The devolution of Airdrops: From rewards to early adopters of a project to incentives for watching ads and/or microtasking in TG mini apps

The Devolution of Airdrops

Airdrops were once a staple in the crypto world, offering rewards to early adopters of promising projects. They provided users with a way to engage with new ecosystems while being compensated with tokens for their participation. One of the most iconic examples of a successful airdrop was Uniswap's in 2020, which rewarded early users of the decentralized exchange with 400 UNI tokens. Projects like zkSync and LayerZero soon became the next big thing, with users speculating that their involvement would lead to similar token rewards. However, despite the immense hype around these projects, the anticipated airdrops either fell short or didn’t happen at all.

Since then, the landscape of airdrops has shifted drastically. Many projects have moved away from direct token drops, opting instead for point-based systems that leave users with credits but no tangible rewards. This shift has led to a notable drought in airdrops, making them far less attractive or frequent. Today, the only place where airdrop-style rewards still hold some presence is on platforms like TON, where they’ve devolved into "tap to earn" models, incentivizing users with small tasks rather than true ecosystem participation.

The Evolution of Airdrops in Crypto

After the Uniswap airdrop, the concept took off, with projects using this method to build awareness and reward community members. Anticipation around potential airdrops became widespread, especially for projects like zkSync and LayerZero, where users hoped for similar lucrative rewards. Users would interact with testnets and dApps, hoping their early involvement would be acknowledged with a token airdrop.

However, over time, this hype began to shift. Many projects opted to hold off on launching tokens, moving instead to a points-based system. This left users with "points" for their engagement but no actual token rewards. While this system helped projects build an active user base, it eroded the original incentive model that made airdrops so appealing to early adopters. As a result, airdrops began to dry up, and the once-promising wave of crypto rewards seemed to slow to a trickle.

The Telegram Shift: Tap to Earn and Airdrops 2.0

Recently, the trend of airdrops has shifted again, this time focusing on platforms like Telegram. Mini-apps within the platform, often incentivizing users to "tap to earn" or complete microtasks, have become a new hotspot for airdrop-style rewards. Users now earn points or tokens by watching ads, completing small tasks, or interacting with bots—a far cry from the earlier days of airdrops that rewarded users for participating in significant blockchain projects. This new meta has taken over the airdrop space, but it feels more like gamified microtasking than the original vision of rewarding early adopters for meaningful contributions.

One of the most surprising airdrop opportunities tied to this shift is on the Telegram ecosystem itself, fueled by the rising success of Toncoin ($TON). Recent memecoins like $NOT and $DOGS have garnered massive attention, with market caps ranging between $400M to $750M. These tokens, spun up within weeks through airdrop virality on Telegram, are riding the momentum of Ton, showcasing how even seemingly absurd opportunities can still generate significant returns.

Historically, as seen with retroactive airdrops kickstarted by Arbitrum, users could earn substantial rewards just by following a few simple steps—engaging in projects like Wormhole, zkSync, and LayerZero. However, today, the edge in these airdrops tends to get arbitraged away much faster, as institutions have begun capitalizing on these opportunities. Even so, there is still some potential left in Telegram-based airdrops, and the hype suggests they haven't fully reached their blow-off top yet.

New opportunities for Telegram-based, free-to-earn airdrops continue to pop up daily. Binance, for instance, has created and incubated a Telegram mini-app that might be the next big thing. Through simple tasks—like checking in daily and playing a tap-to-earn game—users can potentially earn coins, which may later be airdropped to their Binance accounts once the app officially launches. Though the rewards could turn out to be insignificant, the investment is only a few minutes of time each day, which still makes it a low-risk opportunity in an otherwise dull airdrop landscape.

Conclusion

Airdrops have evolved from being a method to reward early users of crypto projects to a more diluted model that involves point systems and microtasking. The initial excitement that came with events like the Uniswap airdrop has shifted into a more fragmented and less rewarding space, especially with the rise of Telegram-based "tap to earn" incentives. While the crypto landscape continues to evolve, the essence of airdrops has shifted significantly, leaving many to wonder if the golden era of crypto rewards is behind us.