The Past, Present, and Future of Blockchain Airdrops

Airdrops in the blockchain field refer to the act of a project sending tokens or cryptocurrencies for free to specific digital wallet addresses. This practice is usually used for promotional purposes, to give back to the community, and to gather user data. For ordinary users, after receiving airdrop tokens, they can participate in project governance, hold them in anticipation of appreciation, or directly cash them out.

Airdrop originated in 2014, first implemented by the Auroracoin project. It was widely used during the ICO boom of 2017, becoming an important means to attract potential investors and users. In September 2020, the Uniswap's UNI token airdrop opened a new era of DeFi airdrops, triggering a wave of airdrop frenzy. Since then, various projects have followed suit, and the scale and frequency of airdrops have increased significantly.

Airdrop rules are constantly evolving. Initially, they mainly focused on confirming community member identities, which later developed into simple registration or zero-value interactions, and then into sunshine distribution. Recently, there have been multi-dimensional screening and anti-witch mechanisms, such as the complex rule designs of Optimism and Arbitrum.

However, the recent airdrops of LayerZero and ZkSync have sparked controversy. LayerZero has adopted a self-check and reporting mechanism, with opaque rules and mandatory donations, which has caused dissatisfaction within the community. ZkSync has set extremely complex and strict screening criteria, resulting in a large number of users being unable to receive the airdrop. These controversies reflect the conflict between community expectations and the strategies of the project parties.

Where will future airdrops go? With the development of blockchain technology and the market, early benefits are disappearing. Checking for witches and complex rules will become the norm. Users need to adjust their mindset and view airdrops rationally, no longer blindly expecting opportunities for wealth. For project parties, it is necessary to balance token distribution, market value, and user satisfaction.

For ordinary users, it is recommended to pay attention to projects that are well-funded but not widely recognized, controlling participation costs and expectations. For popular projects, consider participating with a small number of premium accounts to genuinely support the project ecosystem. Most importantly, learn to analyze the behavior of project parties rationally and not be blinded by excessive marketing.

Airdrop, as an important component of the Blockchain ecosystem, will continue to exist and evolve. However, its form and significance may undergo significant changes. Users, project parties, and investors need to collectively adapt to these changes to promote the healthy development of the industry.