On the day of Linea's token issuance, there was a chorus of wailing on social media, mixed with a few scattered posts showcasing screenshots of over ten thousand U. I know that most people were just bystanders, and that feeling is like having worked hard in the fields for a year, only to realize the harvest isn't yours. I understand that feeling because I've also missed out on major opportunities, not just once.
But please don't rush to uninstall your wallet or smash your keyboard. The rules of the airdrop game have long changed, especially for a giant L2 like Linea backed by ConsenSys; the token issuance is merely the beginning of a lengthy ecological incentive, not the end. Today, from the perspective of an old soldier, I will guide you through how to regain control in the second half of Linea after missing the early mining. This requires us to re-examine three aspects: from broad netting to precision farming, from trading to building identity, and from speculation to investment.
First, we must admit that the era of obtaining large airdrops with just a few interactions is basically gone. The first round of airdrop rules for Linea has clearly told us that witch detection is becoming stricter, with higher weights on genuine, sustained, and deep participation. Therefore, the current remedial measures are certainly not about opening another hundred wallets to repeat yesterday's story. The correct mindset is to treat Linea as a city under construction; what we need to do is find those potential plots that may become landmark buildings in the future, rather than squeezing in the already crowded central square.
Specifically, you should immediately shift your focus away from those DEX and lending protocols that have already issued tokens and are well-known. Where to go? Look for those projects that are still in the early stages, have innovative products, but whose communities are not that active yet—'potential stocks'. For example, new projects focusing on on-chain derivatives, RWA assets, or decentralized AI applications. These projects currently need seed users and genuine liquidity providers, not script armies. This reminds me of my experience with Arbitrum, where I got caught up in the frenzy of GMX, where returns were meager. Later, I put a small amount into a derivatives protocol that no one was paying attention to at the time, purely because I found its mechanism interesting. As a result, not only were the LP returns decent, but the project later airdropped weights to early LPs far exceeding my expectations. This lesson taught me that fearing where others are greedy and finding opportunities where others are oblivious is always the survival rule in Web3. Such opportunities still exist on Linea; what you need to do is spend time researching the project itself, rather than rushing in mindlessly.
Secondly, stop just focusing on transaction volumes and interaction counts; start building your on-chain identity. The Linea Voyage event has actually given a very clear signal that future airdrops will likely place more emphasis on your on-chain reputation. What does this mean? It means your wallet address needs to look like a 'human' rather than a 'robot'. Participate in some governance votes, even if it’s just casting a dissenting vote; mint some meaningful SBTs (Soulbound Tokens) to prove your participation in specific ecological events; if your technical ability allows, you can even contribute code to open-source projects or actively help newcomers in the community. These actions may not show immediate returns in the short term, but they are slowly enriching your on-chain profile, allowing you to stand out in future witch selections. When project teams need to find true long-term supporters, your 'living' address will be invaluable.
Of course, we must clarify one point: all remedial measures come with risks. When interacting with new protocols, you may encounter code vulnerabilities or project teams running away; when doing LP, you may face impermanent loss. We aim to use controllable small costs to seek a high odds future, rather than betting everything on an uncertain airdrop. Be sure to control your position and only use money you can afford to lose for exploration.
In summary, missing the first round of Linea airdrops is indeed regrettable, but it feels more like a mandatory cognitive upgrade. It pushes us to transition from a simple 'airdrop hunter' to a more mature 'ecological builder'. Future opportunities will belong to those who genuinely use the network, provide value to the ecosystem, and build a good on-chain reputation as deep participants. This is not only the rule of Linea but will also be the mainstream narrative of the entire Web3 world.
Missed the first round of Linea, which ecosystem project that hasn't issued tokens do you think has the most potential? Or do you have any unique remedies? Let's discuss your views in the comments.
Disclaimer: This article is merely a personal opinion sharing and does not constitute any investment advice. The risks in the crypto market are extremely high; please conduct your own research and consult professionals before making any decisions.@Linea.eth #Linea $LINEA
