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What is the Meaning of Crypto Airdrop? What are the Famous Crypto Airdrops in History?

By Craig Green
Mar 22, 2025
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This article is about what is the meaning of crypto airdrop. Crypto airdrops are a way of distributing free tokens or coins to the users of a blockchain network. They are usually done to promote a new project, reward loyal supporters, or increase the adoption of an existing cryptocurrency.

What is the Meaning of Crypto Airdrop?

A crypto airdrop is a process of distributing free tokens or coins to the existing or potential holders of a certain cryptocurrency. Usually, the airdrop is done by the developers or promoters of a new project, who want to increase the awareness and adoption of their token. The airdrop can also be done by an existing project, who want to reward their loyal supporters or attract new ones.

There are different types of crypto airdrops, depending on the criteria and methods of distribution. Some of the common types are:

- Snapshot airdrop: This is when the airdrop is based on a snapshot of the blockchain at a certain point in time. For example, if a project decides to airdrop its tokens to all the holders of Bitcoin on January 1st, 2020. it will take a snapshot of the Bitcoin blockchain on that date and distribute its tokens accordingly.

- Claim airdrop: This is when the users have to claim their tokens by performing some actions, such as signing up for a newsletter, following a social media account, or completing a survey. For example, if a project wants to airdrop its tokens to anyone who is interested, it will ask them to fill out a form with their email address and wallet address.

- Holder airdrop: This is when the users have to hold a certain amount of tokens or coins in their wallets to be eligible for the airdrop. For example, if a project wants to airdrop its tokens to the holders of Ethereum, it will check their balances and distribute its tokens proportionally.

- Referral airdrop: This is when the users have to refer other people to join the airdrop campaign and earn more tokens. For example, if a project wants to increase its user base, it will give extra tokens to those who invite their friends and family to participate in the airdrop.

What are the Famous Crypto Airdrops in History?

Here are some of the most famous crypto airdrops in history and how they impacted the crypto space.

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) : Bitcoin Cash (BCH) is a well-known fork of Bitcoin that occurred on August 1. 2017. It resulted from a disagreement over the scalability of Bitcoin, leading to a split in the blockchain into Bitcoin (BTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH). BCH increased the block size limit to 8 MB. Owners of BTC received an equal amount of BCH during the fork. At its peak, BCH reached a market capitalization of over $60 billion.

Stellar Lumens (XLM) : Stellar Lumens (XLM) is a cryptocurrency launched in 2014. It aims to facilitate cross-border payments and partnered with IBM to process transactions globally. In 2017. Stellar distributed 16 billion XLM (worth about $125 million) to Bitcoin holders through a claim process, promoting its adoption and awareness.

Uniswap (UNI) : Uniswap (UNI)is a decentralized exchange (DEX) launched in 2018. It enables users to trade ERC-20 tokens directly without intermediaries or fees. Uniswap introduced its governance token, UNI, in September 2020. To reward early users and liquidity providers, Uniswap airdropped 400 UNI to addresses that interacted with the platform before September 1. 2020. The UNI airdrop was widely praised for its fairness and generosity.

Bottom Line

In this article, we will discuss what is the meaning of crypto airdrop. Therefore, before joining any crypto airdrop, it is advisable to do your own research and make informed decisions.

Disclaimer: The information on this page may have been obtained from third parties and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of BitKan. This content is provided for general informational purposes only, without any representation or warranty of any kind, nor shall it be construed as financial or investment advice. BitKan shall not be liable for any errors or omissions, or for any outcomes resulting from the use of this information. Investments in digital assets can be risky. Please carefully evaluate the risks of a product and your risk tolerance based on your own financial circumstances. Products mentioned in this article may not be available in your region.

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