Nah I disagree, chaos orb recipe is a newbie trap. It is useful in some cases, solo self found for example. But you can make much more other ways.
Best ways to make currency is to go on POE ninja, see what the high tickets items are and get them. Delves are good for cash selling fossils etc. Lab enchants has always been good and item flipping on POE trade.
edit: sorry just realised you said besides trading, then yea there's not much else, but it would take a lot to get enough to buy into higher tier builds without trading.