Crypto Airdrops: What Are They and How to Get Them

Table des matières

📋 TL;DR

A crypto airdrop is a free distribution of tokens by a blockchain project to eligible users
Airdrops serve to reward early adopters, build a community, and decentralize governance
To be eligible, you generally need to actively use a protocol before the airdrop announcement
Major airdrops (Uniswap, Arbitrum, Jupiter) have distributed thousands of dollars per user
Watch out for scams: never sign suspicious transactions or share your seed phrase

Receiving free tokens worth several thousand dollars sounds like a scam, right? And yet, that’s exactly what happened to hundreds of thousands of users during the Uniswap, Arbitrum, and Jupiter airdrops. Crypto airdrops have become one of the most lucrative ways to earn money in the blockchain ecosystem — if you know how to approach them.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain what an airdrop is, how they work, and most importantly how to maximize your chances of receiving one. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, you’ll discover concrete strategies to never miss an opportunity again.

What Is a Crypto Airdrop?

An airdrop (named after aerial supply drops) is a free distribution of tokens or cryptocurrencies to a set of wallet addresses. Essentially, tokens appear in your wallet without you having to buy them.

Blockchain projects use airdrops for several reasons:

Reward early adopters: users who tested the protocol before everyone else deserve recognition
Decentralize governance: distribute voting tokens to many users rather than a few investors
Create an engaged community: token holders have a financial interest in the project’s success
Generate marketing buzz: a generous airdrop gets the project talked about throughout the ecosystem

How Does an Airdrop Work?

The airdrop process generally unfolds in several stages:

1. The Eligibility Period (Snapshot)

The project defines a specific date called a “snapshot”. All interactions with the protocol before this date are taken into account to determine eligibility. The snapshot is generally announced after it has occurred, to prevent users from artificially “farming” the airdrop.

2. Eligibility Criteria

Each project defines its own criteria. The most common are:

Number of transactions on the protocol
Total volume traded or deposited
Duration of use (number of active months)
Diversity of actions (swap, bridge, staking, etc.)
Holding certain NFTs or tokens

3. Announcement and Claim

Once the criteria are defined, the project announces the airdrop and opens a claim page. Eligible users can then connect their wallet and claim their tokens. Note: some airdrops have a claim deadline, after which unclaimed tokens are lost.

Different Types of Airdrops

Retroactive Airdrop

This is the most common and most lucrative type. The project rewards users who used the protocol before the announcement of the airdrop. The Uniswap airdrop in 2020 (400 UNI per user, approximately $1,400 at the time) is the classic example.

Holder Airdrop

Some projects distribute tokens to those who already hold a specific cryptocurrency. For example, ATOM (Cosmos) token holders have received numerous airdrops from projects built on the Cosmos ecosystem.

Social/Marketing Airdrop

Tokens are distributed in exchange for social media actions: following a Twitter account, joining a Discord, retweeting a post. These airdrops are generally low value and often associated with less serious projects.

Fork Airdrop

When a blockchain splits (“forks”), holders of the original crypto automatically receive the new one. This is how Bitcoin holders received Bitcoin Cash in 2017.

The Most Notable Airdrops in Crypto History

To understand the potential of airdrops, here are some examples that made history:

Uniswap (UNI) – September 2020: 400 UNI per user (~$1,400 at the time, up to $16,000 at peak)
dYdX (DYDX) – September 2021: up to $50,000 for active traders
Ethereum Name Service (ENS) – November 2021: thousands of dollars for .eth name holders
Optimism (OP) – May 2022: up to $15,000 for Layer 2 early adopters
Arbitrum (ARB) – March 2023: between $600 and $10,000 depending on activity
Jupiter (JUP) – January 2024: ~$500 on average for users of the Solana aggregator
Hyperliquid (HYPE) – November 2024: one of the most generous in history with massive allocations

How to Maximize Your Chances of Being Eligible

The key to receiving lucrative airdrops is being an active and authentic user of protocols before they announce their token. Here are the most effective strategies:

1. Use Protocols Without a Token

Identify promising projects that haven’t launched their token yet. That’s where the opportunities lie. Some signs that a project might do an airdrop:

Significant fundraising rounds (Series A, B)
Reputable team and well-known investors
Functional protocol with a growing user base
Mentions of “decentralized governance” in the roadmap

2. Diversify Your Interactions

Don’t settle for a single transaction. Airdrop criteria generally favor:

Regularity: use the protocol multiple times over several months
Diversity: test all features (swap, bridge, staking, governance)
Volume: significant amounts (but not necessarily huge)

3. Explore New Ecosystems

New Layer 1 and Layer 2 blockchains are particularly generous with airdrops to attract users. Explore:

Emerging Ethereum Layer 2s (zkSync, Scroll, Linea, Base)
The Cosmos ecosystem (holding ATOM/OSMO gives access to numerous airdrops)
The Solana ecosystem (DEX, lending, NFT)

4. Participate in Testnets

Many projects reward users who tested their protocol in beta version (testnet). It’s free (test tokens have no value) and often rewarded.

Risks and Scams to Avoid

The allure of free tokens unfortunately attracts many scammers. Here are the traps to absolutely avoid:

🚨 Never Share Your Seed Phrase

NO legitimate airdrop will ask for your recovery phrase. If a site or message asks for your seed phrase to “verify your eligibility” or “claim your airdrop,” it’s 100% a scam.

⚠️ Beware of Unknown Tokens in Your Wallet

Scammers send worthless tokens with attractive names (“$10,000 USDT Voucher”) that redirect to phishing sites when you try to sell them. Never interact with tokens you didn’t request.

🔍 Always Verify Official Sources

Before connecting your wallet to a claim site:

Verify the URL on the project’s official Twitter/X (with the verified badge)
Check the official announcements on Discord or the project’s blog
Use a dedicated wallet with few funds to test first

Practical Guide: How to Claim an Airdrop

Here’s the typical procedure for safely claiming an airdrop:

Check your eligibility on the project’s official site (link from their verified social media accounts)
Connect your wallet (MetaMask, Rabby, Phantom depending on the blockchain)
Verify the transaction before signing: it should simply transfer tokens to your address
Pay the gas fees (usually a few euros on Ethereum, a few cents on L2s)
Receive your tokens in your wallet
Decide on your strategy: sell immediately, hold, or participate in governance

Tax Implications of Airdrops

Tax treatment of airdrops varies by jurisdiction. In most countries, airdrops are considered taxable income. Generally:

The value of tokens at the time of receipt is typically taxable as income
Capital gains realized when selling are subject to capital gains tax
You may need to report your crypto accounts held on foreign platforms

Consult a tax professional in your jurisdiction for specific guidance on cryptocurrency taxation.

📚 Glossary

Airdrop: free distribution of tokens to eligible wallet addresses
Claim: the action of collecting your tokens during an airdrop
Snapshot: a blockchain record at a specific date to determine eligibility
Farming (airdrop): strategy of using protocols in hopes of receiving an airdrop
Sybil: using multiple wallets by the same person to maximize airdrops (often penalized)
Testnet: test version of a blockchain using tokens with no value
Tokenomics: a token’s economics (supply, distribution, utility)
Governance token: token granting voting rights on protocol decisions

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What is a crypto airdrop?

A crypto airdrop is a free distribution of tokens by a blockchain project to eligible users. It’s a way for projects to reward their community and decentralize token ownership.

How do I know if I’m eligible for an airdrop?

Go to the project’s official website (verified link from their social media) and connect your wallet. The page will indicate if you’re eligible and how many tokens you can claim.

Are airdrops really free?

Yes, the tokens are free, but you’ll need to pay transaction fees (“gas fees”) to claim them. These fees range from a few cents on Layer 2s to several dollars on Ethereum mainnet.

How can I avoid airdrop scams?

Never share your seed phrase, always verify links from the project’s official accounts, and don’t interact with unknown tokens that appear in your wallet. Use a dedicated wallet for testing.

How much can you earn from an airdrop?

Amounts vary enormously: from a few dollars for small marketing airdrops to several thousand dollars for major airdrops (Uniswap, Arbitrum, Jupiter). It all depends on your activity level on the protocol.

Do I need to report airdrops for taxes?

In most jurisdictions, yes. Airdrops are typically taxable. The value of tokens at the time of receipt constitutes income, and capital gains when selling are subject to applicable tax rates.

Which protocols might do an airdrop in 2026?

Layer 2s without tokens (Scroll, Linea, Base) and major DeFi protocols that haven’t launched their token yet are the most likely candidates. Keep an eye on projects that have raised significant funding.

Should I use multiple wallets to maximize airdrops?

This practice (“sybil farming”) is increasingly detected and penalized by projects. Many airdrops now exclude addresses identified as “sybil.” It’s better to have one main wallet with authentic activity.

📚 Sources

Uniswap Blog – UNI airdrop announcement (2020)
Arbitrum Foundation – ARB airdrop eligibility criteria
Jupiter Exchange – JUP airdrop documentation
IRS.gov – Virtual currency tax guidance (US)
Ethereum.org – ERC-20 token documentation

How to cite:
Fibo Crypto. (2026). Crypto Airdrops: What Are They and How to Get Them. Retrieved from https://fibo-crypto.fr/en/blog/crypto-airdrops-what-are-they-how-to-get-them