not cover the specific year, make, and model of the car you are considering, J.D. Power’s annual Vehicle Dependability Study can give you a good idea of automakers that excel at designing long-lasting vehicles.

If it appears that the vehicle you have chosen may not be as dependable as you thought, you may want to start your research over, focusing on a different model.

4. Researching Risks and Costs

No matter which high-mileage car you are considering, there will be inherent risks as far as reliability goes. It’s wise to familiarize yourself with the potential problems associated with a higher-mileage car. This may provide you with a better understanding of what could go wrong.

Knowing the common issues that high-mileage cars encounter can help you calculate how much to save for car maintenance.

5. Researching Car Insurance

Before you drive home in your used car, it’s a good idea to have car insurance figured out. In fact, every state but Virginia and New Hampshire legally requires you to carry car insurance if you own a vehicle.

Check out minimum car insurance requirements for your state as you research. Often, the minimum level of coverage is an adequate amount for a high-mileage vehicle.

That said, determining the right amount of car insurance coverage is entirely up to your discretion. Think about what will make you feel safe and well protected.

6. Not Being Impatient

Patience is important when shopping for a used car (as it is for many big purchases, this is especially if there is a specific model you have in mind. It might be tempting to buy the first high-mileage car that meets your basic criteria, but it is a good idea to take your time, view multiple options, and compare them before making a decision.

If your current vehicle is nearing the end of its life, you might want to start car shopping before it is totally out of commission. That way, you are less likely to be rushed into a decision.

Recommended: Leasing vs. Buying a Car

7. Test-Driving the Car

Test-driving a car is a good idea whether you’re buying new or used. When buying new, it allows you to determine if the vehicle is right for you. Are the seats comfy? Are the controls intuitive? Can you work around its blind spots?

Checking these things for a high-mileage car is also important. On top of that, a test drive in a used car allows you to monitor for potential problems. You can visually inspect the car, but you can also feel how it drives, listen for weird sounds, and even smell for things like water damage.

8. Getting a Vehicle Inspection

Though paying a mechanic to inspect a car you don’t own might sound like a waste of money, it can be a good idea when considering a used vehicle. Private sellers and dealerships might not disclose (or even know about) every small issue. An independent mechanic inspecting a high-mileage car, however, will be able to point out potential problems and estimate your costs for repairing them.

If a dealer or private seller is unwilling to let you take the vehicle to a mechanic during your test drive, consider insisting upon this — and even offer to follow the private seller to your mechanic. If the seller is still unwilling, it is probably wise to pass on the vehicle. There might be major issues lurking under the hood.

Assuming your mechanic does uncover problems and they are expensive to fix, you may want to skip the purchase and continue your search.

9. Getting a Vehicle History Report

Whenever you are purchasing a used car, whether it’s high- or low-mileage, it is a good idea to get a vehicle history report. Some dealerships and private sellers may have already ordered a vehicle history report for you to review. Even if they haven’t, consider proceeding. The cost is often negligible, typically between $25 and $100.

Why get a vehicle history report? These reports contain information about the number of previous owners, any major accidents, mileage accuracy, potential flood damage, and more helpful info for determining if the vehicle is worth the cost and what issues it may have faced in the past.

10. Paying Cash If You Can

When buying high-mileage cars, you may be able to use cash to negotiate a better car deal. Paying with cash also means you can set aside any money you would have used for a monthly car payment to use for car repairs, as needed.

Cash is also a good way to keep within your means — and the original budget you set for yourself.

11. Having an Emergency Fund for Your Car

A high-mileage car is more likely to encounter regular problems requiring potentially costly repairs. It can therefore be a good idea to have an emergency savings fund held as a savings account, ideally earmarked to include any car-related issues. Repair costs can rise significantly at the 100,000-mile mark.

Banking With SoFi

Saving up to buy a used car with cash and setting aside money for potential repairs mean you’ll need a high yield bank account with good savings features. When you open a Checking and Savings account with SoFi, you’ll have the convenience of spending and saving in one place, plus features that help you save automatically. What’s more, when you open an account with direct deposit, you’ll enjoy a competitive APY and pay no fees, both of which can help your money grow faster.

Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 4.60% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

FAQ

What is the most reliable high-mileage car?

In general, Honda and Toyota manufacture the most reliable high-mileage cars — a distinction that extends to other Japanese automakers when you read reviews from credible automotive sites. Some other high-mileage cars that rate well include the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Subaru Outback, and Nissan Maxima.

What is the highest mileage you should buy for a used car?

While mileage limits can vary depending on the vehicle’s maintenance records and the brand, it can be wise to make 200,000 miles your max limit when shopping for a high-mileage car.

Is mileage more important than age?

It is important to consider both mileage and age when shopping for a used vehicle. In general, the more miles a car has, the more likely it is to need repairs. However, a newer car with the same high mileage as an older car is more likely to have newer safety systems, which can be reassuring to many drivers.

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Photo credit: iStock/HABesen

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2023 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a deposit to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate.

SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/24/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

SOBK0722018

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ERC20 refers to a standard for creating and deploying smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. ERC20 tokens are digitized tokens that live on that blockchain and adhere to those standards.

The Ethereum blockchain was built specifically for smart contracts, which are virtual agreements that can be programmed to execute automatically when certain conditions are met. This functionality provides for the ability to create many kinds of new decentralized applications, so many other platforms and their tokens are built on top of the Ethereum blockchain.

Quite a few of the most popular utility tokens and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications are built on Ethereum. But there are certain standards (ERC20) that developers must follow if they want their tokens to be accepted by the network.

In this crypto guide, we will answer the question, What is ERC20?, as well as how it relates to tokens issued on the Ethereum blockchain.

What Is ERC20?

ERC20 is a standard for the creation and deployment of smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. ERC20 tokens are a form of token that can be issued on Ethereum (and only Ethereum) that also represent a set of standards that cryptocurrencies can adhere to.

The primary purpose of ERC20 tokens is to work with smart contracts and define a common list of rules that all tokens on the Ethereum blockchain abide by.

While Ether (ETH) is the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum network, the ERC20 token represents a specific standard — or set of rules — that developers can follow to make Ethereum-based tokens. They are, in the truest sense, the standard-bearer for the Ethereum network.

This token standard is only for fungible tokens, and not non-fungible tokens (NFTs). As such, one ERC20 token can be exchanged with another, as they’d have equal value.

ERC20 smart contracts use ERC20 tokens to facilitate transactions when its protocol calls for it. Any smart contract that utilizes transaction functionality will therefore pay the user in the form of an ERC20 token. Many popular stablecoins, like USDC and DAI, are ERC20 tokens.

Which Tokens Are ERC20?

ERC20 has enabled the creation of many new tokens. These are the 10 largest and most popular ERC20 tokens by market cap, as of September 2022:

•   Binance USD (BUSD)

•   Multi-Collateral Dai (DAI)

•   SHIBA INU (SHIB)

•   Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC)

•   UNUS SED LEO (LEO)

•   Uniswap (UNI)

•   ChainLink (LINK)

•   Cronos (CRO)

•   ApeCoin (APE)

The largest, by both trading volume and market cap, is Binance USD, a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar. Stablecoins are popular among traders looking to lock in profits quickly without converting to fiat currency, as well as those seeking to earn a yield on their crypto. They aim to be more “stable,” as the name implies, than other, often volatile cryptos.

A number of decentralized finance (DeFi) and metaverse tokens are ERC20 tokens as well.

Enjin Coin (ENJ) help users perform functions or create items in video games and virtual or augmented realities. Uniswap (UNI), the native token of one of the largest DeFi platforms, allows users to borrow and lend funds to one another.

How Does ERC20 Work?

ERC20 is a standard protocol, not a program or piece of software. The ERC20 protocol governs the creation of new tokens, ensuring that they meet the required technical specifications. If a token doesn’t conform to the appropriate technical standards defined by ERC20, it won’t fit the definition of an ERC20 token, and therefore, won’t be issued on Ethereum.

It may help to think of ERC20 as similar to HTTP, the Hypertext Transfer Protocol used for websites. HTTP defines how messages on the internet are formatted and transmitted, and how servers and browsers should react in response to various commands.

Similarly, ERC20 specifies the essential features that Ethereum-based tokens should have and how they should function. Tokens that don’t comply cannot be issued, traded, or listed on exchanges.

The ERC20 Standard

Smart contracts that want to use ERC20 tokens have to follow the appropriate ERC standards. There are currently nine rules in total, and six of them are mandatory. The other three are optional. These include:

Mandatory rules	Optional rules
Allowance	Token Name
Approve	Decimal (Max: 18)
TransferFrom	Symbol
Transfer
BalanceOf
TotalSupply

Here’s a brief rundown of how the mandatory standards apply to the creation of tokens.

TotalSupply: Outlines the total number of tokens to be created.

Approve: Helps to eliminate the possibility of counterfeit tokens being created by requiring approval of smart contract functions.

BalanceOf: Allows users to check their balances by returning the total number of tokens held by an address.

TransferFrom: Allows for the automation of transactions when desired.

Transfer: Allows for the transfer of tokens from one address to another, like any other blockchain-based transaction.

Allowance: When a smart contract wants to execute a transaction, it has to be able to see the balance held by the Ethereum wallet trying to transact. The allowance function allows the contract to carry out the transaction if the user has sufficient balance or cancel the transaction if they do not.

These six rules must be programmed into a token for it to be considered ERC20. Without clear instructions for these rules or standards, the token wouldn’t be able to interact with smart contracts effectively, which could cause numerous issues.

History of ERC20

“ERC20” actually stands for “Ethereum Request for Comments 20,” and was first proposed by Fabian Vogelsteller, a blockchain developer and programmer, back in 2015. At the time, it was a proposed standard that outlined common rules that could be implemented into the Ethereum network, mostly with the goal of ensuring that new projects or coins would function correctly when utilized on it.

That goal ultimately came to fruition, as the standards were adopted by the Ethereum network officially in 2017. Since then, ERC20 has served as a guiding light for Ethereum developers.

The Importance and Impact of ERC20

The ERC20 standard made many initial coin offerings (ICOs) possible in recent years, and the standard makes it easy for developers to create decentralized applications (dApps) on Ethereum.

To be more explicit, the standard makes implementing new tokens simpler for developers of decentralized applications (dApps) since there is a standard protocol to follow. ERC20 tokens can be made to offer high liquidity, and smart contract transactions are thought to be low-risk if the programming is done correctly.

How to Store ERC20 Tokens

To hold ERC20 tokens, users need an ERC20 wallet, as with any other crypto. But what’s important is to make sure that the crypto wallet in question supports tokens of this nature. Fortunately, some wallets have been specifically designed for the purpose of storing ETH and ERC20 tokens, including:

•   MetaMask

•   MyEtherWallet

•   Trust Wallet

•   Mist Wallet

•   Atomic Wallet

Wallets like these can also be used to interact with other blockchain-based platforms, such as DeFi apps and NFT marketplaces.

Remember, though, that when storing crypto in any wallet, it’s generally considered good practice to back up your private keys and seed phrase. Giving someone else access to your keys or phrase could allow them to take ownership of all the crypto in that wallet.

The Takeaway

ERC20 represents a set of standards and rules used on the Ethereum blockchain, and is also used for the creation of tokens issued on Ethereum. Many popular utility tokens are also ERC20 tokens, a list that includes Basic Attention Token (BAT), Shiba Inu (SHIB), and Crypto.com Coin (CRO).

The important thing to know about ERC20 is that it provides a set of standards on the widely-used Ethereum network. That, in some ways, helps the crypto space self-manage and continue to operate efficiently.

FAQ

What is an ERC20 wallet?

An ERC20 wallet is a crypto wallet that is either compatible with, or specifically designed to hold and secure ERC20 tokens. There are numerous ERC20 wallets on the market, and they may come in a variety of forms, such as hardware, mobile, or desktop wallets.

What’s the difference between ETH and ERC20?

ETH, or “Ether,” is the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum network, and is used to facilitate transactions on the Ethereum blockchain. ERC20 is the protocol standard for creating Ethereum-based tokens, which can be utilized and deployed in the Ethereum network.

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Photo credit: iStock/fongleon356

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