History

Earn.com was originally founded in 2013 as 21 Inc., a company focused on manufacturing Bitcoin mining hardware. The company raised over $120 million in venture capital funding, making it one of the most well-funded startups in the cryptocurrency space at the time. However, as the Bitcoin mining industry became increasingly competitive, 21 Inc. shifted its business model.

In 2017, the company rebranded as Earn.com, transitioning into a platform that allowed users to earn cryptocurrency by responding to emails and completing micro-tasks. This pivot aimed to create one of the earliest practical applications of blockchain technology with meaningful user engagement.

Acquisition by Coinbase

In April 2018, Coinbase, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, acquired Earn.com. The acquisition was reportedly valued at over $100 million. As part of the deal, Earn.com's CEO, Balaji Srinivasan, joined Coinbase as its first Chief Technology Officer (CTO). The acquisition was seen as a strategic move by Coinbase to integrate Earn.com's technology and user base into its platform. TechCrunch

Integration and Phase-Out

Following the acquisition, Coinbase integrated Earn.com's features into its own platform, launching Coinbase Earn. This new service allowed users to earn various cryptocurrencies by learning about them and completing educational tasks. In December 2019, Coinbase announced the phasing out of Earn.com to focus on expanding Coinbase Earn. Users were advised to withdraw their balances by February 2020, marking the end of Earn.com as a standalone service.

Legacy

Earn.com's evolution from a Bitcoin mining hardware manufacturer to a paid email and task platform, and its subsequent acquisition by Coinbase, highlights the dynamic nature of the cryptocurrency industry. Its model of incentivizing user engagement through cryptocurrency rewards has influenced similar initiatives aimed at promoting blockchain adoption and education.