Overview

History shows that many crypto project airdrops have delivered significant returns for investors.

A notable example is Uniswap (UNI), which in September 2020 distributed 400 UNI tokens to each previous platform user. With UNI valued at $3 at launch, the airdrop was worth approximately $1,200. Early users saw remarkable gains when the price later soared above $40.

Similarly, Ethereum Name Service (ENS) launched its airdrop in November 2021, rewarding users who had registered or managed domains on their platform. Most participants received around 25 ENS tokens—initially worth $40-50—which later climbed to over $70 per token.

Other successful airdrops have come from Arbitrum (ARB), dYdX (DYDX), Apecoin (APE), and Bonk (BONK), each providing substantial value to participants.

Let’s explore the promising airdrop projects for 2025, examining their key features and participation requirements.

Airdrop Project Overview

The following table highlights promising airdrop projects for 2025 across crypto trading, cross-chain ecosystems, DeFi, and AI sectors. These projects leverage airdrops to drive user growth by rewarding community participation, liquidity provision, and platform engagement. Understanding each project’s funding status, token structure, and participation requirements helps users maximize airdrop opportunities while becoming active participants in blockchain innovation.

Pump.fun: Crypto Trading Platform

Pump.fun is a Solana-based platform that simplifies the creation and trading of memecoins by adopting a unique bonding curve pricing model. Users can easily create their own meme tokens in just a few seconds for a fee of 0.02 SOL.

According to Dune data, as of January 16, 2025, the platform’s total revenue has exceeded 2,292,921 SOL. During an X Space live event in October 2024, which attracted 11,000 listeners, co-founder Sapijiju revealed future airdrop plans.

Airdrop Strategy: Engaging with the Pump.fun Advanced trading terminal, creating your own meme token, and using advanced features such as premium filters.

Official Website: https://pump.fun/board

Source: https://dune.com/hashed_official/pumpdotfun (January 16, 2025)

Phantom: Cross-Chain Wallet

Phantom has evolved from a native Solana wallet into a multi-chain platform, with total funding exceeding $118 million from investors such as Paradigm, a16z, and Solana Ventures. It has become one of the top crypto airdrop opportunities to watch in 2025.

Airdrop Strategy: Download the wallet and use the multi-chain wallet for transactions, asset swaps, staking funds, and minting NFTs.

Install Wallet: https://phantom.com/

Eclipse Cross-Chain Ecosystem

Eclipse is a customizable rollup provider compatible with multiple Layer 1 blockchains. It allows developers to deploy their own rollups powered by the Solana network while using any chain for security or data storage.

Eclipse launched its mainnet in 2024, securing $65 million in funding and integrating multiple projects such as Polymarket, EnsoFi, and Orca.

Airdrop Strategy: Use the Eclipse Bridge for cross-chain transfers, provide liquidity to Orca, and participate in ecosystem projects like the Rarible Scope NFT launchpad and domain name registration.

Official Website： https://app.eclipse.xyz/

Domain Registration: https://eclipse.alldomains.id/

Berachain: Innovative Liquidity Consensus

Berachain is a high-performance, EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain that utilizes an innovative Proof of Liquidity (PoL) consensus mechanism designed to address liquidity issues in DeFi.

The project has raised over $140 million and launched its public testnet, bArtio B2, in June 2024, garnering significant attention.

Airdrop Strategy: Participate in the Berachain v2 Bartio testnet, explore ecosystem applications, and provide liquidity.

Official Website: https://www.berachain.com/

Testnet: https://bartio.faucet.berachain.com/#dapps

Abstract: ZK-Based Scalable Transactions

Abstract is an Ethereum-based Layer 2 solution for consumer-facing applications such as DeFi, SocialFi, and NFTs.

As a consumer-grade blockchain built on the ZK Stack, Abstract leverages account abstraction (AA) technology to optimize off-chain transaction scalability and enhance user accessibility.

Driven by a team with experience in Pudgy Penguins, Ethereum, Frame, and Kubernetes, Abstract has launched its testnet, offering early access and potential airdrop opportunities. The mainnet went live in January 2025.

Airdrop Strategy: Join the early bird waitlist, hold Pudgy Penguins NFTs, and participate in cross-chain testing.

Website: https://abs.xyz/

Mainnet Interaction: https://portal.testnet.abs.xyz/bridge/

Story Protocol: On-Chain Creative IP

Story Protocol is an on-chain intellectual property management solution that transforms IP into programmable assets by digitizing and tokenizing creative works such as text, art, and music.

Backed by renowned investors, including a16z Crypto and Polychain, with over $140 million in funding, the project is actively driving the evolution of decentralized copyright management.

Although its Odyssey testnet event has ended, Story Protocol continues to develop and is expected to lead the future of IP creation, sharing, and monetization.

Airdrop Strategy: Explore the Story Protocol testnet, upload original content, participate in protocol governance, copyright transactions, and community activities.

Testnet Interaction: https://linktr.ee/storyprotocol

Official Website: https://www.story.foundation/

Monad: High-Throughput Blockchain

Monad is an EVM-compatible Layer-1 blockchain designed for seamless migration of Ethereum Dapps. Monad claims to achieve 10,000 real TPS (equivalent to 1 billion transactions per day) with 1-second block times, facilitating broader user adoption and lower costs.

The platform has raised $225 million in funding led by Paradigm, drawing significant interest from investors.

Airdrop Strategy: Earn roles on Discord, explore the Sparkball game, hold Pythonian NFTs, and stake ecosystem tokens.

Discord：https://discord.com/invite/monad

Official Website: https://www.monad.xyz/

Nillion: Decentralized Secure Computing

Nillion specializes in encrypted data computation by leveraging Multi-Party Computation (MPC) technology, eliminating the need for decryption and enhancing data security. In traditional systems, data must be decrypted before processing, creating vulnerabilities and privacy risks due to centralized control.

As a Layer 1 blockchain, Nillion enables direct computation on encrypted data without decryption, ensuring secure data storage and processing. This breakthrough is particularly valuable for healthcare, finance, and AI sectors that require high security.

The project has secured $25 million in funding and plans a Token Generation Event (TGE) in the first half of 2025.

Airdrop Strategy: Participate in blind computation staking and validator node activities, and stay updated on the Nillion Validator Program and TGE.

Official Website: https://nillion.com/

Solayer: Solana Restaking Protocol

Solayer is a liquid restaking platform on Solana, allowing users to restake SOL or Solana-based liquid staking tokens (LSTs) to earn additional rewards while securing dApps on Solana.

Although Solayer has not launched a native token yet, rumors suggest a potential airdrop. The project has received support from notable figures such as Anatoly Yakovenko (Solana Labs Co-founder) and Sandeep Nailwal (Polygon Co-founder).

Solayer has partnered with OpenEden to launch the first real-world asset (RWA)-backed synthetic stablecoin, sUSD.

sUSD is pegged 1:1 to the USD and backed by U.S. Treasury bonds. Users can deposit USDC and generate sUSD via Solayer’s RFQ protocol. The minimum deposit is just $5, enabling broader participation in the RWA tokenization market, which was previously accessible only to large institutions.

Airdrop Strategy: Restake your SOL or LSTs on Solayer, deposit USDC to receive sUSD, and earn future rewards.

Website: https://solayer.org/

Stake & Participate: https://app.solayer.org/dashboard?invite=IRZAVS

Kaito AI: Crypto Analytics Platform

Kaito AI is an AI-powered crypto analytics platform that leverages its search engine to aggregate insights from Web3 data sources while filtering out noise.

It indexes information from Twitter, Discord, research papers, and more, helping users track market sentiment and access precise insights. The recent launch of Yaps Tokenomics allows users to earn points by contributing content.

Founded by Cambridge University graduate Yu Hu and a highly experienced team, Kaito has successfully raised $10.8 million from investors such as Dragonfly Capital, Sequoia Capital China, and Spartan Group.

Airdrop Strategy: Connect your Twitter account, actively post crypto-related tweets, and participate in Kaito’s referral program.

Website: https://kaito.ai/

Interact: https://yaps.kaito.ai/

DAWN: Decentralized Wireless Network (DePIN)

DAWN is building a decentralized autonomous wireless network, a type of DePIN, on Solana that aims to revolutionize internet access. The platform enables users to monetize their spare bandwidth by sharing it with nearby users, creating a peer-to-peer alternative to traditional telecom services. Though conceptually similar to Grass, DAWN has secured significantly stronger investor support.

DAWN has secured $33 million in funding, including two rounds led by Dragonfly and strategic investment from VanEck. This project builds on Grass’s success while offering greater valuation potential for decentralized internet access.

Airdrop Strategy: Download the DAWN Validator Chrome extension and become a validator node to earn early token rewards.

Download:

https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/dawn-validator-chrome-ext/fpdkjdnhkakefebpekbdhillbhonfjjp?authuser=0&hl=en

Virtual Ecosystem: AI Agent Platform

Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) is a project built on the Base platform that allows users to design and deploy AI agents capable of autonomously generating income. Unlike traditional AI projects, Virtuals Protocol emphasizes shared ownership, enabling users to invest in and share the profits of AI agents.

These AI agents can interact with their environment, manage crypto wallets, engage in gaming activities, and serve as investable digital assets. With AI agent technology rapidly advancing in 2025, ecosystem projects are increasingly likely to reward their communities with airdrops and earnings opportunities.

Airdrop Strategy: Create AI agents, explore games, and engage in various interactions.

Website: https://app.virtuals.io/

Reddio: Ethereum Layer 2

Reddio is a high-performance Layer 2 solution built on Ethereum, leveraging zkEVM technology, parallel execution, and GPU acceleration to enhance network throughput and computational efficiency while maintaining Ethereum-equivalent security.

The platform is designed to improve blockchain scalability and user experience, enabling faster and more efficient transaction processing.

Airdrop Strategy: Bridge assets to the Reddio network, transfer funds, and engage in platform interactions.

Official Website: https://www.reddio.com/

Paradex: Perpetual Derivatives Exchange

Paradex is a decentralized perpetual derivatives exchange built on Starknet that offers users a leverage trading platform. It was incubated by crypto liquidity provider Paradigm.

On December 18, 2024, Paradex Foundation announced the launch of its token DIME, with 20% of the supply allocated for a genesis airdrop.

Season 1 has ended—season 2 runs from January 3, 2025, to July 31, 2025.

Airdrop Strategy: Actively trade on the Paradex platform to accumulate XP and qualify for potential airdrops.

Website: https://www.paradex.trade/

Lombard: Bitcoin Liquid Staking Protocol

Lombard is a Bitcoin liquid staking protocol within the Babylon ecosystem, allowing users to stake BTC and receive LBTC, a synthetic token representing staked Bitcoin, which can be used in cross-chain DeFi applications.

The project has raised $17 million in funding, with Binance as a strategic investor. Lombard aims to transform Bitcoin into a yield-generating asset, unlocking its liquidity for DeFi through the LBTC product.

In the future, Lombard plans to integrate LBTC with Ethereum and launch an L2 chain, further advancing the development of a yield-based asset ecosystem.

Airdrop Strategy: Stake BTC, cbBTC, or BTCB to receive LBTC and utilize it in Lombard DeFi Vault.

Official Website: https://www.lombard.finance/

Staking Interaction: https://www.lombard.finance/app/stake/?referrer=6c35ug%EF%BC%89

Zora Network: Layer-2 NFT Marketplace

Zora Network, developed by Zerion, is a Layer-2 solution built on ZKsync, with its key highlight being the elimination of gas fees, making on-chain interactions more seamless and user-friendly. As a Layer-2 NFT marketplace, Zora simplifies the digital art user experience.

The project has attracted $60 million in funding from investors such as Coinbase Ventures, Paradigm, and Haun Ventures, reaching a $600 million valuation.

Airdrop Strategy: Engage in cross-chain interactions, purchase NFTs, create NFTs, and deploy smart contracts on Zora.

Website: https://zero.network/

Add Zora Network: https://chainlist.org/chain/7777777

Build on Bitcoin (BOB): Hybrid Layer 2 Protocol

BOB (Build on Bitcoin) is a hybrid Layer 2 protocol that extends Bitcoin’s functionality using the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). It allows developers to write smart contracts in Solidity and foster decentralized application (dApp) innovation.

Utilizing the OP Stack framework, BOB ensures compatibility with Bitcoin’s security model while integrating Ethereum’s innovative capabilities to support DeFi, NFTs, DAOs, and more. It inherits Bitcoin’s security through merged mining, while bridging solutions enable interoperability between Bitcoin and Ethereum.

In the future, BOB will implement ZK verification to enhance transaction security and efficiency, while supporting cross-chain asset management, enabling seamless integration between Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Airdrop Strategy: Deposit assets into BOB’s DeFi applications, use Spice points for voting, and participate in BOB Fusion through referrals.

Website: https://www.gobob.xyz/

Perana: Stablecoin Infrastructure for Solana

Perana is a stablecoin infrastructure protocol designed for the Solana ecosystem. It aims to enhance stablecoin liquidity and usability through a hub-and-spoke model and multi-stablecoin liquidity pools.

Founded by Anna Yuan, former Solana Foundation Head of Stablecoins, Perana combines DeFi innovation with traditional financial principles to reduce stablecoin issuance costs, optimize liquidity management, and provide efficient trading tools.

On December 11, 2024, Perana secured $3 million in pre-seed funding from Solana co-founders, Binance Labs, Borderless Capital, and other prominent investors. The project has already partnered with multiple DeFi protocols.

Airdrop Strategy: Earn Petal points by swapping stablecoins and providing liquidity on the Perana platform.

Website: https://perena.org/

Conclusion

Airdrops have a proven track record of rewarding early adopters handsomely. Take Uniswap (UNI), for instance, where early users received airdrops valued at around $1,200.

In 2025, getting involved in airdrops through cross-chain wallets, Layer 2 protocols, DePIN, DeFi, or AI platforms offers a dual advantage: you’ll get first-hand experience with cutting-edge projects while potentially setting yourself up for future rewards. As these projects gain mainstream adoption, the tokens or benefits you receive could turn into valuable assets.

Stay on top of these innovative projects and actively participate in their airdrop campaigns - you can position yourself for some impressive returns in 2025.