In the world of cryptocurrencies, Airdrop has become a popular strategy for blockchain projects to connect with users. Essentially, it is a method of distributing free tokens or NFTs to early participants in the project’s ecosystem. Instead of traditional marketing costs, projects use cryptocurrency Airdrops to build communities and increase token decentralization.
NFT Airdrops operate similarly, but instead of receiving tokens, users receive unique digital assets (NFT). To qualify, you may need to hold a certain amount of tokens or complete specific tasks.
5 Types of Cryptocurrency Airdrops You Need to Know
1. Simple Airdrop: Just Register
This is the most accessible type. You only need to create an account on the platform and be ready to receive rewards without doing anything extra. However, since anyone can participate, tokens are usually distributed on a “first come, first served” basis, so the value is not high.
Example: RabbitX distributed RBX tokens to early registrants in March 2023.
2. Airdrop via (Bounty) Activities
Projects organize reward programs such as:
Bug bounty (finding system bugs) (bug bounty)
Participating in content creation contests
Engaging in community activities
Rewards can be project tokens or stablecoins like USDT, USDC.
3. Airdrop for Early Users
This type is exclusive to those who supported the project beforehand. They are rewarded with tokens to acknowledge contributions, such as:
Running nodes for blockchain networks
Making transactions on decentralized applications (dApp)
A notable case: Ethereum Name Service (ENS) awarded ENS tokens to users who registered .ens domains, with a total value exceeding $20,000 USD.
4. Airdrop for Token Holders
Projects take a snapshot (snapshot) of your wallet balances at a specific time. If you hold or stake the required amount of tokens, you will automatically receive a cryptocurrency Airdrop. These include:
Tokens from Layer 1 networks (Stellar previously Airdropped 19% of total XLM supply to BTC holders)
Project NFTs (Yuga Labs awarded 10,000 APE tokens to BAYC and MAYC NFT holders)
5. Airdrop After Hard Fork
When a blockchain undergoes a hard fork, the new version tokens are Airdropped to holders of the old tokens. For example:
Bitcoin hard fork created Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Bitcoin Gold (BTG)
Ethereum Shapella hard fork transitioned to Proof-of-Stake and generated ETHW tokens
Why Do Projects Choose to Distribute Cryptocurrency Airdrops?
Cryptocurrency Airdrops are not random tricks. They are deliberate strategies with specific goals:
Effective Promotion: News about Airdrops spreads quickly, prompting users to learn more about the project and share widely. This approach creates a viral effect that traditional advertising finds hard to achieve.
Building a Sustainable Community: Participants often complete tasks or use the product, forming an active community around the project.
Widespread Token Distribution: Airdrops help ensure tokens are distributed across many addresses, reducing centralization of power.
Although costs can reach hundreds of millions of USD, projects still see this as a worthwhile investment. Uniswap is a typical example: on September 1, 2020, the project Airdropped 400 UNI to early users, with a total value of $2,592,000,000 USD and 252,803 recipients. Today, UNI remains one of the leading DEXs.
Practical Process to Participate in Cryptocurrency Airdrops
Step 1: Identify Promising Projects
Not all cryptocurrency Airdrops are worth participating in. Take time to research the project, understand their goals, and verify credibility.
Step 2: Prepare Necessary Tools
Create accounts on social platforms (Twitter/X, Discord, Telegram)
Prepare a cryptocurrency wallet (preferably a dedicated Airdrop wallet)
Learn how to use DeFi if required by the project
Prepare the tokens needed as per the project’s requirements (if any)
Step 3: Complete Tasks
Interact with the project platform by:
Using their products
Completing specific required tasks
Following official updates
Step 4: Wait and Confirm
Record your participation info, follow official channels for updates, and wait for the Airdrop results to be announced.
Benefits and Challenges of Participation
Attractive Benefits:
Earn profits with almost zero cost
Experience new projects and advanced technologies
Receive tokens with profit potential (use services, discounts, voting rights)
Potential Risks:
Time and effort spent on complex tasks
Some projects lack transparency in distribution
Risk of scams (scam) impersonating Airdrops or requesting private keys
Are Cryptocurrency Airdrops Safe?
Airdrops from reputable projects are generally safe. You only need to provide your public wallet address—information already visible on the blockchain. However, many Airdrops come from scam projects. Be highly cautious.
Tips to Protect Yourself When Hunting for Cryptocurrency Airdrops
Use a secondary wallet: Create a separate wallet solely for Airdrops, holding a small amount of assets for gas fees. Avoid storing large assets there to reduce hacking risks.
Protect your private key: This is the golden rule of crypto. Any project asking for your private key is definitely a scam.
Create a dedicated email: Use a separate email for Airdrop activities to limit spam and reduce hacking risks.
Choose according to your situation: Bounty and retroactive Airdrops suit those with plenty of time but little capital. Conversely, holding and staking tokens is better if you have significant funds but limited time.
Use strong, unique passwords: Different strong passwords for each Airdrop website.
Check URLs carefully: Fake websites often alter details slightly (add dots, different domain extensions). Verify thoroughly before clicking.
Follow official channels: Only follow information from the project’s official channels to avoid scams and complete tasks correctly.
Notable Cryptocurrency Airdrop Projects in 2024
Pepe Unchained: Ethereum Layer-2 with meme Pepe, supports staking $PEPU (purchase methods: BNB, ETH, Bank Card)
Crypto All-Stars: Meme project with staking $STARS via “MemeVault”( )purchase methods: ETH, USDT, BNB(
Flockerz )$FLOCK(: DAO “Vote-to-Earn”, 25% of total supply for staking )purchase methods: ETH, USDT, BNB(
MemeBet Token )$MEMEBET(: Meme coin casino, Airdrop and holder rewards )purchase methods: ETH, USDT, Bank Card(
Sponge V2: Meme coin with high P2E and staking, over 12,000 participants )purchase methods: Bank Card, ETH, USDT(
Shiba Shootout: Combat project with high-yield staking )purchase methods: ETH, USDT, Bank Card(
Doge2014 )$DOGE2014(: 10th anniversary Dogecoin token, PoS mechanics, 60% of total supply for presale )purchase methods: presale
In Summary
Cryptocurrency Airdrops open opportunities to earn profits without large capital investment, while also allowing you to explore new technologies. However, participation carries risks, especially from scam projects. The key to success is to equip yourself with knowledge, understand how cryptocurrency Airdrops work, and choose the most trustworthy projects. Start smart and protect your assets.
This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.
Join Cryptocurrency Airdrops: A Complete Guide to Getting Started in 2024
What is Cryptocurrency Airdrop?
In the world of cryptocurrencies, Airdrop has become a popular strategy for blockchain projects to connect with users. Essentially, it is a method of distributing free tokens or NFTs to early participants in the project’s ecosystem. Instead of traditional marketing costs, projects use cryptocurrency Airdrops to build communities and increase token decentralization.
NFT Airdrops operate similarly, but instead of receiving tokens, users receive unique digital assets (NFT). To qualify, you may need to hold a certain amount of tokens or complete specific tasks.
5 Types of Cryptocurrency Airdrops You Need to Know
1. Simple Airdrop: Just Register
This is the most accessible type. You only need to create an account on the platform and be ready to receive rewards without doing anything extra. However, since anyone can participate, tokens are usually distributed on a “first come, first served” basis, so the value is not high.
Example: RabbitX distributed RBX tokens to early registrants in March 2023.
2. Airdrop via (Bounty) Activities
Projects organize reward programs such as:
Rewards can be project tokens or stablecoins like USDT, USDC.
3. Airdrop for Early Users
This type is exclusive to those who supported the project beforehand. They are rewarded with tokens to acknowledge contributions, such as:
A notable case: Ethereum Name Service (ENS) awarded ENS tokens to users who registered .ens domains, with a total value exceeding $20,000 USD.
4. Airdrop for Token Holders
Projects take a snapshot (snapshot) of your wallet balances at a specific time. If you hold or stake the required amount of tokens, you will automatically receive a cryptocurrency Airdrop. These include:
5. Airdrop After Hard Fork
When a blockchain undergoes a hard fork, the new version tokens are Airdropped to holders of the old tokens. For example:
Why Do Projects Choose to Distribute Cryptocurrency Airdrops?
Cryptocurrency Airdrops are not random tricks. They are deliberate strategies with specific goals:
Effective Promotion: News about Airdrops spreads quickly, prompting users to learn more about the project and share widely. This approach creates a viral effect that traditional advertising finds hard to achieve.
Building a Sustainable Community: Participants often complete tasks or use the product, forming an active community around the project.
Widespread Token Distribution: Airdrops help ensure tokens are distributed across many addresses, reducing centralization of power.
Although costs can reach hundreds of millions of USD, projects still see this as a worthwhile investment. Uniswap is a typical example: on September 1, 2020, the project Airdropped 400 UNI to early users, with a total value of $2,592,000,000 USD and 252,803 recipients. Today, UNI remains one of the leading DEXs.
Practical Process to Participate in Cryptocurrency Airdrops
Step 1: Identify Promising Projects
Not all cryptocurrency Airdrops are worth participating in. Take time to research the project, understand their goals, and verify credibility.
Step 2: Prepare Necessary Tools
Step 3: Complete Tasks
Interact with the project platform by:
Step 4: Wait and Confirm
Record your participation info, follow official channels for updates, and wait for the Airdrop results to be announced.
Benefits and Challenges of Participation
Attractive Benefits:
Potential Risks:
Are Cryptocurrency Airdrops Safe?
Airdrops from reputable projects are generally safe. You only need to provide your public wallet address—information already visible on the blockchain. However, many Airdrops come from scam projects. Be highly cautious.
Tips to Protect Yourself When Hunting for Cryptocurrency Airdrops
Use a secondary wallet: Create a separate wallet solely for Airdrops, holding a small amount of assets for gas fees. Avoid storing large assets there to reduce hacking risks.
Protect your private key: This is the golden rule of crypto. Any project asking for your private key is definitely a scam.
Create a dedicated email: Use a separate email for Airdrop activities to limit spam and reduce hacking risks.
Choose according to your situation: Bounty and retroactive Airdrops suit those with plenty of time but little capital. Conversely, holding and staking tokens is better if you have significant funds but limited time.
Use strong, unique passwords: Different strong passwords for each Airdrop website.
Check URLs carefully: Fake websites often alter details slightly (add dots, different domain extensions). Verify thoroughly before clicking.
Follow official channels: Only follow information from the project’s official channels to avoid scams and complete tasks correctly.
Notable Cryptocurrency Airdrop Projects in 2024
Pepe Unchained: Ethereum Layer-2 with meme Pepe, supports staking $PEPU (purchase methods: BNB, ETH, Bank Card)
Crypto All-Stars: Meme project with staking $STARS via “MemeVault”( )purchase methods: ETH, USDT, BNB(
Flockerz )$FLOCK(: DAO “Vote-to-Earn”, 25% of total supply for staking )purchase methods: ETH, USDT, BNB(
MemeBet Token )$MEMEBET(: Meme coin casino, Airdrop and holder rewards )purchase methods: ETH, USDT, Bank Card(
Sponge V2: Meme coin with high P2E and staking, over 12,000 participants )purchase methods: Bank Card, ETH, USDT(
Shiba Shootout: Combat project with high-yield staking )purchase methods: ETH, USDT, Bank Card(
Doge2014 )$DOGE2014(: 10th anniversary Dogecoin token, PoS mechanics, 60% of total supply for presale )purchase methods: presale
In Summary
Cryptocurrency Airdrops open opportunities to earn profits without large capital investment, while also allowing you to explore new technologies. However, participation carries risks, especially from scam projects. The key to success is to equip yourself with knowledge, understand how cryptocurrency Airdrops work, and choose the most trustworthy projects. Start smart and protect your assets.