Best Crypto Airdrops to Claim in November 2025

Two other major opportunities to watch include BasedApp Season 2, a perps DEX with backers like Delphi Digital, and LayerZero V2, who is distributing 15.3% of its ZRO supply to cross-chain participants.

Despite a decline in overall activity, the airdrop sector remains popular in 2025: even MetaMask has announced rewards program for its community in X.

This guide features the top airdrops of 2025, selected using our methodology, and shows how to qualify for them safely and efficiently.

Best Crypto Airdrops in 2025 – Editor’s Picks

Best New & Upcoming Crypto Airdrop List in November 2025

1. Hyperliquid Season 2 – World’s largest perpetual DEX distributing 38.88% future emissions to active traders and stakers.
2. LayerZero V2 – Cross-chain protocol distributing 30% of ZRO tokens to genuine users across 70+ blockchains.
3. BasedApp – Multi-platform spot and perpetual trading with debit card integration, rewarding 2025 users
4. Abstract Chain – Pudgy Penguins’ L2 blockchain with XP points system and potential PENGU holder bonuses.
5. Meteora Jupiter – Solana’s 10th largest DeFi protocol launching MET token for liquidity providers.
6. Farcaster Protocol – Decentralized social media with $180 million a16z funding, rewarding active Warpcast users.
7. Pump.fun Native Token – Solana’s leading memecoin launchpad with $710 million revenue, launching native token.
8. Axiom Exchange – Y Combinator-backed Solana trading platform with points-based cashback program.
9. Arbitrum Drip – Earn airdrops through borrowing and lending USDC on Arbitrum lending protocols.
10. MetaMask – Popular web3 wallet that has announced an upcoming airdrop.
11. Polymarket – Crypto powered prediction market confirms a future airdrop.

Best Crypto Airdrop Reviews and Analysis

We’ve analyzed each project’s fundamentals, tokenomics, and reward potential to help you prioritize your airdrop farming efforts. Let’s begin:

1. Hyperliquid Season 2 – Perpetuals Trading Powerhouse

Hyperliquid is the leader in decentralized perpetuals trading, that processed over $357 billion in perps volume and generated over $100M in fees in August 2025. Their first airdrop created the largest-ever token distribution by market cap, with HYPE tokens reaching a $6.2 billion valuation.

Why it’s trending:

• 42% of the total token supply is still allocated for future airdrops, with $610 million TVL, creating low competition
• First airdrop recipients averaged $50,000+ rewards, with some earning six-figure amounts for active trading
• HyperEVM launch enables DeFi participation without requiring professional trading experience
• The platform maintains 99.9% uptime with sub-10ms latency and 200,000 orders per second throughput
• Unified Layer 1 blockchain eliminates bridging risks between trading and DeFi applications

Airdrop Quick Facts:

Available in Best Wallet

2. LayerZero Season 2 – Cross-Chain Infrastructure Leader

LayerZero offers cross chain liquidity without the need for a bridge, and has recently been added to the SUI blockchain. The protocol already connects over 130 blockchains, and is particularly tied to stablecoins, benefiting from the US regulations and EU Mica Act.

With only 23.8% of the total ZRO supply distributed in Season 1, the upcoming Season 2 airdrop gives active users another chance at rewards.

Why it’s trending:

• 15.3% of the total ZRO supply (153 million tokens) is reserved specifically for Season 2 community distributions
• Protocol usage dropped significantly post-Season 1, creating larger reward pools for remaining active participants
• Major institutional partnerships with Tether, PayPal, and Circle validate long-term protocol adoption
• Omnichain Fungible Tokens (OFTs) are gaining traction as the standard for cross-chain asset transfers
• Ultra-Light Nodes technology eliminates traditional bridging risks and intermediary dependencies

Airdrop Quick Facts:

Available in Best Wallet

3. BasedApp – Perps Orderbook DEX Built on Hyperliquid

BasedApp is a perps and spot DEX built on the Hyperliquid Ecosystem. Based can be used on desktop, mobile and Telegram and also has a debit card that users can spend with to earn potential airdrop rewards.

Season 2 replaces XP with “Based Gold”. Based Gold is earned through trading, competitions, participating in livestreams, promoting referral programs, and debit card use. Based Gold will determine token allocations in the upcoming airdrop.

Why it’s trending:

• BasedApp is well-funded by backers like Ethena, Hashed, and Delphi
• Perps DEXs like Hyperliquid have resulted in large airdrops with HYPE up 927% (Coingecko snapshot October 29th) since its launch
• Rewards are tied to real activity rather than just trading volume
• BasedApp has its own ecosystem with a launchpad and airdrops for users of various Hyperliquid protocols
• Multi-platform availability on mobile, web, and Telegram facilitates participation for different types of users
• Season 2 has been confirmed

Airdrop Quick Facts:

Available in Best Wallet

4. Abstract Chain – Consumer-First Blockchain Experience

Abstract is Pudgy Penguins’ expansion into blockchain infrastructure, that targets mainstream adoption through simplified user experiences and cultural influence. Built on zkSync’s ZK Stack with innovative features like the Abstract Global Wallet (email-based wallet creation), Abstract wants to remove traditional crypto barriers.

The mainnet launch in January 2025, with the XP points system and badge collections signals imminent token distribution opportunities, however the team have not made an official announcement.

Why it’s trending:

• Pudgy Penguins’ cultural influence and mainstream brand recognition drive consumer adoption beyond typical crypto circles
• Abstract Global Wallet eliminates seed phrase complexity through email + 2FA authentication, targeting Web2 users
• ZK Stack infrastructure provides Ethereum security with significantly lower costs and higher throughput
• The XP points system and badge collections launched in January 2025 suggest imminent token distribution events
• Major partnerships with Gate.io (Red Bull NFT collection) and Dinero (absETH staking) validate ecosystem growth

Airdrop Quick Facts:

Available in Best Wallet

5. Meteora – Solana’s Dynamic Liquidity Market Maker

Meteora is Solana’s 2nd-largest DeFi protocol with over $800 million in TVL. It specializes in innovative Dynamic Liquidity Market Maker (DLMM) technology, an advanced approach to automated market making.

The Jupiter-owned protocol has now launched the MET token. Users can visit the claim page to see what they have been allocated and why.

Why it’s trending:

• Confirmed Season 2, allocations based on liquidity provision fees and TVL contributions
• The Dynamic Liquidity Market Maker model delivers more efficient capital utilization than traditional AMMs
• $800 million TVL positions Meteora as a major DeFi protocol with institutional-grade liquidity depth
• Volatile asset pair strategies generate higher fees but require sophisticated risk management approaches

Airdrop Quick Facts:

Available in Best Wallet

6. Farcaster Protocol – Decentralized Social Media on Optimism

Farcaster is a decentralized social network built on Ethereum and Base L2, with $150 million in funding from top-tier investors, including a16z, Paradigm, and Coinbase Ventures.

The protocol lets users maintain control of their data and social connections through a decentralized identity system, while Warpcast provides a familiar X-like experience. With recent Solana integration and growing ecosystem features, early users could qualify for potential governance token rewards.

Why it’s trending:

• $150 million funding from premier crypto investors validates long-term potential and sustainability
• Decentralized social infrastructure addresses Web2 platform censorship and data ownership concerns
• Recent Solana chain integration expands cross-chain functionality and mini-app ecosystem
• Power Badge system and verification features create engagement-based community tiers
• Frame technology enables interactive mini-applications within social posts, pioneering social-DeFi integration

Airdrop Quick Facts:

Available in Best Wallet

7. Pump.fun – Solana’s Leading Memecoin Launchpad

Pump.fun dominates Solana’s memecoin ecosystem as the most successful token launchpad, generating over $820 million in revenue (snapshot from DefiLlama, November 3) with more than 12 million tokens launched since early 2024.

The platform reinvented fair token launches through its bonding curve mechanism that prevents rug pulls and eliminates crypto presales. While the team promised to “reward earliest users”, a comment in July by co-founder Alon Cohen suggesting that an airdrop won’t happen soon, has affected the price of PUMP and the optimism of holders.

Why it’s trending:

• The platform generates $710 million in revenue with 12.7+ million tokens launched, demonstrating massive adoption and sustainability
• Team explicitly promised to “reward earliest users” during October 2024 X Spaces, confirming upcoming token distribution
• New Creator Revenue Sharing gives coin creators 50% of PumpSwap revenue, incentivizing quality project launches
• Pump Advanced trading terminal launch with zero fees during the initial period increases user engagement
• Bonding curve mechanism with automatic Raydium liquidity at $69K market cap ensures fair price discovery

Airdrop Quick Facts:

Available in Best Wallet

8. Axiom Exchange – Top Solana Revenue Generator

Axiom is one of Solana’s highest-revenue-generating protocols, making headlines as a top DeFi performer according to DeFiLlama analytics. The Y Combinator-backed trading platform combines perpetual futures trading through Hyperliquid integration with Solana new meme coins trading, creating a comprehensive trading hub that attracted over 4.3 million visitors in February 2025 alone.

With an active points program and partnership-driven rewards system, early users position themselves for potential token distributions.

Why it’s trending:

• Ranked among the top revenue-generating protocols on Solana with exceptional user growth metrics
• Y Combinator backing provides credibility and technical expertise for sustainable platform development
• Hyperliquid integration enables smooth perpetual trading with potential dual airdrop opportunities
• Comprehensive rewards program includes cashback in SOL, plus a tiered points system similar to successful platforms
• 4.3+ million monthly visitors demonstrate strong product-market fit and growing user adoption

Airdrop Quick Facts:

Available in Best Wallet

9. Arbitrum Drip – Boosted Rewards for DeFi Activities

Arbitrum Drip is an initiative funded by Arbitrum DAO to reward users in ARB for supplying and borrowing ETH and stablecoins. Drip stands for ‘DeFi Renaissance Incentive Program’ and aims to get more people involved in DeFi.

Unlike some airdrops, users can see exactly how much each task will provide in rewards and claim daily via the Drip dashboard. However, users should make sure they understand the risks involved in collateral-based borrowing and lending.

Why it’s trending:

• The total value of the airdrop is 80M ARB, which is currently worth around $22.5M
• Many people hold ETH and USDC on-chain already; this is a good way to get boosted yields, airdropped in ARB
• Arbitrum is the third-largest Layer 2 in terms of users, according to Token Terminal
• Season 1 is live from September to January, and there will be 4 seasons in total
• Applicable lending protocols are established and well funded, including Aave, Morpho, Euler, and Fluid

Airdrop Quick Facts:

Available in Best Wallet

10. MetaMask – Web3’s First DeFi Wallet Is Offering LINEA Rewards

MetaMask’s parent company, Consensys, has hinted at a MASK airdrop since 2021, and there are now clear signs that it may be imminent. Consensys founder Joe Lubin recently stated on X that an airdrop was coming sooner than people think.

MetaMask has initiated a rewards program, where eligible users will receive LINEA, the gas token of the blockchain also founded by Consensys. A tweet on October 28, 2025, said, “all $LINEA rewards earned and held through MetaMask Rewards Season 1 will count toward future rewards.”

Why it’s trending:

• MetaMask is 9 years old and one of the most popular web3 wallets, with an estimated 30M active users.
• MetaMask’s DEX aggregator is the third most active according to Token Terminal (Snapshot from October 31, 2025).
• Season 1 is now live and active for 90 days with $30M in LINEA rewards.
• Polymarket suggests a 75% chance of the MASK token being launched by June 30, 2026 (Snapshot from October 31, 2025)
• MetaMask recently registered the domains “claim.metamask.io” and “gift.metamask.io”

Airdrop Quick Facts:

11. Polymarket – Crypto-Based Prediction Market Announces Airdrop

Polymarket is a betting platform that runs on cryptocurrencies. Users can make predictions about almost any subject. CEO Shayne Coplan previously teased a token and airdrop.

The token and airdrop have now been confirmed by CMO Matthew Modabber while CoinMarketCap lists a preview page for a token with the ticker ‘POLY’. However, Modabber stressed that the Polymarket team is in no hurry and that their priorities lie in re-entering the US market first. This means the airdrop is unlikely to happen until 2026.

Why it’s trending:

• The platform hit new MAUs of close to 480,000 in October and a monthly trading volume of $3B.
• Users continue to create more prediction markets, rising to 38,270 in October, up around three times from August.
• Prediction markets are becoming more popular, and used to measure potential sentiment around politics and more, despite worries of possible manipulation.
• Polymarket received a $2B investment from ICE in October 2025, pushing the company’s valuation to $9B.

Airdrop Quick Facts:

Latest Crypto Airdrops Comparison

In this section, we created a table of comparison so that you can easily analyze all the information from the previous segment:

Why Crypto Airdrops Are Trending in 2025

Crypto airdrops are trending because many projects are distributing their tokens through airdrops, and Web3 users profited from large airdrops such as Jupiter. According to Nasdaq, Jupiter’s first airdrop was worth around $700M in total. Several factors make them more valuable and accessible than before. According to Binance, the total value of airdropped tokens reached $26 billion before last year, and the numbers continue to grow. Let’s examine the reasons behind it.

Low-Cost User Acquisition Strategy

Projects recognize airdrops as the most effective way to bootstrap communities without traditional marketing costs. A successful airdrop can acquire 100,000+ users for under $500,000 in token distributions, which is far cheaper than conventional advertising channels.

Viral Community Growth

Social media integration can boost airdrop reaches. When Arbitrum distributed ARB tokens, over 42 million tokens were claimed in the first hour, creating hype and organic promotion across X, Discord, and Telegram channels. Many airdrops require completing Zealy or Galxe quests that require sharing on social media, leading to social media growth.

Token Distribution Innovation

Modern projects use advanced point systems and tiered rewards to ensure fair distribution. Rather than simple social media tasks, 2025 many airdrops reward genuine ecosystem participation, such as DeFi protocol usage, NFT trading, voting in governance, and testnet contributions. Notable examples include Jupiter’s ASR (Active Staking Rewards) program rewarded those who took part in governance and swaps, and Sanctum, which rewarded those who contributed to the project by a metric they called ‘earnestness’.

Meme Season Catalysts

The growth of meme coins in 2025 has popularized airdrop mechanisms as launch strategies. The success of projects like Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) and BONK and TRUMP show us how cultural movements amplify token distributions beyond traditional crypto circles.

Layer 2 and Restaking Incentives

Ethereum Layer 2 networks and restaking protocols are now using airdrops as structured, multi-season incentive systems to drive early adoption and retain active users. Instead of one-time giveaways, these distributions are tied to measurable on-chain activity such as staking, liquidity provision, and governance participation.

Ether.fi as a leading example:

• The protocol allocated 7.5% of total ETHFI supply to its first airdrop (Season 1), distributed based on staking balances and accumulated loyalty points.
• According to its official announcement, 6% of supply went to Season 1 claimants and 5% to Season 2, with a 90-day claim window for each round.
• On March 18 2024, 60 million ETHFI tokens ($210 million) were airdropped, with about 22 million claimed within the first day.
• Data compiled by Linity shows that top-tier participants in Season 1 received an average of 10,950 ETHFI ($19,500 at listing), while the bottom tier averaged 175 ETHFI ($550).
• A governance proposal for Season 5 earmarks 10 million ETHFI for new staking campaigns and partner initiatives.
• The Season 2 snapshot was taken on June 30 2024, and the claim period opened July 17 2024, including vesting schedules for specific categories of contributors.

Such multi-phase structures help align long-term participation with ecosystem growth. Users who continue staking or validating between seasons generally see higher weighting in future airdrops.

Ether.fi’s approach reflects a broader trend among Layer 2s and restaking platforms like EigenLayer and Blast, which also use progressive airdrop schedules and point-based loyalty systems to reward consistent activity rather than speculative claims.

Data Check: Airdrops by the numbers

• According to a CoinGecko study, the top 50 airdrops (from 2020 to 2023) cumulatively distributed $26.6 billion in token value (measured at each token’s all-time high).
• Within that dataset, Uniswap, ApeCoin and dYdX together contributed $11.99 billion, representing 45.1 % of the total.
• In 2023 alone, airdrops totaled about $4.56 billion, with Arbitrum’s $1.97 billion event leading the year.

Retroactive vs Engagement Airdrops on L2s and Restaking

Airdrops are increasingly part of multi-phase incentive systems instead of single events. For example, Binance commentary notes that modern protocols distinguish retroactive airdrops (rewarding past usage) and engagement airdrops (rewarding new tasks or behaviors).

In the restaking space, Ether.fi is often cited: it splits distribution across “Seasons”, allocating fixed percentages to each season (e.g. 6% in Season 1, 5% in Season 2) in order to align rewards with continued staking, liquidity provision, and activity.

It’s Season 5, for instance, dedicates at least 10,000,000 ETHFI tokens to users based on staking duration, loyalty points, and ecosystem engagement.

What this means for 2025

In 2025, airdrop campaigns are likely to become more formulaic and performance-based:

• Use of points systems or tiered metrics to score user activity (staking, swaps, governance)
• Longer claim windows to allow broad participation
• Hybrid models combining retroactive rewards (for prior usage) and active quests (for new engagement)
• Exchanges standardizing drop mechanisms (e.g. built-in claim interfaces)
• Layer 2 protocols and restaking platforms experimenting with seasonal or vesting schedules to maintain retention

Effectively, the most successful airdrops will tie token reward filters directly to measurable on-chain actions, not passive holding or social tasks.

What Are Crypto Airdrops?

Crypto airdrops are free token distributions that blockchain projects use to build communities, reward early supporters, and boost network adoption. Think of them as digital promotional campaigns where you receive actual cryptocurrency instead of discount coupons or branded merchandise.

Why do these projects distribute tokens? There are several strategic reasons. New protocols need users to test their platforms, provide feedback, and create initial liquidity. Rather than spending millions on traditional advertising, they allocate a portion of their token supply (typically 5-20%) directly to community members who demonstrate genuine interest and engagement.

The Evolution from Simple to Advanced

Early airdrops in 2020–2021 required basic social media tasks like following X accounts or joining Telegram groups. Today’s airdrops reward meaningful ecosystem participation: testing new features, providing liquidity, creating content, or contributing to decentralized governance decisions.

Different Distribution Models

Some airdrops distribute tokens immediately after task completion, while others use points-based systems where participants accumulate rewards over months before final distribution. Retroactive airdrops surprise existing users with tokens based on their historical platform usage.

Token Types and Values

Airdropped tokens range from governance tokens (voting rights in protocol decisions) to utility tokens (access to platform features) to pure speculative assets. Values vary dramatically: some airdrops are worth under $10, while others like Uniswap’s UNI distribution averaged $12,000 per recipient.

The key insight: legitimate airdrops create mutual value. Projects gain authentic users and community members, while participants receive early access to potentially valuable tokens without financial risk.

How Crypto Airdrops Work

As we know, the classic “cold start” problem is very natural for new startups, so these projects use airdrops as strategic tools to solve it: how do you attract users to a new platform that becomes more valuable with more participants? The mechanics are elegant in their simplicity but advanced in their execution.

• The Bootstrap Mechanism: New decentralized exchanges need traders to create liquidity, but traders won’t use exchanges without existing liquidity. Airdrops break this cycle by promoting early participants with future token rewards. As the platform grows, those tokens appreciate in value, creating a win-win dynamic.
• Community Building Through Ownership: When users receive tokens, they become stakeholders in the project’s success. This psychological shift transforms casual users into active community members who promote the platform, provide feedback, and contribute to its growth. Token holders often receive governance rights, letting them vote on protocol upgrades and strategic decisions.
• Marketing Amplification: Successful airdrops create viral marketing campaigns. When Arbitrum announced its ARB token distribution, the news spread organically across crypto X, Discord servers, and Telegram groups. Participants naturally promote projects they’ve received tokens from, generating awareness that traditional advertising couldn’t achieve.
• Network Effects Acceleration: Each new participant makes the platform more valuable for existing users. DeFi protocols become more efficient with deeper liquidity pools. Social networks become more engaging with larger user bases. Gaming platforms become more competitive with active player communities.
• Tokenomics Integration: Modern airdrops integrate carefully with long-term tokenomics. Rather than dumping tokens immediately, projects often implement vesting schedules, staking requirements, or utility mechanisms that encourage holding. This approach maintains token value while rewarding genuine supporters over speculators.

The most successful airdrops balance immediate rewards with long-term value creation, ensuring both projects and participants benefit from sustainable growth rather than short-term speculation.

How to Get Crypto Airdrops

Success in airdrop farming requires strategy, patience, and understanding of what projects actually value in their community members. Random task completion won’t maximize your rewards: you need systematic approaches that demonstrate genuine ecosystem engagement.

Step 1: Research Project Fundamentals

Start with projects that solve real problems and have credible teams. Check founding member backgrounds on LinkedIn, review investor lists for reputable VCs, and analyze whether the project addresses genuine market needs. Skip anything with anonymous teams or unrealistic promises.

Step 2: Identify Qualification Criteria Early

Most valuable airdrops reward historical platform usage rather than short-term task completion. Join project Discord servers, follow official X accounts, and subscribe to newsletters to understand qualification requirements before they’re announced. Early users typically receive larger allocations.

Step 3: Engage Authentically Across Multiple Touchpoints

Don’t just complete minimum requirements. Participate in Discord discussions, provide thoughtful feedback on testnet features, and engage meaningfully with community content. Projects increasingly filter out obvious airdrop farmers who show no genuine interest.

Step 4: Maintain Consistent Activity Levels

Many airdrops reward sustained engagement over time rather than one-time participation. Set weekly reminders to interact with protocols, maintain minimum balances where required, and complete any ongoing quests or points systems. Consistency often matters more than intensity.

Step 5: Use Dedicated Wallets for Safety

Never connect wallets containing significant funds to airdrop campaigns. Create separate wallets specifically for airdrops, funded with only small amounts needed for transaction fees. This protects your main holdings from potential smart contract vulnerabilities or phishing attempts.

Step 6: Track Your Participation

Maintain spreadsheets documenting which airdrops you’ve joined, required tasks completed, and important dates. Many participants miss distribution deadlines or forget to claim rewards because they lose track of their various campaign participations.

Step 7: Understand Tax Implications

Airdropped tokens constitute taxable income in most jurisdictions at fair market value when received. Keep detailed records of token receipt dates and values for accurate tax reporting. Consider consulting tax professionals for significant airdrop earnings.

Where to Find the Best Crypto Airdrops

To discover high-value airdrops, you need to monitor multiple information sources and understand where projects announce opportunities first. The crypto community moves fast, and early participants typically receive better rewards than late adopters.

Start with primary sources: project websites, official X accounts, Discord servers, and Telegram groups. Projects announce airdrops through these channels first, often hours or days before crypto news sites pick up the information. Enable notifications for promising projects you’re tracking.

Also, websites like Galxe and Zealy aggregate ongoing campaigns with detailed task breakdowns. These platforms often partner directly with projects to host official airdrop campaigns, providing legitimacy verification and streamlined participation flows.

Don’t forget to follow respected crypto analysts, project founders, and community leaders who share early airdrop opportunities. Accounts like @DefiIgnas, @Coin_Bureau, and project-specific thought leaders often highlight upcoming distributions before mainstream awareness.

Monitor major DeFi platforms like Uniswap, Aave, and Compound for partnership announcements. New protocols often airdrop tokens to users of established platforms, creating opportunities for those already active in DeFi ecosystems.

Track portfolios of top crypto VCs like Paradigm, a16z, and Coinbase Ventures. Their portfolio companies frequently conduct airdrops as user acquisition strategies, and VC backing adds credibility to token distributions.

Join the testnet Discord servers and GitHub repositories for projects in development. Testnet participants often receive the most generous airdrop allocations, as projects value users who help identify bugs and provide feedback during critical development phases.

Monitor new Layer 2 solutions, blockchain bridges, and cross-chain protocols. These infrastructure projects typically conduct airdrops to bootstrap liquidity and encourage early adoption of their networks.

Crypto-focused subreddits like r/CryptoCurrency and r/ethtrader discuss emerging opportunities. Telegram groups dedicated to airdrop hunting share real-time updates, though, verify information through official channels to avoid scams.

Best Crypto Wallets for Claiming Airdrops

Choosing the right wallet setup is crucial for airdrop success, as different campaigns require various blockchain compatibility, security features, and user experience capabilities. Your crypto wallet choice can determine both eligibility for certain airdrops and the safety of your rewards.

• Best Wallet: Emerging as a solution for modern airdrop hunters, Best Wallet combines multi-chain support with unique tokenomics that directly benefit airdrop participants. The wallet’s main feature is the native BEST token, which eliminates gas fees for holders and provides additional airdrop rewards through its own points program. BestWallet’s trading features and access to new token launches make it valuable for users who want to capitalize on airdrop rewards.
• MetaMask: The gold standard for Ethereum-based airdrops, supporting thousands of ERC-20 tokens and most DeFi protocols. Its browser extension smoothly integrates with the airdrop platforms. MetaMask’s widespread adoption means most projects design their interfaces with MetaMask compatibility in mind. MetaMask’s mobile wallet is required for its upcoming LINEA rewards program and MASK airdrop.
• Phantom Wallet: Essential for Solana ecosystem airdrops, which have grown in 2025. Phantom’s sleek interface and mobile app make it perfect for Solana DeFi protocols like Meteora and gaming platforms. Its built-in swap functionality helps manage received tokens efficiently.
• Margex Wallet: Integrated directly with the Margex exchange, this wallet is suitable for users who want to combine airdrop participation with active trading. It supports popular blockchains, ensures fast access to funds, and benefits from Margex’s security infrastructure. For traders who frequently move between airdrops and margin trading, Margex Wallet provides a seamless setup.
• Zengo: A non-custodial wallet with advanced keyless security, Zengo is ideal for airdrop hunters who value both safety and simplicity. With support for multiple blockchains, it allows users to claim airdrops across ecosystems without worrying about seed phrases. Its 24/7 in-app recovery system and Web3 integration make it a reliable option for managing airdrop rewards and long-term holdings.
• Binance Web3 Wallet: Available from within the Binance app, this wallet means Binance users don’t need to download anything new. The Binance wallet has a dedicated airdrop zone where users can find airdrop opportunities, and complete tasks from within the wallet. Some airdrops are exclusive to Binance.
• Base App: Self-custody option from the major exchange, offering institutional-grade security with a user-friendly design. Projects often trust Base App’s verification systems, and its integration with the Coinbase exchange simplifies token management and selling processes.

For comprehensive wallet comparisons and additional security tips, check our article about the best crypto wallets.

Risks of Claiming New Crypto Airdrops

While airdrops offer exciting earning potential, they come with several risks that can result in financial losses or compromised security. It’s essential that you understand these risks:

Phishing Scams and Fake Websites

Scammers use look-alike domains and pixel-perfect clones of airdrop sites to steal keys or push malicious approvals. In 2024, wallet drainers linked to phishing scams stole approximately $494 million, according to ScamSniffer. In August 2025 alone, victims lost approximately $12 million, including a $1.54 million theft via a batch transaction phishing scam.

How to avoid: Always open links from official channels and bookmark the real URL.

Malicious Smart Contracts

Some airdrops require you to sign approvals that grant unlimited spending to a draining contract. Chainalysis classifies these “drainers” as purpose-built phishing toolkits for Web3; losses from such techniques surged across 2024 and 2025.

How to avoid: Revoke unneeded allowances after any interaction.

Wallet Drainer Attacks

Advanced kits trick users into signing a single “verification” that authorizes asset transfers. A recent wave abused new batch-transaction flows (e.g., EIP-7702) and drained seven-figure sums from a handful of victims in August 2025.

How to avoid: Use transaction simulation and check requested permissions before signing.

Worthless Token Distributions

Fake “airdrop” tokens can be used to funnel users to phishing sites, and many giveaway tokens never list or accrue liquidity. Treat unsolicited airdrops as suspect and verify details on the project’s official channels before interacting.

How to avoid: Ignore random tokens, don’t connect to unknown sites, and check only official channels.

Tax Reporting Complications

In several jurisdictions, airdrops are taxable when received. The IRS states that airdropped crypto can be considered ordinary income at fair market value when you have dominion and control; HMRC similarly treats many airdrops as income, depending on the circumstances. Keep precise records.

How to avoid: Track every airdrop’s date, value, and source using reliable record-keeping tools.

Farming Penalties and Retroactive Disqualifications

Airdrop farming demands significant time and gas with uncertain payoff, especially as sybil filters expand. Linea, for example, excluded ~517k addresses from eligibility; LayerZero’s program reduced allocations for self-reported sybils to 15%.

How to avoid: Prefer published-rule campaigns, one wallet per project, log usage, avoid bots.

Identity and Privacy Exposure

Some campaigns ask for KYC, social links, or emails, which can later be used for phishing. Past breaches such as the Ledger customer data leak and the OpenSea email list exposure led to persistent targeted scams.

How to avoid: Use burner email and dedicated wallets, skip KYC, submit only via verified domains.

Pros and Cons of Crypto Airdrops

Below, we created a comparison table to see the characteristics more clearly:

Are Crypto Airdrops Legal in 2025?

Most jurisdictions permit the receipt or holding of tokens from an airdrop; however, issuers, platforms, and promoters must comply with regulations related to securities/commodities law, licensing, marketing, and taxation. Always confirm the latest local requirements before participating.

United States

Airdrops can fall under U.S. securities law even when no money changes hands. The SEC’s staff framework notes that “airdrops” may constitute a sale or distribution of securities, and the SEC has enforced against “free” token distributions tied to promotional activity (Tomahawk “bounty” tokens).

For tax purposes, the IRS treats digital assets as property and considers an airdrop following a hard fork to be ordinary income when you have dominion and control. Later disposals are capital gains/losses.

United Kingdom

Airdrops themselves aren’t banned, but marketing any qualifying cryptoasset to UK consumers must comply with the FCA’s financial promotions regime (effective 8 October 2023), including risk warnings and appropriateness checks.

HMRC guidance adds that airdrops may be Income Tax on receipt (for example, where received for or in expectation of services) and later CGT on disposal.

Asia

Rules vary widely, from prohibitions to licensed retail access.

• China. Mainland authorities deem crypto trading and related business activities illegal under the PBOC’s 2021 notice, with ongoing enforcement. Airdrops intended to fuel trading would fall into this prohibition.
• India. Airdrops aren’t banned, but cryptocurrency falls under AML oversight. Tax law imposes a 30% tax on VDA gains and a 1% TDS on transfers.
• Singapore & Hong Kong. Retail access is permitted through licensed providers, subject to strict conduct rules. MAS restricts public promotions/incentives of DPT services. The SFC’s VATP regime permits retail trading on licensed platforms, subject to token listing and suitability safeguards.

Other regions

• Africa. There’s no continent-wide rule. South Africa treats crypto assets as “financial products” under the FAIS Act, so the FSCA must license providers. Nigeria now allows banks to service VASPs under the central bank’s Dec 22, 2023, guidelines, alongside SEC rules covering offerings, exchanges, and custody.
• Canada. Airdrops aren’t specifically banned, but promotions and platform incentives must comply with CSA/IIROC marketing guidance for crypto trading platforms. For tax purposes, the CRA treats crypto as property; reporting depends on the specific facts. General guidance covers valuing receipts and dispositions, and many practitioners treat free airdrops as taxable only on disposal (capital gains) for individuals.
• Australia. Airdrops can trigger tax. The ATO’s updated guidance says most marketing-style airdrops are ordinary income on receipt, while certain initial-allocation airdrops aren’t taxed until disposal. Later sales can create capital gains. Promotions and distributions may also engage Australian financial product laws and ASIC’s conduct rules when crypto assets fall within the regime.

Conclusion – Are Crypto Airdrops Worth It in 2025?

Crypto airdrops in 2025 are a double-edged opportunity that can generate returns for strategic participants while posing some risks for the unprepared. Our analysis suggests they’re absolutely worth pursuing, but only with proper education, security precautions, and realistic expectations.

Consider your opportunity cost carefully. If you’re new to crypto, learning fundamental analysis or DeFi strategies might generate better returns than airdrop farming. However, airdrops provide excellent passive earning opportunities for those already active in crypto ecosystems.

We recommend that you focus on the 10 airdrops highlighted in this guide. These projects combine strong fundamentals with significant reward potential and transparent qualification criteria.

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