The recent airdrop of Arbitrum’s governance token (ARB) to eligible users and DAOs on the Ethereum layer-2 platform has drawn attention to the potential benefits of airdrops for both protocol developers and users.
The average user received around 625 ARB tokens, which corresponds to around $625 to $1,250, according to pre-launch trading prices and popular estimations.
Airdrop farming has proven to be an effective strategy for both protocol developers and users, attracting liquidity and usage to the platform while also avoiding legal risks associated with token sales.
With this in mind, here are the top five upcoming crypto projects that may offer airdrop opportunities, to keep an eye on this year:
Airdrop zkSync Era
As a layer-2 rollup on Ethereum based on zero-knowledge (ZK) proof technology, zkSync Era boasts high scalability and throughput potential. With compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine, it allows easy access to the blockchain through MetaMask.
Matter Labs, the team behind zkSync, raised $200 million in a Series C funding round in December 2022. Leading decentralized applications, including Chainlink, Uniswap, and Aave, have signaled their intention to launch on zkSync.
Airdrop Starknet
Starknet, a ZK-based Ethereum rollup, supports decentralized applications and is being developed by StarkWare. StarkWare has confirmed the upcoming STARK token, which will play a role in decentralizing the Ethereum layer-2 network.
The Starknet mainnet launched in November, and recent Arbitrum announcements have led to an influx of deposits on the platform.
The total deposits on Starknet soared by 45% to $2.49 million as users eagerly anticipated the next airdrop opportunity. On March 17, on-chain analytics firm Nansen observed record deposits of $3.4 million in Ether and Dai, highlighting the growing interest in the Starknet ecosystem.
Airdrop Scroll
Scroll is an Ethereum layer-2 solution, described as a “true zkEVM,” and offers full EVM compatibility.
Developed by Ye Zhang, a Ph.D. student at New York University, Scroll’s design makes it easy for existing Ethereum developers to deploy code on the platform.
After raising $30 million in April 2022, Scroll launched on the Ethereum Goerli testnet in February. The mainnet launch is scheduled for late 2023.
https://twitter.com/Scroll_ZKP/status/1630258973856395264
Airdrop Sui Network
Sui Network is a Move-based layer-1 blockchain, similar to Aptos, and is developed by Mysten Labs.
Led by former Meta executive Evan Cheng, the team plans to launch the mainnet in Q2 2023, with an expected airdrop for eligible users.
Mysten Labs recently launched a Wave to Mainnet campaign, which offers opportunities to participate and potentially increase chances of receiving an airdrop. They also offer various events and educational content.
https://twitter.com/SuiNetwork/status/1638243267748962304
Airdrop Sei Network
Sei Network, a Cosmos-based layer-1 blockchain, focuses on DeFi and high-frequency trading applications. The project has received backing from industry players like Multicoin Capital, Coinbase Ventures, and Delphi Digital.
Sei Network introduced its incentivized testnet in Q2 2022, and users who took part in the testnet events might be eligible for an airdrop when the mainnet launches.
With these promising projects on the horizon, crypto enthusiasts have ample opportunities to participate in airdrops and potentially earn free tokens. As the blockchain ecosystem continues to evolve, more projects are likely to adopt airdrop strategies, providing even more chances for users to benefit from these exciting developments.
It is essential to remember that participation in airdrops involves risks, and users should always conduct thorough research before engaging with any project.