Cryptocurrency Airdrop. Cryptocurrency distribution

Cryptocurrency Airdrop — A Marketing Strategy

Essentially, a cryptocurrency airdrop is a type of marketing strategy in which virtual currency tokens are distributed for free to both new participants and existing crypto holders. Most of these events are carried out by new cryptocurrency projects or large organizations aiming to attract attention.

The main purpose of a crypto airdrop is to spread information, build communities, develop projects, and attract investors. Additionally, such events are often accompanied by a lot of hype, which creates liquidity and increases the value of a yet-to-be-listed token.

Crypto airdrops are used in the cryptocurrency market when a platform or blockchain program distributes virtual currency among its participants or potential investors directly to their wallets. In some cases, to participate in token giveaways, the system may require completing a number of tasks:

Verify identity,
Subscribe to the project’s news,
Follow official social media accounts.

The History of Crypto Airdrops

In mid-2017, Omise, led by Jun Hasegawa, proposed the concept based on Ethereum. At that time, it was announced that the company would distribute OMG tokens to crypto wallets with a balance of at least 0.1 ETH, in order to spark user interest and increase popularity.

The founder of Omise highlighted the major benefits of this type of distribution. The key value of Ethereum-based projects with crypto airdrops lies in the fact that it’s a unique economic tool that connects all Ethereum communities — from developers to regular users. This, in turn, helps promote crypto programs and products far more effectively.

This concept was supported by other organizations as well. By mid-2017, the number of cryptocurrency airdrops had doubled.

Where to Find Cryptocurrency Airdrops?

Bitcointalk — a long-standing and major crypto forum where you can find information about newly launched projects. It’s a great option for discovering the latest ICOs. The user-friendly interface also makes it easy to track project histories.
Airdrop aggregators — specialized websites that verify the legitimacy, legality, and solvency of projects.
Specialized platforms. Participation in unlimited airdrops is possible after registering and providing your wallet address. One example is Earn.com.
Dedicated chats, channels, and groups on Slack, Telegram, or Discord.

To Participate in a Crypto Airdrop, You Need to:

Get a crypto wallet. You can create one on a crypto exchange, use a specialized cloud service, or buy a “cold” wallet (USB-based).
Find the right aggregator platform or social media group that provides information about upcoming cryptocurrency airdrops.
Complete the project’s requirements for distributing crypto tokens.

Cryptocurrency airdrops are conducted to attract attention and increase the number of users on a platform. Besides that, they may also serve other goals:

Distribute governance tokens, which give holders the right to vote and influence project decisions. This format resembles a public company where decisions are made via voting.
Sometimes a crypto airdrop serves as a launch button for the entire blockchain project. The tokens in participants’ wallets encourage them to interact with the network, which boosts overall platform activity.

Types of Cryptocurrency Airdrops

Standard — token distribution with no requirements or just in exchange for an email subscription.
Bounty Airdrop — participants must complete simple tasks to receive tokens, such as sharing project information on specific social media platforms.
Exclusive — designed for participants with a solid and long-standing relationship with a specific project.
Network Hard Fork — related to the technical structure of a specific platform. When a currency splits from the original blockchain, a new coin is created. Users who held the original crypto receive an equivalent amount of the new tokens.
Rewarding crypto holders or investors — similar to a hard fork, but tied to new projects built on protocols like EOS or Ethereum.

Regardless of the type, all airdrops share one common trait — the free distribution of new tokens.

How to Avoid Scams During Cryptocurrency Airdrops

Here are the most common scam schemes involving crypto airdrops:

Users are invited to participate in a seemingly free airdrop. Initially, it all appears legitimate. But later, they are asked to enter personal information such as bank card details, wallet private keys, etc. Once scammers get access to this data, they can instantly drain both fiat and crypto funds. This is a classic type of online fraud designed to steal sensitive information.
Email messages containing links to download “special” or “extra” software. Clicking these links can trigger the automatic download of malicious programs. These emails often arrive when registering on fake platforms that promote fake cryptocurrency airdrops.

Active Cryptocurrency Airdrops

Here are some of the most popular services for finding upcoming events:

Alert Airdrop

Notifies users about upcoming token distributions. Thanks to a user-friendly interface, you can sort upcoming events by specific parameters. It allows advertising by event date and highlights soon-to-end airdrops.

Token Drops

Provides updates on both upcoming and past airdrops. After registration, users can connect their social profiles and receive a referral link. The interface is convenient and easy to use.

99airdrops.com

This platform provides information about upcoming events, participation conditions, news, and more. It features a verification algorithm that checks the legitimacy of all listed airdrops. Active airdrops are sorted by time and shown on the main page. There’s also a rewards system for active users.

Coin Airdrop

Offers notifications on both current and upcoming distributions. The platform also provides useful information about cryptocurrency to help beginners get started in the crypto space.

Airdrop Paddict

This site has a rating system to evaluate new crypto airdrops and filter out unsafe options. It also features a countdown timer.

Crypto Airdrop (Twitter Channel)

This channel helps both newcomers and experienced users find information on where to access crypto airdrops. It’s also great for tracking the latest developments.

ERC-20 Airdrops (Telegram Channel)

Admins of this channel provide detailed instructions that must be followed during the distribution process.

Conclusion

Free cryptocurrency airdrops are considered one of the most effective ways to attract users to new projects. Earning profits from crypto airdrops is unlikely, as there’s no guarantee that the received tokens will become valuable. Sometimes, tokens do increase in value due to platform growth — but that usually happens after a year or more.