An airdrop is a marketing and community-seeding tactic that sees a crypto company distribute free tokens from its project to selected people. An airdrop can help bootstrap the project by rewarding early adopters or incentivizing specific user behavior.
There are different types of user airdrops. Some projects airdrop tokens to users as a reward for being early adopters. Other projects use airdrops to acquire new participants by dropping tokens to a competitors' users.
Airdrops can help to spread awareness of crypto projects in their early stages and encourage people to participate in new projects. In short, airdrops offer a unique opportunity to participate in the crypto space.
Our insightful guide provides more information on the different types of airdrops available and how they work. But if you’re interested in getting access to some of the most promising airdrops confirmed for 2024 or expected this year, read on for our guide to the top 10 crypto airdrops in 2024.
What are crypto airdrops?
The crypto space moves quickly, which can make it difficult for new projects to capture people’s attention. They need the support of a strong and engaging community to be of any value. Projects use airdrops to do just that. Airdrops can kickstart crypto projects by building a strong community right from launch and incentivize them to remain involved by creating value.
Airdrops aren't given to everyone. Instead, projects try to allocate them to users they want to attract. With transparent blockchain data, projects can easily filter users who perform specific actions and make them eligible for airdrops. An example of this is the BLUR airdrop. Blur is an NFT marketplace that launched in 2022 along with the BLUR token. The token was claimable by active OpenSea users. At the time, OpenSea was the largest NFT marketplace, and Blur used the airdrop to attract new users to its platform.
Another method projects use it to reward early adopters. A good example of this would be Arbitrum. Arbitrum is an Ethereum Layer-2 scaling solution that launched in 2020. At the time, it had no native token. However, that changed in 2023 when the project launched ARB as a governance token. The asset has been airdropped to active network participants since its arrival, rewarding early adopters and active network participants.
Many consider airdrops to be an effective way for crypto users to try out new projects and get rewarded for doing so.
Criteria for selection
It can be hard to predict when an airdrop will happens, as most projects keep their occurrence a secret to prevent manipulation. Some of the projects listed below have already confirmed an upcoming airdrop for 2024, and we’ve also included other projects that are highly likely to have airdrops at some point in the future. However, keep in mind that not all airdrops are guaranteed.
Top crypto airdrops in 2024
Read on to discover some of the most anticipated airdrops for 2024.
1. Metamask
With over 30 million monthly active users, metamask is one of the most popular browser wallets. It’s used to store cryptocurrencies and digital assets across multiple chains, including Ethereum and Polygon. Metamask also has in-built support for swapping cryptocurrencies, bridging across chains, and performing other DeFi transactions.
Metamask is owned by ConsenSys. Although ConsenSys hasn't confirmed that an airdrop will happen, the community has anticipated such an event for a long time now. Speculation around a potential airdrop grew after ConsenSys CEO Joseph Lubin tweeted about a “$MASK” token in 2021. He later confirmed in 2022 that the project was exploring the launch of a token to decentralize Metamask.
$MASK would serve as a governance token for a community-driven metamask future. MetaMask lead of operations Jacobc.eth claimed that ConsenSys is being extra cautious to make sure the token launch won’t be a cash grab that ends up in the hands of airdrop farmers.
Airdrop status of Metamask: Highly likely, but not officially confirmed.
2. Opensea
Opensea is the oldest and one of the most popular NFT trading platforms to discover, buy, and sell digital collectibles. However, in the last few years, it's faced intense competition from Blur, Magic Eden, and LooksRare. Some of these competing platforms have attracted customers away from Opensea with airdrops. It's been long speculated that Opensea would itself complete an airdrop to reward its users. However, the project has never acknowledged or confirmed that an airdrop would happen.
Many believe a native token could be airdropped to active users of its platform to reward them for their loyalty and prevent more Opensea users from considering an alternative platform.
Airdrop status of Opensea: Unconfirmed.
3. LayerZero
LayerZero is an interoperability protocol enabling cross-chain transfers between blockchains such as Ethereum, Avalanche, and Polygon. The most common method to move between chains is using crypto bridges, which are a centralized party that often wrap your asset and makes them usable on a different chain. LayerZero improves on this process by enabling communication between blockchains without the need for a centralized trusted party or wrapping of assets. It’s an innovative technology supported by over 50 blockchain networks at the time of writing.
Although there’s been no official confirmation, there are strong expectations of a $ZRO token airdrop for users interacting with the LayerZero ecosystem. This includes those using bridges like Stargate, apps like Rage Trade, and the LayerZero testnet.
Airdrop status of LayerZero: Unconfirmed.
4. Lens Protocol
Lens Protocol is a decentralized social network competing with the likes of X and Facebook. It runs on Polygon and empowers users to have full control over their content and monetize it. Users can control who can see their content and share data only with trusted parties. Additionally, user profiles are represented as NFTs that can be taken to other platforms along with their content.
Lens Protocol hasn’t confirmed an airdrop, but there’s strong speculation of a $LENS token within the community. The asset could be allocated to users of the Lens Protocol based on the level of activity and engagement within the Lens ecosystem.
Airdrop status of Lens: Unconfirmed.
5. zkSync
zkSync is an Ethereum Layer-2 scaling solution that uses zero-knowledge rollup (ZK-rollup) to achieve high transaction speed while reducing gas fees. zkSync can perform transactions outside of Ethereum and only confirm the final validation on the mainnet. The technology also provides robust privacy by masking transaction details at the user level.
zkSync hasn't confirmed an airdrop and hasn’t launched a native token yet. Looking at how other rollups like Optimism and Arbitrum have launched tokens through airdrops, it's possible that zkSync could do the same in the future. Bridging assets to zkSync and using various applications built on it could make you eligible for a potential airdrop.
Airdrop status of zkSync: Unconfirmed, however, similar scaling solutions have done airdrops in the past.
6. Marginfi
Marginfi is a popular decentralized lending platform on Solana. Users can deposit various cryptocurrencies as collateral and borrow against them, or lend them out to gain interest. Unlike traditional lenders, Marginfi is a fully permissionless system with robust risk management mechanisms and interest rates calculated automatically based on supply and demand.
Marginfi hasn't explicitly confirmed an airdrop, but there are indications one could occur in the near future. Currently, the Marginfi team is looking to launch a governance token and is discussing the tokenomics for the same. Additionally, Marginfi has a points system where you can earn points by borrowing and lending assets or referring new users. These points could be used to distribute tokens should an airdrop happen.
Airdrop status of Marginfi: Unconfirmed, but the points system could be a sign of an upcoming airdrop.
7. Blast
Blast is another Layer-2 Ethereum scaling solution that uses the optimistic rollup, and is similar to other Layer-22 chains. Blast offers a yield of 4% for bridging ETH and 5% for stablecoins.
Blast has confirmed an airdrop will happen, and you need an invite to join the Blast ecosystem. Once you’re in, you can earn points by referring new users and interacting with various decentralized applications on the Blast ecosystem. Users who were early adopters and bridged tokens to Blast before the mainnet launch will receive a 10x bonus.
Airdrop status of Blast: Confirmed.
8. Blur.io
Blur is a relatively new NFT marketplace that became popular thanks to its airdrop. It offers an intuitive NFT trading experience geared towards professional traders with support for multiple marketplaces, along with faster sweeps and portfolio management.
$BLUR is a governance token that was airdropped to early users. However, it's also an ongoing seasonal airdrop which is expected to last up to five years. At the time of writing, Blur is in its third ‘season’ for airdrops. Blur has a points system and rewards users with BLUR tokens to incentivize specific activities on its platform.
In the current airdrop season, users can earn points by placing bids, lending, listing NFTs, or holding BLUR tokens. Approximately 300 million BLUR tokens are expected to have been airdropped by the time the season ends. Blur has also partnered with Blast (see above), giving users an opportunity to participate in both airdrops at the same time by using Blur on Blast.
Airdrop status of Blur.io: Confirmed and ongoing.
9. Scroll
Scroll is an Ethereum Layer-2 scaling solution that uses zk-rollup technology. It's fully compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and allows existing applications to be ported without any code changes. Scroll already has a thriving ecosystem with active participation by both developers and users.
Scroll doesn't have a native token yet but has hinted at moving to a community governance structure. While an airdrop hasn’t yet been confirmed, most crypto companies decentralize their governance through an airdrop. Actively participating in the scroll ecosystem could increase your odds of being part of any upcoming airdrop.
Airdrop status of Scroll: Unconfirmed.
10. Raby
Raby is a multi-chain wallet developed by DeBank. It focuses on giving users a smooth DeFi experience, along with robust security features such as risk scanning and security alerts. Raby supports Ethereum and 97 other EVM-based chains on browsers, desktops, and mobile devices.
Raby hasn't confirmed an airdrop yet. However, it has launched Raby points to reward early adopters. Although the points don’t currently hold any value, Raby has stated that Raby points would be used for a “rewarding future,” indicating a potential airdrop. Users can still receive points by switching from Metamask and using the wallet frequently.
Airdrop status of Raby: Unconfirmed, but the Raby points system is a strong hint towards a potential airdrop.
Impact of airdrops on the crypto market
Historically, airdrops have been used to promote positive engagement and build a loyal community around new projects. As mentioned, most projects commit to an airdrop to decentralize their governance, as the action can be an effective way to make the community feel heard and involved. Projects often create tokens and airdrop them to their active users. Those who care about the platform end up holding the tokens and use them to actively vote on the future of the project. However, it’s key for projects to be careful when completing an airdrop to avoid cash grabs.
With airdrops bringing the potential for gains, bad actors are inevitably interested. This has seen some airdrop farmers attempting to game the system and gain as many tokens as possible through airdrops. Once they recieve the airdrop, they sell the tokens and cash out. Projects aim to avoid this situation as they reduce the value of the technology and its associated token. It's a cat-and-mouse game where projects look for ways to avoid airdrop farmers and farmers find new ways to get around the system.
The final word
Among the various opportunities to grow your portfolio of cryptocurrencies, airdrops are in interesting and engaging option. What’s more, many consider airdrops to be an effective catalyst for new projects, as they’re used to create loyal communities and encourage constructive involvement in a network.
Although no airdrop is ever guaranteed and many projects are coy about potential future airdrops, you’re well placed to receive tokens when you contribute to a crypto project you believe in. And, the more projects you support, the greater your chances of being on the receiving end of an airdrop. As always, it’s wise to do your own research before committing to any project.
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