ZKsync Opens Airdrop Claims and Lists on Binance
Last week, ZKsync opened airdrop claims and was listed on Binance. ZKsync is seen as a competitor to Arbitrum and Optimism, thus its valuation and airdrop conditions are often compared to these projects. Previously, ZKsync's airdrop rules caused considerable FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) due to several contentious factors:
Airdrop conditions were unusual, resulting in far fewer eligible addresses than anticipated.
Several suspicious addresses were identified, with no direct response from the official team.
Some addresses flagged by LayerZero as "sybil" addresses still received the airdrop.
The presence of numerous "rat holes" (addresses suspected of gaming the system) and perceived unfair airdrop rules led to ZKsync's governance token $ZK having a relatively average price performance on Binance compared to competitor projects.
ProjectMarket CapCirculating SupplyFDVZKsync (ZK)$612 M17.50%$3.5BStarkNet (STRK)$934 M13%$7.18 BArbitrum (ARB)$2,653 M32.30%$8.21 BOptimism (OP)$1,982 M26.12%$7.59 B
LayerZero Requires a $0.1 Donation per Token Claim
In early May, LayerZero announced an airdrop snapshot and subsequent sybil address cleansing. For nearly two months, LayerZero remained in the spotlight, facing scrutiny, controversy, and disputes. Just as the community thought they could finally claim their airdrop, LayerZero introduced a new claim mechanism requiring users to donate $0.1 per ZRO token. This move was mocked by the community as a disguised IDO (Initial DEX Offering) rather than a genuine airdrop. LayerZero's founder stated that donations are not mandatory, and those unwilling to donate need not claim the tokens. He emphasized that the tokens are provided by others, not owned by the users.
Airdrop Space Becoming Increasingly Challenging
Both ZKsync and LayerZero are infrastructure projects with significant venture capital investment and high valuations. The airdrop rules of both projects sparked user dissatisfaction last week, leading to intensified discussions in the community about the future of airdrops. Binance co-founder Yi He stated that the era of casually obtaining airdrops ("freebie hunting") is over.
The rules for obtaining airdrops have evolved from simple protocol interactions to multifaceted evaluations, where even completing numerous complex tasks might not guarantee an airdrop. Many key opinion leaders (KOLs) believe the era of "airdrop hunters" is ending, though some argue that the airdrop industry will persist, with future airdrops requiring more sophisticated strategies from hunters.