Adam Back On The Importance Of Bitcoin Nodes

Earn.com operates a paid email platform where users earn bitcoin by responding to messages and completing tasks. The company traces back to 2015 when 21 inc launched with more than $116 million in venture funding. The original startup built the 21 bitcoin computer, a low-powered device that allowed users to mine small amounts of bitcoin and develop applications. In early 2017, 21 shifted toward becoming an email platform, launching the service publicly in May. The company rebranded as Earn.com in late 2017 and expanded to include social media tasks alongside email work. Coinbase and Earn entered acquisition discussions by late March.

"Earn has built a paid email product that is one of the earliest practical blockchain applications to achieve meaningful traction," both companies said. "We will keep Earn's business running because it's showing a lot of promise and potential." Coinbase plans to integrate Earn's email system into its broader product and expand funding for the business. On their blog, Coinbase wrote, "We're going to be doubling down on the Earn business within Coinbase, as they have built a paid email product that is arguably one of the earliest practical blockchain applications to achieve meaningful traction."

The acquisition aligns with Coinbase's push into crypto and blockchain. The exchange launched a venture capital fund to back startups developing in the space.