#AirdropStepByStep A crypto airdrop is a free or promotional distribution of tokens or cryptocurrencies to digital wallet addresses, typically to encourage adoption, reward existing users, or promote a new blockchain project.
Types of Airdrops
1. Standard Airdrops
- Free tokens are sent to holders of certain cryptocurrencies (e.g., those with ETH or SOL in their wallet).
- Example: A new project distributes tokens to everyone with more than 0.1 BTC on a specific date.
2. Bounty Airdrops
- These require actions such as following social media, joining a Telegram account, or sharing posts.
- Example: "Receive 50 free tokens if you retweet our ad."
3. Exclusive Airdrops
- For active users of a platform (e.g., early adopters of a DeFi protocol).
- Example: Uniswap (UNI) distributed tokens to those who had used their DEX before 2020.
4. "Surprise" Airdrops
- Unannounced distributions to wallets with a certain amount of activity.
- Example: Arbitrum (ARB) airdrop for Layer 2 users in 2023.
Why do airdrops exist?
- Marketing: They attract attention to new projects.
- Decentralization: They distribute tokens to avoid concentration in a few hands.
- Rewards: They incentivize loyal users or early adopters.
Risks and Scams
⚠️ Beware of scams:
- Fake airdrops asking for private keys (never share them!).
- Worthless or malicious tokens (these could be dusting attacks to track wallets).
How to Participate?
1. Keep crypto in non-custodial wallets (MetaMask, Trust Wallet).
2. Join official communities (Discord, Twitter) for legitimate projects.
3. Never give access to your wallet or seed phrase.
Recent Example: In 2024, the Starknet (STRK) project airdropped to Ethereum developers and users.
