Airdrops, as a unique incentive mechanism in the blockchain ecosystem, are a key means for project parties to acquire users and expand influence, and an important way for ordinary users to participate in early projects at low costs and obtain potential returns. However, in the face of numerous projects and complex rules, how to efficiently filter quality airdrops and avoid risks? This article will analyze from multiple dimensions of strategy, tools, and cases to help you become a 'precision hunter' in the airdrop field.
1. The Essence and Value of Airdrops: Why is it worth paying attention to?
Definition: An airdrop is the act of distributing tokens for free to specific users by project parties, usually based on on-chain interaction records, community contributions, or completion of simple tasks. Its core purposes include:
1. User Growth: Attract early participants through token incentives to form a seed user group (e.g., Uniswap airdropped UNI tokens to historical users, averaging 400 tokens per user, peak value over 100,000 yuan);
2. Ecosystem Construction: Encourage users to participate in testnet interactions, liquidity provision, etc., to improve project infrastructure (e.g., LayerZero incentivizes users to verify its protocol through cross-chain tasks);
3. Market Heating: Accumulate hype for tokens going live on exchanges and enhance liquidity (e.g., Story Protocol locked potential airdrop users through a badge system during the testnet phase).
Historical Return Cases:
• Uniswap (UNI): The value of the 2020 airdrop soared from an initial 1200 to 16,000;
• Ethereum Name Service (ENS): The price of airdropped token ENS rose from 40 to over 70;
• Berachain: Users interacting on the testnet expect to receive high returns after the mainnet launch.
2. Airdrop Discovery Strategies: Four Dimensions for Filtering Quality Projects
1. Financing Background and Team Endorsement
High-funding projects often possess stronger token distribution capabilities and market confidence. For example:
• Monad: Raised $244 million led by Paradigm, plans to distribute tokens through testnet staking and NFT activities;
• LayerZero: Raised over $130 million; airdrops may cover active cross-chain interaction addresses.
2. Track Trends and Technological Innovations
Prioritize layout in high-growth areas, such as:
• Parallel EVM: Monad supports tens of thousands of TPS through optimized execution efficiency, attracting DeFi protocols to migrate;
• AI + Blockchain: Nillion uses Multi-Party Computation (MPC) to directly process encrypted data; airdrops may target early node participants;
• Re-staking Economy: Solayer allows users to stake SOL for income while protecting Solana's ecosystem applications.
3. Community Activity and Task System
• Discord Roles and Points System: Monad classifies airdrop weights based on Discord role levels, while Phantom distributes rewards based on transaction frequency;
• Task Platform Interaction: Galxe, Layer3 integrates multiple project airdrop tasks; completing specified interactions can accumulate qualifications.
4. On-chain Data Verification
• Gas Consumption Records: Projects often take snapshots of frequently interacting addresses on the testnet (e.g., Morph L2 requires users to complete bridging and Swap);
• Address Asset Scale: Some DeFi protocols airdrop new coins to wallets holding specific tokens (e.g., UNI, AAVE).
3. Practical Participation: Five-step process to maximize airdrop returns
1. Tool Preparation
• Wallet: MetaMask (multi-chain support), Phantom (specific for Solana ecosystem);
• Account Management: Cloud-based fingerprint browsers + independent IPs to avoid account bans due to multiple account associations;
• Data Tracking: Earni.fi monitors airdrop arrivals, Ultrasound.money optimizes Gas fee costs.
2. Task Execution
• Basic Tasks: Follow Twitter, join Telegram groups (e.g., Berachain regularly posts testnet activities);
• Deep Interaction: Testnet contract calls, liquidity provision (e.g., Eclipse on-chain DEX trading and LP staking);
• Ecosystem Contribution: Creating content (Story Protocol), participating in governance voting (Monad Discord proposals).
3. Asset Allocation
• Main Chain Coverage: Mainstream chains like Ethereum, Solana, Cosmos require active addresses;
• Token Holding: Accumulate a moderate amount of platform tokens (e.g., BNB, PYTH) to match holding-type airdrop conditions.
4. Risk Avoidance
• Phishing Identification: Only obtain airdrop links through official websites or trusted platforms like Galxe;
• Private Key Protection: Airdrops do not require mnemonic phrases; requesting a private key is a scam;
• Fund Isolation: Use independent wallets to participate in airdrops to avoid exposing main assets.
4. 2025 Potential Airdrop Project Outlook
Project Track Participation Strategy Airdrop Expectations
Monad High-performance Layer1 Complete testnet staking, obtain Discord roles High (Funding $244 million)
LayerZero Cross-chain Protocol Multi-chain Asset Transfer, Contract Interaction Medium-High (Ecosystem Expansion)
Phantom Wallet On-chain Trading, NFT Minting Medium (Large User Base)
Nillion Privacy Computing Participating Node Verification, Blind Computation Staking High (Technical Barriers)
Conclusion: The essence of airdrops is a game of attention
Successfully capturing airdrops relies not only on tools and strategies but also on keen insights into industry dynamics. It is recommended that users focus on 3-5 high-potential projects for in-depth interactions and avoid a scattergun approach. With the explosion of more Layer2 and AI projects in 2025, airdrops may present a trend of 'refined tasks + community co-construction'. Only through continuous learning and cautious operation can one seize the next wave of 'wealth effect' amidst the balance of risks and returns.
