Airdrops are a low-risk minimum-commitment gateway into web3 for many enthusiasts. For seasoned crypto traders and investors, these airdrops are a way to reap substantially high rewards a a low cost.
For projects, airdrops provide a simple and sure-fire way to engage highly targeted audiences.
In 2023, just the top 50 crypto airdrops distributed tokens worth over 4.5 billion!
In this article, we will take a look at the top 10 airdrops in history that have together distributed over $2 billion worth of cryptocurrencies.
An airdrop, in the context of cryptocurrency, is a marketing stunt that involves sending free coins or tokens to wallet addresses in order to promote a new virtual currency. The overarching goal is typically to boost the adoption and visibility of the new token.
The success of an airdrop largely depends on its strategic planning. This includes a well-thought-out selection of recipients, often targeting those who are already engaged in the cryptocurrency community. By focusing on users with an existing interest in digital currencies, the likelihood of the airdrop creating meaningful engagement increases. Moreover, the amount and value of the tokens being distributed need to be carefully calibrated. Over-generous airdrops might devalue the token, while too meager offerings might fail to draw interest.
Community engagement is another critical factor. Successful airdrops are often preceded by or coincide with, robust marketing campaigns aimed at building a community around the token. A strong community not only helps in spreading the word but also in establishing the token’s credibility and perceived value.
The clarity of objectives behind the airdrop is crucial. Whether the goal is to reward loyal supporters, attract new users, or decentralize the token distribution, it should be transparent and aligned with the overall mission of the cryptocurrency project. This clarity helps in building trust and a sense of participation among recipients.
Below is the blueprint of top 10 cryptocurrency airdrops. Founders, developers, token designers and marketers can study them to formulate their own airdrop strategy.
Uniswap functions as a decentralized exchange (DEX), serving as a global marketplace for cryptocurrencies on the Ethereum blockchain. It enables direct trading without the involvement of intermediaries. Started in 2018, it's open source, and anyone can use its code for their exchanges.
Uniswap is like a bank where you always have control over your money. Unlike some other banks (centralized exchanges), Uniswap doesn't make you give up the key to your account. It does transactions faster and cheaper because it uses a direct connection (blockchain) instead of a complicated internal system like traditional banks.
https://x.com/RyanWatkins_/status/1306432490656145408?s=20
To get the 400 free UNI tokens from the UNI Airdrop, you simply had to use Uniswap before September 1, 2020. It's an easy process open to anyone.
The UNI airdrop remains a significant milestone, standing out as the most impactful in the history of decentralized finance (DeFi).
ApeCoin, governed by ApeCoin DAO, operates on Ethereum and empowers users to make decisions within a decentralized autonomous organization (ApeDAO). Created by Yuga Labs, inspired by Bored Ape Yacht Club, ApeCoin is used for transactions in the Otherside metaverse.
ApeCoin on X: "The airdrop claim consisting of 15% of the total ...
Yuga Labs, the team behind ApeCoin, regularly hosts airdrops and special events to build excitement around the ApeCoin brand. Exclusive benefits during these events are reserved for holders of Bored Apes and Mutant Apes NFTs.
Yuga Labs wants to make sure ApeCoin feels like a special treat for its loyal community of NFT fans and gets the desired publicity from the crypto community.
Allocation: 150,000,000 APE (15% of total supply)
Tokens per Claim: Up to 10,950 APE
Claim Deadline: 90 days post-launch
NFT Allocations:
Ensuring a fair launch, ApeCoin distribution to BAYC and MAYC NFT holders is determined by the floor price difference between each NFT collection, approximately from February 7, 2022, to March 8, 2022. Bored Ape Kennel Club NFTs can claim ApeCoin if paired with either a Bored Ape or Mutant Ape.
dYdX stands out as a decentralized exchange (DEX) platform, offering perpetual trading options for more than 35 popular cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ether, Dogecoin, and Cardano. Renowned as one of the largest decentralized exchanges globally, it boasts significant trading volume and market share.
Operating on a hybrid, partially decentralized infrastructure, dYdX ensures easy access for any user with internet connectivity to engage in trading activities on the platform.
Founded by Antonio Juliano, a California-based entrepreneur, in August 2017, dYdX officially launched in July 2017. Initially focusing on crypto margin trading, lending, and borrowing services over the Ethereum layer-1, it has since evolved into a comprehensive platform.
dYdX Foundation 🦔 on X: "DYDX's Retroactive Mining Rewards ...
Users who utilized DYDX before July 26, 2021. Early dYdX users engaging in trading on any of their protocols (perpetual, margin, spot) on L1 or L2, or depositing funds into dYdX’s borrow/supply pools are eligible for the retroactive airdrop.
Note: Any addresses detected for misuse or mass airdrop claiming will not be eligible for the airdrop.
Arbitrum, a cutting-edge Layer 2 scaling solution for the Ethereum blockchain, is spearheading the era of fast smart contract transactions coupled with reduced transaction costs. This groundbreaking technology, pioneered by New York-based Ethereum startup Offchain Labs, has garnered substantial investments from industry heavyweights like Alameda Research, Pantera Capital, and Lightspeed Venture Partners.
Arbitrum ( , ) on X: "Today The Arbitrum Foundation is extremely ...
Arbitrum is giving away tokens in an airdrop, but you need to meet at least three out of six criteria to qualify. Here they are:
The project gave away 12.75% of all tokens for those who've been busy on the network in the last year.
More Rules: The more criteria you meet, the more tokens you get. Simple, right? But wait, there are two more rules to keep it fair:
Ethereum Name Service (ENS) is like the phonebook of the Ethereum blockchain. Instead of dealing with complicated strings of numbers and letters, ENS gives Ethereum addresses easy-to-remember names, making web3 a breeze.
ENS uses a team of helpers (nodes) to turn those tricky Ethereum addresses into simple names. It's like magic! They decide who gets to use what name through a fun auction. This makes it super easy to use Ethereum apps and services without dealing with confusing addresses.
https://twitter.com/ensdomains/status/1455754478477619200?s=61&t=HwchTtdxNwmA8AZqscvSXg
Eligibility Criteria: Traders who owned ENS tokens on or before October 31, 2021, are eligible to claim their tokens.
Calculation Formula: Claiming ENS airdrop involves a calculated formula based on the wallet's address history. Here's a breakdown:
The distribution of ENS airdrop will be made to wallet holders based on these factors. It's important to note that the distribution is tied to wallet addresses, not wallet names.
A total of 100 million tokens will be distributed as follows:
ENS is not just transforming web3; it's also rewarding early adopters and contributors through this airdrop initiative, creating an inclusive and thriving ecosystem.
Internet Computer is like a superhero for the Internet, taking on big challenges like making things more secure, protecting your personal info, and breaking up the monopoly of Internet giants. It's all about building a better, modern Internet.
What makes Internet Computer unique is its special tech called Chain Key Technology. Unlike regular blockchains, it can handle a ton of data super fast and scale up to include millions of computers.
The Internet Computer Airdrop in May 2021 was a significant event that aimed to involve the community and distribute tokens widely. Here are the key details:
Approximately 10.50% of the total tokens (49,268,690 tokens) were allocated to node operators on the blockchain network.
BONK, a dog-themed meme coin, is making waves on the Solana network, injecting new life into the Solana ecosystem by enhancing liquidity. Launched on Christmas last year, BONK's price trajectory marks a significant turning point in the meme coin arena, akin to the success stories of Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Dogecoin (DOGE).
BONK is not your average meme coin. It adds a fresh vibe to the Solana ecosystem.
The distribution of BONK during its launch was diverse, reaching various sectors of the Solana ecosystem. Here's a breakdown of the 50% airdrop to the Solana community:
20% to 40 Solana NFT Collections:
15% to Early Openbook Traders:
10% to Solana Artists and Collectors:
5% to Solana Developers:
With its unique style and growing popularity, BONK is making a name for itself in the crypto world. It's not just a meme coin; it's a playful addition to the Solana network's crypto family.
Celestia stands out as a modular blockchain network designed to empower developers by providing a robust infrastructure for building and maintaining blockchains. Its distinctive feature lies in offering other blockchains the utility of utilizing Celestia as both a data availability and consensus layer.
Celestia can handle lots of transactions quickly and make sure all the data is super safe.
The eligibility criteria encompass four major categories:
Exploring and Supporting the Ethereum Ecosystem:
Pioneering Early Blockchain Development:
Trailblazing Ethereum Rollup Supporters:
Cosmos Hub & Osmosis Champions:
Celestia Token Grant Highlights:
Genesis Drop Involvement:
Platform Inclusivity:
LooksRare is a cool NFT marketplace that's all about giving back to the folks who love trading, collecting, and creating. Unlike other places, LooksRare wants to be the go-to spot for NFTs in the crypto world, and they've got a unique way of making it happen.
Built on Ethereum, LooksRare keeps things simple with a one-chain setup. What's awesome is they've sorted through every NFT on Ethereum, so you can buy any Ethereum-based NFT right from LooksRare, even those from big platforms like OpenSea.
1inch Network isn't your regular crypto exchange. It's like a super-smart assistant that checks out all the cool places where you can swap your digital assets to get the best deals. It's super handy for folks who provide liquidity.
Key Features:
All wallets interacting with 1inch until midnight on December 24, 2020, are eligible for 1INCH token airdrops.
Qualifying conditions include:
1inch DEX generously airdropped 90 million tokens, benefiting over 55,000 wallet addresses.
The most common criteria to enter airdrop eligibility is to hold certain tokens like ETH, BTC, etc. and perform activities on specific blockchains.
At Transak, you can become a holder of many of the top cryptocurrencies by market cap. Users can buy over 170 cryptocurrencies from more than 185 countries using 20+ local payment methods!
Transak will deposit cryptocurrency directly into your DeFi wallet and does not assume custody in any way.
If you’re looking to fulfill the eligibility criteria of any airdrop and you need tokens that are available on Transak, here’s how you can go about buying them:
By studying past airdrops, founders, marketers and crypto project builders can glean insights into how to cultivate and engage a community, understanding the kinds of incentives and communications that resonate with potential users.
Airdrop case studies can provide educational insights into the workings of cryptocurrencies, tokenomics, and the broader digital asset ecosystem. This knowledge is beneficial for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of the crypto world.
Want to learn more about cryptocurrencies and web3? Head over to transak.com/blog.