A Guide to Major Crypto Airdrop Eligibility Criteria

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Airdrops are a popular way for crypto projects to distribute tokens to their community. They often reward early users and supporters. This guide breaks down the eligibility rules for some of the most significant airdrops in recent history, helping you understand common patterns and strategies.

What Are Crypto Airdrops?

A crypto airdrop is a marketing strategy where a project distributes free tokens to specific users. This approach helps promote awareness, encourage platform usage, and reward early adopters.

There are two common types of airdrop structures:

  1. Undisclosed Eligibility Criteria: Many projects create buzz by hinting at an airdrop without revealing exact rules. They may encourage testnet participation, specific platform interactions, or social tasks. Eligibility is only confirmed upon distribution.
  2. Clearly Defined Eligibility: Some projects announce clear rules from the start. These often involve point-based competitions, trading volume leaderboards, or completing a set of public tasks.

Next, we'll explore the specific criteria behind nine major airdrops.

Breakdown of 9 Major Crypto Airdrops

Here’s a chronological look at the eligibility requirements for UNI, 1INCH, DYDX, ENS, GAL, APE, OP, APT, and BLUR.

Uniswap ($UNI)

1inch Network ($1INCH)

1inch conducted two distinct airdrops: one for its native $1INCH token and another for $OP tokens.

$1INCH Token Airdrop:

The $1INCH distribution occurred in two phases in December 2020 and February 2021.

  1. First Airdrop (Dec 2020): For users who used 1inch before December 24 and met one criteria:

    • Executed at least one trade before September 15, 2020.
    • Executed at least four trades in total.
    • Traded at least $20 in volume.

  2. Second Airdrop (Feb 2021): For:

    • Liquidity providers.
    • Users of Mooniswap before December 24.
    • Active Uniswap users (3+ trades in 2021) who had not used 1inch or Mooniswap.

As an aggregator, 1inch uniquely extended eligibility to users of other platforms.

$OP Token Airdrop:

After deploying on Optimism in August 2021, 1inch airdropped $OP tokens in August 2022 to users who had interacted with its protocol on the Optimism network.

dYdX ($DYDX)

The $DYDX rewards were split into three segments. We focus on the "Retroactive Mining" reward (5% of supply).

The project also allocated tokens for future trading and liquidity provider rewards.

Ethereum Name Service ($ENS)

The airdrop targeted genuine early supporters, not domain squatters.

Bored Ape Yacht Club - ApeCoin ($APE)

Galxe ($GAL)

Optimism ($OP)

Optimism has conducted multiple airdrop rounds.

  1. First Airdrop (June 2022): For:

    • Early and active Optimism users.
    • Participants in Ethereum DAOs (e.g., Aave, Maker, Curve).
    • Ethereum multisig users, Gitcoin donors, and users of Ethereum bridges.

  2. Second Airdrop (Feb 2023): For users who, before January 20, 2023:

    • Delegated $OP voting rights.
    • Spent over $6.1 on L2 gas fees.

The project has announced that 19% of the total token supply is allocated for airdrops, with more expected in the future.

Aptos ($APT)

Blur ($BLUR)

Like 1inch, Blur rewarded users from other platforms and continued rewards in subsequent seasons.

Analysis of Airdrop Patterns and Timing

The airdrops above can be categorized into three main types based on their primary eligibility criteria.

  1. Exchange-Based Airdrops (UNI, 1INCH, DYDX, BLUR): The core requirement is active platform usage—trading, providing liquidity, or using specific features. Aggregators like 1inch and Blur cast a wider net, including users of competitor platforms.
  2. NFT-Holder Airdrops (ENS, APE, GAL): Eligibility is granted simply for holding a specific NFT, rewarding early collectors and believers in the project.
  3. Protocol/Chain-Based Airdrops (OP, APT): These have more diverse criteria, including testnet participation, node operation, governance, bridging assets, or paying gas fees on the network.

A universal rule is that these airdrops required genuine product interaction, not just simple social media tasks.

👉 Explore more strategies for finding future airdrop opportunities

When mapped against broader crypto market cycles, some patterns emerge, though they are not absolute rules. Exchange airdrops often occurred as bull markets began, while several NFT-related airdrops happened during market downturns. Protocol airdrops showed no consistent timing pattern.

The key takeaway is that projects reward real, on-chain activity. The time from a project's launch to its airdrop can be several months or even years, providing ample time for users to research and interact with promising platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main purpose of a crypto airdrop?
Airdrops primarily serve as a marketing and user acquisition tool. By distributing free tokens, projects reward early adopters, incentivize platform usage, and decentralize their token ownership to build a stronger community.

How can I increase my chances of getting a future airdrop?
The best strategy is to be an active, genuine user of emerging ecosystems. Interact with new protocols on testnets and mainnets, provide liquidity, hold project-specific NFTs, and participate in governance. Avoid Sybil attacks (creating many wallets) as projects are getting better at filtering them out.

Are airdropped tokens immediately sellable?
Usually, yes. Once you claim the tokens to your wallet, they are yours to hold, sell, or use. However, some projects may have vesting schedules that release tokens over time. Always check the official announcement for any lock-up periods.

Do I need to pay to claim an airdrop?
Legitimate airdrops never require you to send cryptocurrency or share private keys to claim. You will only need to pay a network gas fee to process the claim transaction on the blockchain.

What are the tax implications of receiving an airdrop?
In many jurisdictions, airdropped tokens are considered taxable income at their fair market value on the day you receive them. It is crucial to consult with a tax professional to understand your specific reporting obligations.

How do projects prevent people from cheating with multiple wallets?
Projects use sophisticated methods to identify Sybil activity. They analyze on-chain data for patterns like funding from the same source, repetitive low-value transactions, and a lack of diverse activity across the ecosystem. Genuine, organic usage is the best approach.

Engaging with the crypto ecosystem requires diligence and a focus on security. Always conduct your own research, understand the risks involved, and never invest more than you can afford to lose. The space moves quickly, so a commitment to continuous learning is essential.