Hello everyone, today I want to talk about what airdrops are. To be honest, many people are both curious and skeptical about airdrops, thinking that "there's no free lunch" and that it's just traps. But I want to tell you, there's actually an interesting business logic behind it. Let me explain it in simple terms so that both beginners and veterans can understand.

Let me give you a straightforward example. Imagine a new large supermarket opens downstairs from your house. To attract customers, the store owner decides that anyone who shops and spends at least 10 yuan during the first week after opening can register their phone number. A year later, when the supermarket goes public, the owner, with a big vision, gives out shopping cards to those who shopped on opening day—each person gets 1,000 yuan worth of shopping credit. You might think the owner is a bit crazy, but that’s the core logic of an airdrop. Another example is the subsidy wars between Didi and Meituan—you take a ride and get coupons, or even get paid to use their service. This is also a broad form of airdrop—offering benefits to change your usage habits and market share.

In the Web3 world, what is an airdrop? It’s when a new blockchain project, such as a decentralized exchange or a new public chain, is developed. Before they officially launch their tokens, they need real users to test the system, contribute trading volume, and increase popularity. So, the project team announces that if you start using their product now, when they issue tokens later, those tokens will be airdropped to you. Once listed on exchanges, these tokens will have real market value.

Some might say, "The project team isn’t stupid; why give away money to strangers for free?" Remember, in the business world, all gifts are secretly priced. This price isn’t about you paying money; it’s about you delivering something more valuable in return. First, it solves the cold start problem. The hardest part of an internet product is getting the first 100k users. Without users, even the best project has no capital to fund an IPO. Airdrops can instantly attract hundreds of thousands of real users worldwide—something no amount of advertising can buy.

Second, if you’re running a project that claims to be decentralized, but all the tokens are held by the owner, who’s really participating? Airdrops distribute tokens to thousands of users, dispersing the tokens. The more dispersed the tokens, the safer the project, and the more it aligns with the decentralized ethos. For example, if you spend $1 million on roadside advertising, people see it and forget. But if you distribute $1 million worth of tokens to 1,000 users, those users instantly become your ambassadors—they’ll promote and spread the word on social media.

There are several specific ways to do airdrops. First is the "holding-based" airdrop, similar to a hen laying eggs—you hold Bitcoin, and a new project says anyone holding Bitcoin can claim their new tokens. This is called "Sunshine Policy." Then there’s interactive airdrops, often called "farming"—you try out the project’s features, transfer tokens, and the project records your on-chain activity. Based on your activity level, they reward you later. There are also task-based airdrops—simple tasks like following on Twitter, liking, or sharing—helping the project gather data, increase traffic, and boost visibility. Node developers’ airdrops target technical experts, rewarding those who provide technical support, but the barrier to entry for ordinary users is higher.

Honestly, while the airdrop scene has its golden opportunities, it’s also full of traps. Learning more and observing carefully can help everyone avoid many detours. After the New Year, I will focus more on airdrops, and together we can aim for big gains in 2026. Recently, you can follow official airdrop activities—I will keep updating. Persist in doing difficult but right things; the more you do, the more you gain—that’s my original intention.