In 2025, the landscape for cryptocurrency airdrops has become increasingly diverse, with numerous projects spanning across various categories, including Layer 1 solutions, Layer 2 scaling, tap-to-earn mechanisms, decentralized infrastructure (DePIN) applications, gaming ventures, and emerging testnets. Among the most noteworthy projects generating buzz are Monad, Linea, Sidekick, Midas, Grass, Dawn, B3, zkCandy, Sahara, and Hemi.
As of now, data from the blockchain ecosystem reveals that Sidekick, Grass, B3, and the Sahara testnet boast the most substantial user bases. Notably, Midas, Cytonic, and Vlayer are still in the nascent stages of development but show promise for the future.
Financially, Layer-1 projects such as Monad and Layer-2 initiatives like Linea have led funding rounds amassing approximately $244 million. The gaming sector and projects related to real-world assets (RWA) may have raised smaller amounts, yet their strong community engagement indicates a higher airdrop potential in the coming months.
Monad stands out as a high-performance Layer 1 blockchain that is EVM-compatible, boasting an impressive transaction capacity of 10,000 transactions per second (TPS) and ultra-low gas fees. With backing from significant investors like Paradigm and DragonFly Capital, Monad has already attracted tens of thousands of testnet users. The mainnet is set to launch on September 30, 2025, and there are expectations of a potential airdrop for current testnet users.
Linea, a Layer 2 zkEVM solution developed by Consensys, focuses on enhancing Ethereum’s scalability. The project is supported by key players within the Ethereum ecosystem, including the Ethereum Foundation. Although an airdrop has yet to be confirmed, early users and developers can anticipate potential rewards due to the project’s commitment to fair distribution.
In the realm of shared security, Symbiotic offers an intriguing opportunity by allowing users to stake Ethereum or liquid staking tokens (LSTs) for enhanced capital efficiency across networks. With a notable funding round of approximately $5.8 million, Symbiotic is already achieving substantial total value locked (TVL) shortly after its launch.
Sidekick, an innovative tap-to-earn platform, allows users to engage with livestreams while earning rewards through tips and trades. The project has garnered backing from Binance Labs and others, handling over one million on-chain transactions. A public beta is currently active, running a points-based system that will convert engagement into the platform’s native token, $SK.
For those interested in real-world assets, Midas aims to tokenize these assets and increase accessibility for institutional investors. Having raised between $8.5 and $8.75 million, the project’s community engagement is steadily growing as watchers await announcements regarding potential incentives.
Grass, operating on Solana, focuses on tokenizing bandwidth while facilitating AI data processing. Its recent airdrop attracted more than 1.8 million users, marking it as one of the largest on the Solana network to date. With considerable processing capabilities, Grass has established a noteworthy market presence.
Dawn, another DePIN solution, enables users to share their internet connections in a decentralized manner, turning regular homes into mini ISPs. With millions in funding and a growing user base, the project offers a straightforward earning model via a chrome extension, furthering the DePIN narrative.
In the gaming sphere, B3 serves as a Layer-3 hub for decentralized gaming, enabling users to earn rewards through gameplay and other engagement methods. Likewise, zkCandy, in partnership with the gaming studio iCandy, emphasizes artificial intelligence in gaming, having amassed a significant number of users during its test campaign.
Finally, Sahara AI aims to build a decentralized AI training framework, having secured $43 million in funding. The project incentivizes contributors through its airdrop model, promoting a cycle of engagement and compensation for user contributions.
Hemi, focused on adding programmability to Bitcoin, has attracted $15 million in growth funding and is building an ecosystem that merges the security of Bitcoin with the flexibility of Ethereum smart contracts. Plans for airdrop distribution are already under consideration, further solidifying its potential impact in the Bitcoin-DeFi landscape.
As the narratives surrounding these projects evolve, 2025 promises to be an exciting year for airdrop enthusiasts. With the mix of established community support and innovative technology, these emerging ecosystems may offer significant opportunities for both engagement and investment.
