Tokens are the tightest resource in Upload Labs, and several core upgrades hinge on having enough of them. You don’t have to spend money to progress, but you do need to use every reliable source the game offers. Here’s what works, when each method unlocks, and the tradeoffs to expect.

Method How it works When it’s available Yield Key notes
Map token drops Time-limited drops you click after a sound cue and orange edge arrow Early game onward Small amounts per spawn Despawns in seconds; optional Luck upgrade increases drop amount
Achievements and Requests One-time objectives claimed from the Trophy menu Early game onward Lump sums Requests use a Request Uploader; files sent don’t earn money/research
Bank breaches One-attempt hacks that appear as a bank icon on the map After unlocking the related research Moderate, per success Threat Level rises after each success on a run; timered spawn
Token mining Mine Tokens with GPU power instead of crypto Mid-to-late tech tree Slow without extreme power Costs over 400,000× the power of mining a single Bitcoin
Purchase (DLC) One-time pack plus daily Tokens Any time Instant + daily drip Includes 1,400 instant Tokens and 200 daily Tokens, plus a support badge

Find token drops on the map (act fast)

Small Token caches periodically spawn on the map. You’ll hear a distinct sound and see an orange arrow at the screen edge pointing to the cache. Click it immediately—these spawns vanish after a few seconds.

The Luck upgrade increases how many Tokens each random drop grants, but it’s purchased with Tokens. Expect roughly 150 spawns for the first Luck level to break even. If you’re committing to this route, invest early so the payoff has time to accrue.

Complete achievements and requests for lump-sum Tokens

Open the Trophy menu (upper-left) to see Achievements and Requests. Each can only be completed once, but both award Tokens you claim directly in that menu. This is the most reliable way to get large batches at once, especially early.

Requests: setup details and pitfalls

  • Use a Request Uploader (in Network Nodes, star icon). It can hold a single file type at a time and needs network Upload Speed.
  • Files sent via a Request Uploader do not generate money, research, or other resources; they only count toward the Request.
  • If you delete the Request Uploader or change its input, any unsent queued files are lost.
  • When you fulfill a Request, you can claim the Tokens in the Trophy menu—even if you remove or reassign the Request Uploader afterward.

Every file family (Text, Images, etc.) has Requests for its permutations (Enhanced, Compressed, and more). A practical early-game approach is to temporarily reassign smaller file downloaders to produce and upload each requested variant, claiming several one-time payouts quickly.

Breach Banks for one-shot rewards (increasing difficulty)

After researching the required node, timed Bank opportunities appear on the map with the same sound and orange arrow, displayed as a columned building icon. Click quickly; the window is brief.

Each Bank opens a special hacking node with a single attempt. Success pays Tokens, then the opportunity disappears regardless of outcome. With each successful Bank on a run, the next Bank’s Threat Level is higher and cannot be adjusted. Plan your breach when your hacking setup can comfortably handle the escalating challenge.

Mine Tokens with GPUs (extreme power requirement)

Later in the tech tree, you can direct GPU power to mine Tokens instead of crypto. The exchange rate is punishing: a single Token demands over four hundred thousand times the power needed to mine one Bitcoin. If you must do it, push concentrated power—such as through a Synchronizer feeding a fully upgraded GPU—to make the output tolerable. Treat this as a last resort when other sources are tapped.

Purchase Tokens (official Steam DLC)

If you prefer a paid accelerator, the official Daily Tokens DLC grants 1,400 Tokens instantly on your current and future playthroughs, adds 200 Tokens daily, and increases your Support Level with a badge. It’s positioned as an ongoing drip plus a one-time boost rather than a single consumable pack.

For steady progress without spending, prioritize Achievements and Requests while snagging every map drop you hear and see. Attack Banks when your hacking can withstand the rising Threat Level. Keep mining as a backstop for edge cases. If time is your constraint, the DLC creates a predictable baseline of Tokens you can count on each day.