Crypto airdrops have become a hallmark of the cryptocurrency world, allowing new projects to reward early supporters and build community enthusiasm. From major projects like Uniswap to more niche tokens, airdrops have brought in substantial gains for many participants and are a valuable entry point into the crypto ecosystem. Here’s a look back at some of the most memorable and profitable crypto airdrops since 2017.

### **1. Uniswap (UNI) – 2020: The Defining Airdrop**

- **Overview**: Uniswap is one of the most popular decentralized exchanges, and its 2020 airdrop made waves in the crypto community. Anyone who had interacted with the Uniswap platform before September 1, 2020, received 400 UNI tokens, which amounted to around $1,200 at launch.

- **Value Increase**: The value of UNI surged quickly as the DEX grew in popularity, with the 400 tokens worth over $10,000 at their peak.

- **Significance**: This airdrop became the gold standard in crypto airdrops, sparking a wave of similar community rewards and promoting DeFi (decentralized finance) adoption.

### **2. Stellar Lumens (XLM) – 2017-2019: Expanding Reach Through Partnerships**

- **Overview**: Stellar conducted several large-scale airdrops, distributing billions of XLM tokens through partnerships with platforms like Blockchain.com and Keybase.

- **Distribution**: Early adopters who signed up with partner platforms received tokens, and the total value ranged from hundreds to thousands of dollars per person, depending on market conditions and individual allocations.

- **Impact**: Stellar’s airdrop strategy was an innovative way to encourage adoption of their blockchain and build a larger user base. It set the stage for future projects to use airdrops as a growth strategy.

### **3. Bitcoin Cash (BCH) – 2017: Airdrop by Hard Fork**

- **Overview**: Bitcoin Cash was born in 2017 as a hard fork of Bitcoin, aiming to address scalability issues by increasing block size. Bitcoin holders received an equivalent amount of BCH at the time of the fork.

- **Value at Distribution**: Each BCH was initially worth around $250, with values fluctuating dramatically in the following years, sometimes reaching as high as $4,000.

- **Legacy**: This airdrop set a precedent for fork-based airdrops and gave Bitcoin holders access to new crypto without any extra investment, marking a milestone in the crypto world.

### **4. 1inch (1INCH) – 2020: Rewarding Decentralized Exchange Users**

- **Overview**: 1inch, a DEX aggregator, distributed its governance token, 1INCH, in an airdrop to early users who met certain trading requirements. Eligible users who had previously interacted with the platform received thousands of dollars worth of tokens.

- **Airdrop Value**: Early airdrop recipients received between 600-2,500 1INCH tokens, depending on activity, which had significant value upon release.

- **Takeaway**: This airdrop highlighted the importance of participating in DeFi protocols early on, as platforms reward their community members for engagement and loyalty.

### **5. Ethereum Name Service (ENS) – 2021: The Domain Name Game**

- **Overview**: ENS, a decentralized domain name service for Ethereum addresses, rewarded its users with the ENS governance token. Anyone who had registered an ENS domain before October 31, 2021, was eligible for this airdrop.

- **Payout**: The airdrop amount depended on factors like how long a user held their ENS domain and the total number of domains they registered. Many recipients earned between $1,000 and $20,000 worth of ENS tokens.

- **Long-Term Impact**: The ENS airdrop reinforced the appeal of crypto domain ownership and drove more interest in blockchain-based internet solutions.

### **6. Polkadot (DOT) – 2020: Early Adopter Advantage**

- **Overview**: Though not a classic airdrop, Polkadot awarded DOT tokens to early backers of its ICO. This early access provided high returns for those who believed in the project early on.

- **Investment Value**: The early distribution price of DOT tokens was significantly lower than their peak market value, with returns exceeding 100x at their highest.

- **Why It Matters**: The Polkadot distribution underscored the importance of supporting projects early for potential gains, especially for those willing to engage in the project’s development and governance.

### **7. ApeCoin (APE) – 2022: Bored Ape Yacht Club Bonus**

- **Overview**: ApeCoin was a token developed for the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) ecosystem. In 2022, existing BAYC and Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC) NFT holders received APE tokens based on the number of NFTs they held.

- **Airdrop Value**: Some holders received over $100,000 in APE tokens, creating a massive windfall for NFT holders and adding value to the Bored Ape ecosystem.

- **Cultural Impact**: This airdrop introduced a new model where NFT communities distribute tokens to strengthen brand loyalty and provide additional utility to their holders.

### **8. Optimism (OP) – 2022: Layer 2 Incentives**

- **Overview**: Optimism, a popular Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum, launched its governance token OP in an airdrop to users who interacted with the network early.

- **Eligibility**: Users who bridged assets to Optimism or used its applications qualified for the airdrop.

- **Influence**: This airdrop encouraged adoption of Layer 2 solutions, which are essential for Ethereum scalability, and rewarded users supporting the network’s growth.

### **9. Blur (BLUR) – 2023: Building Loyalty in the NFT Marketplace**

- **Overview**: Blur, an NFT marketplace, rewarded users with BLUR tokens based on their trading activity, particularly those who were loyal to the platform.

- **Value**: Many users received substantial rewards, with some experienced traders earning tens of thousands of dollars in BLUR tokens.

- **Significance**: Blur’s airdrop redefined loyalty rewards in the NFT space, offering a way to build user engagement and incentivize regular trading on its platform.

### **10. Arbitrum (ARB) – 2023: Another Layer 2 Incentive**

- **Overview**: Like Optimism, Arbitrum distributed its ARB token to early adopters, particularly those who interacted with its Layer 2 network.

- **Rewards and Value**: ARB’s airdrop value reached thousands of dollars for many recipients, driving additional interest in Layer 2 scaling solutions.

- **Impact on Ecosystem**: The ARB airdrop helped solidify Arbitrum’s position as a key player in Ethereum scaling, rewarding users who supported its infrastructure.

### **Key Takeaways from the Best Crypto Airdrops**

- **Early Adoption Pays**: Many of the most valuable airdrops went to early adopters who engaged with these networks before they became mainstream. Whether it was interacting on DEXs, buying NFTs, or supporting Layer 2 solutions, being early often meant huge returns.

- **Community Building**: Airdrops have proven to be an effective way for projects to build strong communities and reward loyal users. Projects like Uniswap and 1inch reinforced the idea that active engagement with a platform can lead to tangible rewards.

- **NFT Airdrops and Tokenized Loyalty**: Projects like ApeCoin and Blur demonstrate how NFTs and loyalty tokens can merge to strengthen communities, bringing together tokenized rewards and digital collectibles.

### **Final Thoughts**

Crypto airdrops have given thousands of participants substantial gains and even created life-changing wealth for early adopters. As we look to the future, new projects will likely continue to use airdrops to grow communities and reward early engagement. For those in the crypto space, staying active and exploring new projects could be the key to participating in the next big airdrop.

With a bit of research, participation in airdrop-eligible projects could be a profitable strategy for those willing to engage in the dynamic, evolving world of cryptocurrency.