I remember when I used to run SETI@Home on my computer — it felt like I was helping to search for extraterrestrial life and earning passive income at the same time. But everything ended in 2021. The Berkeley project was shut down, and for several years, that background process has been gone. However, it turns out that wasn’t the only option. Now there’s a whole ecosystem of projects where you can earn money just by leaving your computer on.

The concept is simple — distributed computing. You take your PC, let it work on a network project, and in return, you get a reward. It’s like Airbnb, but instead of renting out an apartment, you rent out your computing power. First, you just need to download the app, install it, and forget about it — it runs in the background, using what’s otherwise unused.

What really interests most people? Of course, cryptocurrency mining. In the past, you could mine Bitcoin on a regular PC, but that’s now a fantasy — the algorithms are too complex, and competition is fierce. But there’s Spacemesh — a network designed specifically for ordinary people. It uses Proof-of-Space instead of energy-intensive Proof-of-Work. The main thing isn’t the CPU but disk space. Just turn it on, let it run, and every two weeks, you get a reward based on how much space you’ve allocated. To start, you need at least 1 GB of RAM and an internet connection with download speeds of at least 5 Mbps. This is a passive way for an average user to earn with their computer.

There are other options too. HyperCycle, for example, is a Layer-0 blockchain for AI networks. It combines the computing power of devices into a global brain for calculations. You need a license and at least 1024 HYPC tokens, but the idea is interesting. Fleek Network is a decentralized CDN, an alternative to Cloudflare. Instead of a few huge data centers, content is distributed from many nodes around the world. Even in Siberia, you can connect to a local node instead of a server thousands of kilometers away.

For those willing to sacrifice disk space, there’s Storj. It’s a decentralized cloud storage service, an alternative to Dropbox or AWS. Everything is encrypted, only you have access to your files, and they’re automatically distributed across the network for reliability. You install the app, choose how many gigabytes to allocate, and receive monthly payments. The only requirement is that your computer must be always on and online.

Hyperlink positions itself as a global supercomputer, but essentially it’s just a network where anyone can earn. People provide resources for hosting websites and applications. The company promises up to $8,600 per year if you keep your PC or laptop running 24/7. Payments are made via PayPal, bank transfers — flexible options. In the future, they plan to add tablets and smartphones.

Of course, there are downsides. The computer will wear out faster, its lifespan may shorten, and performance could drop. But in reality, most people don’t fully load their machines, so their contribution to the network is minimal. And if you need more power for your own tasks, you can always buy a second device and leave it running in the background. This is the kind of passive income with a computer that’s now accessible to anyone willing to try.

An important point — all of this requires a stable internet connection and the computer to be on constantly. But if you have an old laptop or PC just sitting unused, why not give it a second life? Let it work for the network and bring you a little money each month. You won’t get rich, of course, but it’s a pretty good additional passive income source.