Crypto airdrop is one of the popularly used marketing strategies that have gained popularity in the past couple of years in the crypto ecosystem. With increasing awareness around cryptocurrencies, many crypto ventures are still considering these airdrops as a promotional strategy even today for its craze among crypto enthusiasts.


What Is A Crypto Airdrop?


Let us understand this unique concept with a simple example.


Suppose you have heard about a new cryptocurrency project. You have conducted your research and decided to play around with the project to test its features. You can test the different functionalities and try out different tasks that can be done with the project. You even decide to follow its different social media profiles. 


The project team is happy that even before it became popular, you decided to test it out. There might be other curious folks who are doing the same. The project recognises these folks as early users and decides to reward them for their time and effort. 


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They incentivise these users with their own cryptocurrency tokens whenever the project decides to launch one. And when these tokens start trading, they have a certain value associated with them. You, as an early user, are happy with receiving free crypto. And if it is an airdrop that is similar to some of the most popular ones such as ENS, it could earn you an excess of $10,000. 


To put it simply, a crypto airdrop is a marketing tactic commonly employed by companies within the industry. The primary objective here is to raise awareness about the project while bringing a cryptocurrency token into circulation. There are various methods utilised by these projects to conduct airdrops.


What Are The Different Types Of Crypto Airdrops?


There are three major types of crypto airdrops used in this ecosystem: Standard Airdrop, Bounty Airdrop, and Holder Airdrop.


Standard Airdrop: It is currently the most prevalent type of airdrop in the crypto world. It provides participants with an easy way to enter and receive free crypto tokens. To ensure equitable distribution, a random draw is typically conducted. 


Although participants have the opportunity to win free crypto, winning the airdrop is not a certainty. The standard airdrop typically involves a fixed number of tokens to be distributed, with a maximum limit on the number of tokens that any individual can receive.


Bounty Airdrop: In this type of crypto airdrop, the tokens or coins are distributed for free to individuals who complete specific tasks or actions. These tasks may include promoting the project on social media, writing blog posts or articles, creating videos, or referring friends to the project. 


As the name suggests, the rewards offered for completing the tasks are offered in a bounty campaign which may last for a specified period of time or until a certain number of participants have completed the required tasks. This type of airdrop is a way to increase awareness of their project and generate buzz. 


Holder Airdrop: A holder airdrop is a type of cryptocurrency airdrop that rewards individuals who are already holding a particular cryptocurrency. Unlike other types of airdrops that require participants to complete specific tasks or actions, these airdrops are based on the individual’s existing ownership of the specified cryptocurrency. 


The main purpose of this type is to incentivise and reward individuals who are committed to a particular project by holding its tokens or coins for an extended period of time. This encourages the existing holders to continue holding the coins to stabilise the project’s value and increase its market capitalisation.


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What Are The Benefits Of Crypto Airdrops?


By offering airdrops, crypto projects can create buzz and attract the attention of both existing enthusiasts and potential users, which can ultimately boost user engagement and foster greater participation within the community.


Airdrops can be instrumental in boosting a project's profile and increasing its visibility within the crypto community, resulting in heightened brand awareness and recognition. They can help to increase the liquidity of the project's cryptocurrency by distributing it to a wider audience. This can create a more active and liquid market, which can be attractive to investors.


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They have the potential to boost a project's cryptocurrency liquidity by reaching a broader audience. As a result, this can generate a more dynamic and fluid market that could be enticing to potential investors.


Offering airdrops is a possible method for rewarding early adopters and supporters of a project. Such a practice can foster a sense of loyalty and dedication among these users, ultimately contributing to the project's expansion and advancement.


What Are The Risks Associated With Crypto Airdrops?


Crypto airdrops also come with some risks that users should be aware of, including:


Scammers may exploit airdrops as a means of obtaining personal information or funds from unwitting users by creating fraudulent airdrop campaigns or requesting users to surrender private keys or other sensitive information in return for airdropped tokens.


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Also, certain airdrops are provided by substandard or deceptive projects that are unlikely to succeed or could be scams. Individuals who devote their time or resources to such projects may ultimately lose their investments. So, it is always a good idea to ‘do your own research’ for the best results.


Overall, crypto airdrops are a great way to acquire new tokens without having to invest your money, making it a low-risk way to explore new projects. Furthermore, airdrops can be an effective way for projects to reward loyal users and create a sense of community around the project. With the potential to drive adoption and incentivise participation, these airdrops are likely to continue to be a popular marketing strategy in the crypto space.   


(The author is the CEO and co-founder of Mudrex, a global crypto investing company)


Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs, and views expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this website are personal and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs, and views of ABP Network Pvt. Ltd. Crypto products and NFTs are unregulated and can be highly risky. There may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions. Cryptocurrency is not a legal tender and is subject to market risks. Readers are advised to seek expert advice and read offer document(s) along with related important literature on the subject carefully before making any kind of investment whatsoever. Cryptocurrency market predictions are speculative and any investment made shall be at the sole cost and risk of the readers.