What is an Airdrop?

Youmay be thinking of the famous Apple application? The resemblance is striking. But in the world of cryptocurrency, it is not the same thing at all. So you are probably wondering what an Airdrop is. The events we are going to talk about are regular and very numerous. Come discover or rediscover Airdrops, these free and one-off token distributions.

Airdrop, a simple idea and it’s free

An Airdrop is simply a free distribution of tokens. The event often takes place over a short period of time. The creators of a cryptocurrency, whatever it may be, are usually behind an Airdrop. But “free” is not quite the right word. This sudden windfall of course requires compensation, which we will discuss later in this article.

Be very careful before launching into an Airdrop

Before going any further into the world of Airdrops, let’s remind ourselves of the rules of caution that must be ABSOLUTELY respected. Because you can imagine that as soon as there is money at stake, profiteers appear. to abuse others and get money from them:

So if you want to get started:

• Create an email address that you use only for airdrops
• Be very careful when downloading a wallet or an application, because they can be infected
• Do not use any of your usual passwords
• NEVER transfer money.
• NEVER share your private key to a platform, such as Ethereum.
• Never download any files.
• Never send cryptocurrency in order to receive more.

Are you asked to perform one of the last 4 actions listed above? Run, it’s probably a scam!

What’s the point of an Airdrop if everything is free?

Now that you’ve taken all the necessary precautions to ensure your safety and protect your money, you’re probably wondering what the point of an Airdrop is, especially when it’s free.

An Airdrop, in the context of cryptocurrency and digital tokens, is a distribution of free tokens to a large number of people. This may seem strange at first, since nothing is usually given away for free. However, Airdrops serve several purposes and can be beneficial to both users and cryptocurrency projects.

First, Airdrops are often used as a marketing method for new cryptocurrency projects. By distributing tokens for free to a large audience, projects hope to draw attention to their company and generate interest in their token. It’s a way to spread awareness of the project and encourage users to take an interest in it. By offering tokens for free, projects can also build a community around them, which is essential for long-term success.
Second, airdrops are used to reward holders of certain cryptocurrencies. For example, if you hold a certain amount of tokens of a specific cryptocurrency, you can receive another token for free or a reward in the form of additional tokens. This incentivizes users to hold their tokens and support projects in the long term.

Third, airdrops can also be used to distribute tokens during new project launches. The teams behind these projects may decide to distribute a portion of their tokens for free to early adopters or members of their community in order to generate initial excitement and encourage rapid adoption of their product.

An airdrop is like an ad for a crypto

When a new product enters the vast consumer market, it needs to gain exposure and find its place, to be purchased of course. For example – and because we are happy to see it again – in 2001 the chocolate mousse “ChocoSui’s” arrived in supermarkets. To launch its new product, Nestlé then released its television advertising campaign with Maurice and his goldfish.

As you will have understood, an Airdrop is like an advertisement. While some creators of a cryptocurrency favor ICOs (Initial Coin Offering), others prefer Airdrops, or even a combination of the two. to make their cryptocurrency known and grow.

But the Airdrop goes further

It is not simply a question of being thrown into the virtual deep end because any cryptocurrency needs, above all, its community to exist and grow. The example of Dogecoin is the most representative: without its community, this cryptocurrency, initially designed as a joke, would probably not have survived. Beyond an advertisement, the Airdrop can be considered as a kind of springboard that will encourage users to use the network and/or reward people who have supported the project from the beginning. For designers, the low starting value of their virtual currency allows them to distribute part of it almost for free.

What does an Airdrop bring to the user?

Ultimately, it’s a win/win operation. Everything will gradually depend on the development team and the growth potential of the token. On your side, you will have taken a little of your time, but you will not have spent anything and you can win.

And what are the rewards of an Airdrop?

To access these Airdrops and take advantage of them, as we told you at the beginning of this article, you will necessarily be required to fill out a few forms, click around and be active on social networks. But you will have to register on a site that will store your tokens, like MyEtherWallet, for example.

You will also be invited to:

• Perform various actions like following a Telegram group or a Twitter account
• Watch a video
• Download an app (be sure to check that it does not contain viruses)
• Fill out a form…

All these actions vary depending on the Airdrops but are always specified.

Where can I find an Airdrop in progress?

Social networks are overflowing with current or upcoming Airdrops, with Telegram remaining the most active on the subject. The site CoinMarketCap also lists a good number of token distribution events.

Animal lovers: Simba and FunnyBirds Airdrops

If in addition to your desire to play with cryptocurrencies, you are a fan of animals, know that they are very successful with the great emergence of NFTs. You are undoubtedly familiar with Dogecoin, the cryptocurrency with its dog face that billionaire Elon Musk continues to promote. This currency is among the top 5 virtual currencies, but it especially has the gift of triggering a fashion phenomenon among our animal friends. What could be better than small virtual animals to attract fans and build a supportive community in advance?

Simba Finance and its Airdrop, the case to follow

It is with this in mind that 2 Airdrops have emerged, particularly on Twitter. Simba Finance burst onto the social network on May 5 and launched its Airdrop on May 25. It’s hard to know if the lion cub from the famous Disney animated film “The Lion King”, with his good face and purple eyes, will have the wind in his sails, but the SIM deserves a little attention.

Will FunnyBirdNFT fly on its own wings?

In the same vein, but completely focused on NFTs, the FunnyBirds appeared, also on Twitter and Telegram last April. The Airdrop started yesterday, May 31. The number of subscribers to the account skyrocketed in a few hours. Damp firecracker or expected flight?

Conclusion

Airdrops are not new. But they have suffered from scams that have brought in big money for a few smart guys and that have damaged their reputation. They remain numerous today but more spaced out. Could Smartdrops, which would allow better targeting of users and distribution of more tokens to fewer people, be a more reliable alternative? Nevertheless, if you remain cautious and follow the right advice, Airdrops remain a good way to fill your wallet with a little effort and above all while having fun.