Hiking for Crypto
(Elmer W. Oliver Nature Park in Mansfield, TX. Photo by Laura Hofford.)
I've been an enthusiastic hiker for over half a decade now, ever since I was encouraged by a former friend to fully take advantage of the scenic exercising opportunities that were just a few minutes' drive from our office in Boulder, CO. And while the hiking spots in my new hometown in Texas aren't quite as extraordinary as the mountain trails back in Colorado, I've still made it a point to get out to the nearby parks as often as I can.
It may not occur to cryptocurrency enthusiasts that there might be a crossover interest into hiking or exploring, but I've found three crypto earning apps that allow me to collect various coins and tokens while I'm out getting my almost-daily hikes in.
Disclaimer: this post contains some affiliate links which may give a small payout to the author and/or a bonus to new users who may choose to use apps or services mentioned. Please consider using these links to help support this blog series!
Coin Hunt World!
Coin Hunt World is my top-earning crypto mobile game, and in fact the app that really got me interested in crypto in general. If you're familiar with other move-to-earn phone games such as Pokemon Go or Wizards United, then CHW's game mechanics will be easy to pick up. Essentially, players walk around in the real world and interact with vaults in-game by answering trivia questions and earning either Bitcoin or Ethereum for correct answers. (For more gaming details, check out my Coin Hunt World review.)
Depending on your area, there may or may not be system vaults in your nearby parks or hiking trails. However, Coin Hunt World users can place up to ten of their own user vaults - so if you're seriously active in certain outdoor locations you might choose to place some or all of your vaults along your hiking route. Personally, I've dropped most of my user vaults along my two favorite hiking paths here in town.
Alternately (and while it may not really count as hiking) you can typically find many vaults in highly populated and/or downtown areas. For users who like to get around the city on foot, Coin Hunt World is also an excellent app to earn Bitcoin and Ethereum while on the go.
COIN
COIN is a crypto geomining app with other gamification and play-to-earn options built in. Ultimately, users collect coins (which can be exchanged for a few different cryptocurrencies, including it's main offering, $XYO) by moving around in the real world and "mining" tiles on the map. (For a detailed review, read my recent article about COIN.)
As the app has been developed, it's fortunately become less of a battery drain AND can run (mostly) in the background. My advice for the current build at the time of writing this article is to check often to make sure the "Auto Explore" option is turned on; it's been defaulting to off at an alarming rate recently, so make sure it's running properly as you move about to maximize your crypto earnings.
As a plus, COIN will continue to mine even if you're not moving. So even on those days that you're stuck at the office, you can collect your coins while you work!
Nodle
Nodle is an app that essentially turns your phone into a node on a decentralized Bluetooth network. Your phone will pick up nearby bluetooth devices and help transmit data from those devices to their owners. Current and future uses include tracking packages, finding lost/stolen devices or pets, and managing other bluetooth devices.
Various versions of the Nodle app have worked better than others, and currently Nodle is somewhat able to run in the background just as COIN does. I have noticed that it tends to stop collecting data after there's been a fair amount of time since my last interaction with the app (such as after a night's sleep), so it's important to check it a few times a day to make sure it's still running. Nodle rewards users with NODL tokens.
Like COIN, Nodle can also be used when sedentary. Earnings will fluctuate depending on your location and how many devices your phone locates.
Conclusion
I've found these three apps to yield the strongest crypto results while I'm out hiking. Are there any crypto games or apps that you use while you're out and about? If so, I'd love to hear about them! Referral links are always welcome in the comments.
Like this article? Find me on...
Torum: @Valdyr | Publish0x: @Valdyr | Article: @Valdyr | Bulb: @Valdyr
Valdyr is a "crypto-curious" blogger living in Texas with her husband and their ancient dachshund, Henry. When she's not working as an audio/visual technician or stagehand, you'll frequently find her traveling, hiking or enjoying a good craft beer. For more reading, check out www.laurahofford.com/blog/
