Airdrop: How to Convert Clicks into Real Money

Do you remember when Arbitrum launched its token and suddenly everyone was looking for “airdrop”? Google Trends recorded that the search doubled in a week, and zkSync saw its testnet addresses quintuple. Sounds good, right? The problem is that most saw it but did nothing. When they finally found out about the rewards, they arrived late.

This is the reality: without a system, airdrops leave an empty wallet or tokens without value. But if you do it right, people make real money. Here is the guide.

The 5 types of airdrops that exist

Retrodrops (the juiciest): The project is already operational, but it does not announce the token. You use the platform without knowing that you are being evaluated. Examples: Arbitrum, Uniswap, 1inch. The conditions are revealed later, so technically anyone who has interacted qualifies.

Hold drops: You have specific NFTs or tokens → you receive automatic airdrop. ApeCoin ($APE) was the classic: owners of BAYC/MAYC/BAKC received $APE for free according to the number of NFTs they owned.

Free drops: You fill out a form, subscribe to social networks, connect your wallet… theory: you receive tokens. Reality: almost none exist today (high phishing risk).

Reward drops: Complete missions on platforms like Galxe or Crew3. “Open 10 swaps on our DEX” → you earn tokens. It's the most predictable because you know exactly what to do.

Lockdrops: You lock your ETH on a new network for X days → you receive tokens from the new project. It's like a security deposit that demonstrates trust.

How much do hunters really earn?

The numbers may sound crazy:

• Aptos: Users who minted NFTs on the testnet received 150 $APT. At peak ($19) = ~$2,850. Many sold at TGE for $1,200.
• Uniswap: Minimum 400 $UNI per wallet. At $3 in TGE = $1,200. At peak ( $40) = $16,000.
• 1inch: ~600 tokens on average. Earnings range: $600-$4,200 depending on when you sold.

The limit? According to Messari, users who participated in 10 major airdrops (Uniswap, TornadoCash, GitCoin, dYdX…) earned over $100,000 in a week.

Level 1 professionals (big holders) have accumulated $50k-$250k from multiple projects. But here’s the trick: they used 5-20 accounts. Arbitrum paid 600-800 tokens per account if you did a fund bridge. Multiply by 10 accounts = $6,000-$8,000 without being a whale.

How to participate (without failing)

Step 1: Use the testnet Before a project launches mainnet, test on testnet. Zero risk, reputation +1, better position for the airdrop.

Step 2: Interact with the product Not just a transaction: multiple swaps, liquidity pools, various things. On-chain data reveals who was active vs. who is just hunting.

Step 3: Complete missions Find them on Galxe, Crew3, Layer3. They are gamified tasks: translating, posting, inviting people. Easy and risk-free.

Step 4: Be an ambassador Help with content, community, translations. Some projects give more tokens to ambassadors than to passive hunters.

Where to find new drops:

• CoinMarketCap (Airdrops section)
• AlphaDrops ( fast aggregator, but less details )
• Alpha Telegram channels (the best tips come here)

Key Tool: An Excel sheet to track where you participated, what you did, and when the mission closes. It's impossible to remember everything manually.

The Traps That Await You

Phishing: Fake websites to claim tokens. The solution: verify directly on the project's Discord, never click on private links.

Rugpulls: Fake projects that raise funds and disappear. Red flag: if everything seems too easy, it probably is.

Hacks in contracts: Early-stage startups without serious audits. Use separate wallets for drops, never deposit your main fund.

Basic protection:

• Separate “hot” wallet only for drops (not your main wallet)
• Verify contracts on Etherscan before interacting
• USA Revoke.cash to revoke suspicious permissions
• Rugpull detectors + Bubblemaps to track connections
• DYOR (Do Your Own Research): if you don't understand the project, don't participate

The Secret of the Pros

It's not luck. It's systematization:

1. Track EVERYTHING (Excel, Notion, whatever)
2. Focus on real projects ( not on random hype )
3. Use multiple accounts ( if you do it without looking like a bot )
4. Automate where you can (if you know coding, better)
5. Accept that you will lose something (operational risk ~$50-100 per account)

If you really want to turn it into a primary source of income, you need to take it to an industrial level. But honestly? If you have those skills, it’s probably better to contribute directly to projects or start your own. The rewards for that are greater than hunting airdrops.

TL;DR

• Retrodrops = more money, less prior notice
• Learn by interacting on testnet
• Track everything or you will miss out
• Use multiple wallets, multiple accounts
• Verify everything, trust no one
• The numbers are real, but it requires discipline.

What are you waiting for? There's free money there if you do it right.