Introduction

TOWNS is the native token of the Towns Protocol, a decentralized social network that allows the creation of private communities ('Towns') with members and governance rules recorded on-chain. The project uses an EVM-compatible Layer-2 and a network of decentralized nodes to ensure encrypted messaging, programmable access control, and minimal censorship. This infrastructure gives users full control over who participates, who governs, and how the community functions. The TOWNS token gained visibility after a $10 million investment round led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), with participation from Coinbase Ventures and Benchmark. $TOWNS

In August 2025, TOWNS became the 30th project in Binance's HODLer Airdrops program, allowing those who held BNB in selected products to receive the new token for free. Binance announced that users who held BNB in Simple Earn (Flexible or Locked) and/or On‑Chain Yields from July 14, 2025, 00:00 UTC to July 17, 2025, 23:59 UTC would retroactively receive TOWNS. The token was listed on August 5, 2025, at 14:30 UTC in the pairs TOWNS/USDT, TOWNS/USDC, TOWNS/BNB, TOWNS/FDUSD, and TOWNS/TRY.

What is TOWNS

The Towns Protocol is a social communication platform where each community ('Town') has programmable rules and a governance model recorded on smart contracts. Unlike centralized applications like Discord or Telegram, communities are natively private, encrypted, and censorship-resistant. Key features include:

  • EVM-compatible layer 2 technology, allowing reduced costs and integration with Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Base networks.

  • Decentralized streaming nodes and smart contracts for message delivery, ensuring that the communication infrastructure does not rely on a central server.

  • On-chain memberships: TOWNS tokens are used to manage entry, voting, and other governance functions within a community.

This approach gives communities full control over moderation and monetization, paving the way for safer and more private digital 'hometowns'.

How to participate and earn TOWNS

1. Subscription of BNB in eligible products

  1. Access the [Earn] page on the Binance website or app and search for BNB

  2. Choose a Simple Earn product (Flexible or Locked) or On‑Chain Yields and subscribe with the BNB balance you wish to use. These products will yield interest in BNB and at the same time make the user eligible for Launchpool, Megadrop, and HODLer airdrops.

2. Hold BNB during the snapshot period

  • During the period from July 14 to July 17 (UTC), Binance took multiple hourly snapshots of users' BNB balances in Simple Earn and On‑Chain Yields to calculate the average and determine rewards.

  • BNB committed as collateral for Binance loans does not count towards the airdrop.

  • No additional action is needed; simply holding the subscribed BNB during the snapshot dates will make you eligible. Users from unsupported regions (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Netherlands, and others) could not participate.

3. Receive TOWNS tokens in your Spot account

  • After the announcement, TOWNS tokens were automatically distributed to the spot accounts of eligible users within 24 hours. No manual claim is required.

  • When listed on the market, the tokens can be traded or transferred to another wallet.

4. Additional tips

  • Completing identity verification (KYC) is mandatory to participate in airdrops.

  • The BNB subscribed in Simple Earn continues to accumulate typical BNB benefits, such as Launchpool and Megadrop votes.

  • The TOWNS contracts are deployed on the BNB Chain (0x00000000bcA93b25a6694ca3d2109d545988b13B), Ethereum (0x000000Fa00b200406de700041CFc6b19BbFB4d13), and Base (0x00000000A22C618fd6b4D7E9A335C4B96B189a38) networks.

Conclusion

The Towns Protocol seeks to reshape online communication by offering private, programmable, and decentralized communities. The launch of the TOWNS token on Binance, combined with the HODLer Airdrops program, allowed BNB investors to receive this new asset at no additional cost. For future similar opportunities, it is worth keeping an eye on Binance announcements, maintaining BNB in eligible products, and always carrying out identity verification in advance.