Passive Income Ideas For Blockchain Developers [2024]

Updated: September 21st, 2024

Interested in earning passive income as a blockchain developer in 2024?

We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a blockchain developer today. These will help you increase your quality of life by bringing in more income for yourself or your business.

For each income idea, we’ll show you real-world examples, revenue expectations for each idea, plus some things you might need to know before you start your passive income journey as a blockchain developer.

Here's the full list:

1. Make passive income with a niche investment platform ($167K/month)

As a blockchain developer, you could leverage your technical skills to create a niche investment platform that caters to specialized asset classes like collectibles, cryptocurrencies, real estate, or athletic prospects. By developing a transparent and secure trading ecosystem, you would attract investors who are looking for alternatives to traditional stock markets.

This platform could offer unique portfolio combinations, drawing in an exclusive user base and providing steady revenue through transaction fees and premium subscriptions. For investors interested in diversifying their assets, your platform would offer an innovative solution, especially appealing to those passionate about fine wine or emerging athletes.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $600,000/month

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

How We Started A $40M Real Estate Investment Fund

Equity Residences is a luxury real estate investment fund that has raised $40 million from over 200 investors, offering them access to a portfolio of luxury vacation homes for investment and personal use, with a minimum investment of $161,500 and plans to acquire a further twenty residences ranging from $1.5M to $4M.

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2. Make passive income with an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)

As a blockchain developer, you could consider starting an AI-based business solution to diversify your income streams while leveraging your technical expertise. AI can automate and optimize various business processes such as customer service, inventory management, and data analysis, which are increasingly in demand. Integrating such solutions could help companies improve efficiency, cut costs, and make more informed decisions.

Even if your experience is mainly in blockchain technology, many AI platforms offer user-friendly tools and support, making it accessible to get started. The growing adoption of AI in businesses provides a ripe opportunity to create solutions that are both innovative and useful. By focusing on high-impact areas and having a solid plan, you'll be well-positioned to enhance business performance for your clients and build a robust passive income stream.

How much you can make: $4,000 — $120,000/month

How long does it take to build: 125 days (?)

How We Launched A $120K/Month Audiobook Publishing Course

Mikkelsen Twins grew an online education company from scratch with over 800 students, making over 6-figures in profit every month thanks to their successful program, Audiobook Income Academy 2.0.

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As a blockchain developer, you could supplement your income by venturing into the field of legal nurse consulting. While these two careers might seem worlds apart, combining your technical expertise with the medical insights of a nurse consultant can offer unique advantages. For instance, blockchain's immutable and transparent nature could be applied to ensure the integrity of medical records in legal cases, potentially making your services highly valuable.

If you have a nursing background, becoming a legal nurse consultant allows you to leverage your clinical experience in a new, impactful way. By analyzing medical records and collaborating with legal experts, you could assist in resolving malpractice cases or other medical-related legal matters. The flexibility of this role means you can tailor your work hours around your primary job, making it an excellent option for a side hustle.

4. Make passive income with a mobile app ($70.3K/month)

As a blockchain developer, you could leverage your technical skills to create a mobile app that integrates blockchain technology. This could include apps for secure digital wallets, decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, or even a simple tool for educating users about blockchain. By tapping into your existing knowledge, you could build something unique and valuable that stands out in the crowded app marketplace.

Besides the coding aspect, you would need to focus on planning the user experience and designing an engaging interface. Marketing your app is also crucial to attract users and drive downloads. If your app gains traction, it could provide a steady stream of passive income through ads, in-app purchases, or premium features.

How much you can make: $1 — $500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

We Started A $6M/Year Bachelorette Party App

BACH, an app that plans and books bachelorette parties, has grown from $0 to >$1M net revenue run rate in less than 6 months, gained over 100,000 users in their first 60 days, and has over 40,000 parties using the app this month.

Read by 11,017 founders

5. Make passive income with an online course sales business ($85K/month)

As a blockchain developer, you could easily supplement your income or start earning passive income by creating and selling online courses. Many people are eager to learn about blockchain technology, and your expertise can help them understand complex topics. You could create courses on basic blockchain concepts, writing smart contracts, or developing decentralized applications (dApps).

Launching an online course business is straightforward: choose a target audience, develop your course content, and select an online platform to sell it. With the e-learning market expected to be worth over $645 billion in the coming years, there's a significant opportunity to reach a wide audience and generate extra income. Sharing your knowledge can also help cement your reputation as an expert in the field.

How much you can make: $100 — $300,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

I Make $120K/Year With My Print On Demand T-Shirt Side Hustle

A multipreneur shares how she built a successful print on demand side hustle, generating $120,000 per year through multiple brands spread over various platforms.

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6. Make passive income with a lead generation tool ($108K/month)

As a blockchain developer, creating a lead generation tool could be a great way to make extra income. You would use your technical skills to build a software application that helps businesses find potential customers more easily. By automating the process of collecting contact details like email addresses and phone numbers from websites and social media, your tool would save companies time and allow them to focus on converting those leads into customers.

The demand for effective lead generation is high, so if you’re savvy with technology and interested in marketing, this could be a profitable side project. This tool would not only help businesses grow but also provide you with an additional revenue stream, without demanding a significant time commitment after the initial development phase.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $400,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $600 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How I Created A $5M/Year LinkedIn Marketing Automation Tool

Dux-Soup is a LinkedIn automation tool that helps business owners and sales & marketing professionals generate more leads, increase efficiency, and save time; with over 70,000 users and revenue of nearly $5 million, it offers automated top-of-the-funnel LinkedIn outreach activities, targeted LinkedIn campaigns and multi-touch & personalized LinkedIn drip campaigns for lead generation.

Read by 8,922 founders

7. Make passive income with an AI writing tool ($255K/month)

As a blockchain developer, you could leverage your expertise in technology to create an AI writing tool. This tool would use artificial intelligence to generate accurate and engaging content, making it a valuable asset for businesses, bloggers, and students who need to produce content quickly and with minimal errors. You could focus on developing a user-friendly platform that automates the writing process, streamlining content creation and saving users significant time and effort.

By diving into this entrepreneurial venture, you could tap into the growing demand for quality content. Imagine providing a tool that not only eases the workload of writers but also transforms their writing process and boosts productivity. This innovative approach could position you at the forefront of a rapidly evolving digital landscape, offering a meaningful solution that addresses the constant need for efficient and reliable content creation.

How much you can make: $4,000 — $1,000,000/month

How long does it take to build: 52 days (?)

I Built A Simple AI Writing Tool That Makes $60K/Year

Rytr, a new AI writing assistant developed by a startup platform and business incubator, has become a market leader, serving over 300,000 customers across the world and doing seven figures in ARR.

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8. Make passive income with an email marketing tool ($992K/month)

As a blockchain developer, starting an email marketing tool could be an excellent way to supplement your income. Given your technical skills, you could create a reliable and efficient software application that helps users manage and automate their email campaigns, leveraging blockchain's security features to add value to your offering.

With the global email marketing tool market projected to reach $2.53 billion by 2028, there's a significant opportunity for growth. By launching an email tool, you could attract entrepreneurs, startups, and various professionals who need a dependable platform. This could become a steady stream of passive income, especially as subscription-based models are prevalent in the industry.

How much you can make: $120 — $20,833,333/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

I Built A SEO Tool That's Completely Free For Users [From Lebanon]

H-supertools founder Hasan developed a set of free SEO and digital marketing tools generating $2k per month in profit using Google Adsense, affiliate marketing, selling ad spaces, and email, plans to launch a membership option, and has attained over 80k registered users and 300k monthly visits in less than two years.

Read by 14,150 founders

9. Make passive income with a social media automation business ($139K/month)

As a blockchain developer, you could leverage your technical skills to create and manage a social media automation business. By developing tools to schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze engagement, you can help small businesses and influencers optimize their social media presence without constant manual effort.

Given your familiarity with coding and data analysis, you could seamlessly integrate software solutions and keep up with the latest social media trends. There’s a growing demand for consistent and strategic social media engagement, and your expertise could enable you to offer tailored, time-saving services to your clients. This venture could not only supplement your income but also allow you to build lucrative relationships in a fast-growing market.

How much you can make: $4,000 — $400,000/month

How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)

How I Bootstrapped A Social Media Automation Tool To $2MM/Year

MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.

Read by 15,250 founders

10. Make passive income with a wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)

As a blockchain developer, you could leverage your coding skills to create WordPress plugins that address specific issues or needs. Many websites rely on plugins to enhance their functionality. By identifying a common problem and developing a plugin to solve it, you could create a valuable product that website owners are willing to pay for.

Starting a WordPress plugin business would allow you to use your existing technical skills while entering a market with a high demand. You could sell your plugins on platforms like CodeCanyon or directly from your own website or blog. This could become a steady stream of passive income as more people discover and purchase your solution.

How much you can make: $120 — $120,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

How I Coded A Website Plugin Making $600 Per Month

Wheely Sales CEO Josh created a lucky wheel popup that has grown revenue from $0 to $600/month in just 4 months since getting started and has attracted over 1.1 million users to his customers’ websites, all while proving that when it comes to creating a product, competition is validation.

Read by 18,985 founders

11. Make passive income with a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)

As a blockchain developer, you could start a YouTube channel to share your knowledge and experiences within the field. This might include tutorials on smart contracts, deep dives into new blockchain technologies, or explanations of cryptocurrency trends. By creating valuable content, you could attract a substantial audience interested in blockchain, which can lead to revenue through ads, sponsorships, and even selling branded merchandise.

Building a successful YouTube channel will require consistency in posting quality content. You'll need to plan your videos, shoot, edit, and regularly engage with your viewers. Developing a basic understanding of video SEO and social media marketing could enhance your channel's visibility, helping it grow more rapidly.

Although starting a YouTube channel involves effort, the potential rewards—both financial and personal—can make it a fulfilling venture. By leveraging your expertise in blockchain, you could create a platform that not only supplements your income but also establishes you as an authority in the industry.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $333,333/month

How much does it cost to start: $5,250 (?)

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

How A Young Entrepreneur From Nigeria Started A Profitable Blog

This case study follows the journey of a young entrepreneur from Nigeria who started a profitable blog generating a monthly revenue of $1,500+ through sales of advertising space, sponsored posts, and information products, and shares his strategies for success including a Twitter growth challenge and guest post pitches.

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12. Make passive income with a niche website ($107K/month)

As a blockchain developer, you could augment your income by creating a niche website focused on blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, or decentralized applications. By sharing your expertise and insights through articles, tutorials, or project showcases, you could attract an audience interested in these specialized topics.

Investing time in research, content creation, and SEO will help you build a dedicated following. Once you have traffic, you could monetize your site through affiliate marketing, ad placements, or selling your own digital products like e-books or online courses.

Over time, your niche website could become a reliable source of passive income, allowing you to share your passion and knowledge while earning extra money. This venture offers both creative freedom and the potential for financial rewards, making it a great side project for someone with your skills and interests.

How much you can make: $400 — $250,000/month

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How I Leveraged My LinkedIn Network To Create A $1.8M/Year Procurement Conference

DPW (Digital Procurement World) is a fast-growing conference and community in procurement that has more than tripled in revenue since launching in 2019, capping out the year at €1.8 million, with 95% of their growth coming from inbound traffic leveraging LinkedIn and applying social selling techniques.

Read by 3,620 founders

13. Make passive income with an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)

As a blockchain developer, you could explore affiliate marketing as a way to earn extra income by promoting products and services related to your field. Given your deep understanding of technology, you could partner with companies offering crypto wallets, blockchain platforms, or educational courses on blockchain development. For each sale made through your recommendations, you would receive a commission, potentially providing a steady stream of passive income.

Starting is simple; you would need to learn how to find the right products and brands to partner with. This could involve researching eCommerce stores or manufacturers that align with your interests and expertise. By leveraging your knowledge and network in the blockchain community, you could effectively reach an audience that trusts your recommendations, thereby enhancing your earning potential over the long term.

How much you can make: $500 — $773,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $700 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

My Affiliate Marketing Business Earns $500K/Year Profit [No Employees]

This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

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14. Make passive income with a niche blog ($31.5K/month)

Starting a niche blog as a blockchain developer could be a great way to share your expertise and connect with a passionate community. You could focus on a specific topic within the blockchain space, such as smart contract development, decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, or blockchain security. By creating unique and informative content like how-to guides, news updates, and product reviews, you could attract a dedicated audience interested in blockchain technology.

To monetize your blog, you could include affiliate links for blockchain-related products, grow a YouTube channel with tutorials and interviews, and collaborate with tech brands. You could also gain recognition by speaking at industry events and conferences. Consistently engaging with your readers and providing valuable content could help turn your passion into a steady income stream.

How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $650 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How I Turned A Crappy Idea Into A $3M/Year Business

Starter Story grew to 1.4 million monthly visitors and millions in annual revenue by sharing the stories of entrepreneurs. Pat breaks down the early days and how he grew the business into something that changed his life.

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meet the author
Pat Walls