Although airdrops promise billions of dollars in free money, they are always accompanied by controversy over the fairness of token distribution.
Problem:
Sybil recipients: These are people who "plant" a series of fake cryptocurrency wallets to manipulate airdrops, capturing large rewards.
This practice leaves real users – long-term project participants – receiving little or nothing.
Reality:
The Ether restaker project attempted to appease users after they felt scammed by the airdrop.
However, recent projects like ZKsync and LayerZero have yet to address complaints from mainstream users.
Consequence:
Users actually lose interest because the reward is not worth the contribution.
It is difficult for the project to attract real users, affecting network effects and long-term value.
Why do projects use airdrops?
Attract new users and increase liquidity.
Increases total value locked (TVL) – a measure of project interest.
High TVL attracts venture capital.
But airdrops also have downsides:
Sybil recipients only participated in "eating tokens" and then abandoned the project.
Their activities cause TVL to increase virtually, not reflecting actual participation.
Many projects like Wormhole and LayerZero saw a decline in users after the airdrop.
The future of airdrops:
DeFi experts call for a new token distribution strategy.
The current “point accumulation” method is susceptible to manipulation by Sybil recipients.
“The golden age of airdrops is over,” said one analyst.
A new way is needed:
Design a reward system that doesn't ignore early participants.
Retain users after token distribution.
Attract new users.
This is not easy:
The Sybil recipient is “ingrained” in the system.
Possible solutions:
Token lock-up period (vesting period) to limit massive sell-off.
Deploy multiple airdrops in stages.
Experts advise users:
Only participate in airdrops of truly useful projects.
The best airdrops come from genuine curiosity and participation.
