Two exchanges in the United States which are currently offering promotions for new sign ups are Coinbase and ShapeShift.

Through the Coinbase Earn program you can watch short educational videos to earn between $15-60 USD worth of various currencies. This website will provide additional background which may be helpful in understanding how cryptocurrencies work.

An exchange is a service which acts as a broker between the user and their financial institutions. You can earn free crypto currencies on many exchanges for signing up and trying out their offerings. Often through referrals like the ones found within this website, both parties receive a small token of gratitude as a means of ongoing promotion.

Know Your Customer (KYC). Exchanges must be vigilant to prevent misconduct and follow the same laws as traditional institutions must adhere to if they are based within the United States. They will ask you a series of questions to establish a record of your identity in order to verify and activate your account. This often requires a photo of you holding a hand written note, and a copy of a driver’s license or passport.