2026-01-16 00:27:41

Airdrops themselves aren't the problem—it's when projects build their entire strategy around free token giveaways.

The model that actually gains traction in 2026 looks different:

1. Create a product people actively pay for
2. Establish genuine revenue streams
3. Acquire users who stick around because your solution actually addresses real pain points
4. Then, reward the early believers

This flips the script. You're not chasing users with handouts; you're rewarding users who've already proven they value what you've built. The token becomes recognition for loyalty, not the entire pitch.

Projects betting everything on airdrop hype? They'll struggle. Projects building real products first? That's where the sustainable growth happens.

TOKEN-9,45%

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.

19 Likes

Reward
19
7
Repost
Share

Comment

0/400

AirdropSweaterFan

· 01-18 19:48

Honestly, this is the truth. Airdrops themselves are fine; I'm just worried about projects that only issue tokens but don't develop products—pure scam logic.

View OriginalReply0

ZenChainWalker

· 01-16 03:48

That's right. I'm already tired of those airdrop projects. The ones that can truly survive still have to rely on the quality of the product itself.

View OriginalReply0

JustAnotherWallet

· 01-16 00:57

That's right. Projects that rely on airdrops to attract users need to wake up. The ones that truly last are those that focus on developing a good product first, where users are willing to pay out of their own pockets.

View OriginalReply0

CryptoNomics

· 01-16 00:55

honestly this just describes basic product-market fit with extra steps. the correlation between airdrop dependency and project failure is statistically significant (r² ≈ 0.78 across my dataset), but people still miss it. shocking.

Reply0

GasWaster69

· 01-16 00:49

Nah, this is the real truth. The tactic of using airdrops as bait should have died long ago. Only those who focus on building a solid product can truly survive.

View OriginalReply0

GateUser-e19e9c10

· 01-16 00:49

That's right, projects that rely on airdrops to suck blood should indeed cool down. The ones that last longer are those that first have a product before issuing tokens. I just can't stand those schemes that use tokens as bait to lure people in.

View OriginalReply0

MemecoinTrader

· 01-16 00:41

nah this is just describing the obvious pyramid shift—airdrop bait has become the new exit liquidity for devs lol. the real play is watching which projects actually have paying users vs which ones are just farming social metrics for the next round of VC washing. sentiment analysis on this narrative alone tells you exactly which bags are about to get heavy.

Reply0