Passive income with crypto: Fixed vs Flexible Earn programs

Make your coins brew the tea while you sleep. That is the dream behind “passive income” in crypto: you park assets you already own, and they quietly earn a reward. In exchange, the platform uses your coins under clear terms. EXMO explains how Flexible and Fixed Earn programmes work, where the yield actually comes from, and how to use Earn in your particular scenario.

Flexible Earn

▪️What it is: a savings-style option where you earn rewards and can withdraw anytime.
▪️Who it suits: first-timers, DCA users and anyone who wants an emergency exit available.
▪️Trade-off: flexibility usually means a lower rate versus a locked term.

For a quick start, open Earn, go to a Flexible tab, pick the asset, choose the amount and confirm. Rewards accrue on schedule (check the cadence in the product card). You can move funds back to your wallet whenever you like.

Fixed Earn

▪️What it is: you lock coins for a set period to potentially get a higher rate.
▪️Who it suits: people with a cash buffer elsewhere and a clear timeline.
▪️Trade-off: higher rates vs no access during the lock. Early exit is unrewarded.

The contract opening works just the same: go to Earn, find a Fixed tab, select asset and term length, review the rate and the early-withdrawal policy, then confirm. When the term ends, you claim rewards and can re-enrol or withdraw.

EXMO Coin boosts

EXMO uses its native utility token, EXM, to unlock Fixed Earn tiers. The more EXM you hold in your account, the higher the tier you qualify for, which can unlock better Earn conditions. Exact rates vary by asset and may change over time, so always check Fixed Earn in the app before enrolling.

Current levels:
▪️Basic — Hold 0 EXM (the default tier for everyone)
▪️Standard — Hold 50,000 EXM
▪️Advanced — Hold 120,000 EXM

Top tokens and APY

EXMO’s rates are some of the most stable on the market. While other exchanges tend to change terms and percentages, our Fixed program stays strong and mostly untouched for quite a long period. That is why locking top coins is highly beneficial at EXMO.

Most appealing APYs:
▪️EXM — 8.00%–17.50%
▪️BTC — 3.00%–5.00%
▪️ETH — 3.00%–6.00%
▪️USDT — 6.50%–15.00%
▪️USDC — 6.50%–15.00%

What pushes you to the top of a range? Longer Fixed terms, higher EXM tier, periodic promos and hitting the right asset at the right time. Always open the asset’s Earn card in the app to see a full rate spread, payout cadence, caps and conditions.

Where the yield comes from

Exchanges usually do a few sensible things with pooled assets:
▪️short-term lending to vetted users;
▪️market-making liquidity so trades flow smoothly;
▪️on-chain staking or promotional budgets for growth.

Speaking about rates, stablecoins often have different ones from BTC/ETH due to the volatility difference. On top of that, longer terms typically pay more than short terms. This is the result of longer asset usage by the platform. There are no mystic money-appearing machinations; EXMO takes your yield from reliable and beneficial sources.

Common pitfalls

While passive income sounds sweet, be careful not to make these mistakes:

Chasing headline APY

That eye-popping number is appealing, but you should always check the term length, asset risk and flexibility, not just the %.

Locking funds you will need soon

Fixed means fixed. If your financial situation changes, use Flexible and do not waste your time and potential benefit.

Ignoring platform/asset risks

Diversify across assets and terms, and never park everything in one place. The crypto market has become more predictable, but emergencies still happen.

Overcomplicating your setup

Ten coins and seven terms are spreadsheet fatigue. Start with one or two assets and one strategy you can stick to.

EXMO Earn has a very intuitive UI, so you will never get lost, skip our terms or miss your profit. At the same time, be careful with all your allocations.

This article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments involve risk, and you should always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before making decisions.