Top 15 Most Anticipated Crypto Airdrops in 2026
The crypto airdrop landscape is evolving rapidly. After the wave of retroactive drops from 2023–2025, the market has matured. In 2026, the most lucrative airdrops will likely come from infrastructure projects, modular blockchains, and decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) that have raised significant venture capital but have yet to launch a native token. This article ranks 15 upcoming token launches based on project maturity, community size, VC backing, and realistic distribution timelines.
Whether you are a seasoned “airdrop hunter” or a casual user, this list will help you prioritize your on-chain activity. Below, you will find a quick-reference table, detailed analysis for each entry, and a strategy section to maximize your eligibility.
Quick-Reference Table: Top 15 Airdrops for 2026
| Rank |
Project Name |
Chain |
Estimated Value (Per Wallet) |
Key Action to Qualify |
| 1 |
Scroll |
Ethereum L2 |
$2,000–$5,000 |
Bridge ETH, use DEXs, provide liquidity |
| 2 |
zkSync Era |
Ethereum L2 |
$1,500–$4,000 |
Regular transactions, NFT minting, DeFi usage |
| 3 |
Linea |
Ethereum L2 |
$1,000–$3,000 |
Volume trading, cross-chain activity, Voyage quests |
| 4 |
Monad |
Layer 1 (EVM) |
$2,500–$6,000 |
Testnet participation, node running, dApp testing |
| 5 |
Berachain |
L1 (Polkadot) |
$1,500–$4,500 |
Staking, liquidity provision, governance voting |
| 6 |
Fuel |
Modular L2 |
$1,000–$3,500 |
Testnet transactions, bridging to Fuel, deploying contracts |
| 7 |
EigenLayer |
Ethereum Restaking |
$500–$2,000 |
Restaking ETH/LSTs, operating an operator |
| 8 |
LayerZero |
Cross-chain |
$1,000–$3,000 |
Bridging assets, using Stargate, deploying OFT |
| 9 |
Sui |
L1 (Move) |
$500–$1,500 |
Staking, NFT trading, DeFi lending |
| 10 |
Celestia |
Modular DA |
$1,000–$2,500 |
Running a light node, submitting data blobs |
| 11 |
Manta Network |
L2 (zk) |
$500–$2,000 |
Private transactions, tomo testnet, LPing |
| 12 |
Sei |
L1 (Cosmos) |
$800–$2,500 |
Staking, trading on Sei DEXs, governance |
| 13 |
Polygon zkEVM |
Ethereum L2 |
$500–$1,500 |
Regular transactions, bridging, using Aave/Uniswap |
| 14 |
StarkNet |
L2 (Cairo) |
$300–$1,000 |
Smart contract wallet usage, Argent X, trading |
| 15 |
Aleo |
L1 (Privacy) |
$400–$1,200 |
Running a prover node, testnet mining, dApp deployment |
Note: Value estimates are speculative and based on comparable past airdrops, current TVL, and token supply projections. Actual values may vary significantly.
15. Aleo
Chain: Layer 1 (Privacy-focused, zk-SNARKs)
Why it might airdrop: Aleo has completed multiple testnets (Testnet 3, Testnet 4) and raised over $200M from a16z, Tiger Global, and SoftBank. The mainnet launched in late 2024, but the team has not yet released a native token for public distribution. A retroactive airdrop to testnet participants, node operators, and early developers is highly likely.
Estimated value: $400–$1,200 per wallet.
How to qualify: Run a prover node on the current testnet, mine Aleo credits (testnet tokens), or deploy a privacy-focused dApp. Active participation in the Aleo Discord and contributing to the codebase also increases chances.
14. StarkNet
Chain: Ethereum L2 (ZK-Rollup, Cairo language)
Why it might airdrop: StarkNet has already distributed a small airdrop to early users in 2024, but the second wave (often called “StarkNet Phase 2”) is expected in 2025–2026. The ecosystem is growing rapidly, and the StarkWare team has hinted at rewarding long-term stakers and developers.
Estimated value: $300–$1,000 per wallet.
How to qualify: Use Argent X or Braavos wallets, trade on JediSwap or mySwap, lend/borrow on zkLend, and bridge assets from Ethereum. The key is consistency—multiple transactions over several months.
13. Polygon zkEVM
Chain: Ethereum L2 (Zero-Knowledge EVM)
Why it might airdrop: Polygon has a strong history of airdrops (MATIC, POL). The zkEVM mainnet beta launched in 2023, and the team has allocated a portion of the ecosystem fund for community rewards. A retroactive drop is expected once the network achieves full decentralization.
Estimated value: $500–$1,500 per wallet.
How to qualify: Bridge ETH or stablecoins to Polygon zkEVM, use QuickSwap, Aave, or Uniswap on the network, and provide liquidity. Also, participate in Polygon’s “zkEVM Quest” campaigns.
12. Sei
Chain: Layer 1 (Cosmos SDK, optimized for trading)
Why it might airdrop: Sei has a native token (SEI) for gas and staking, but the team has reserved a large portion for community incentives. Airdrops for Sei-based dApps (like Astroport, Levana) are also expected. The Sei Foundation often rewards early stakers and governance participants.
Estimated value: $800–$2,500 per wallet.
How to qualify: Stake SEI tokens on validators, vote on governance proposals, trade on Sei DEXs (e.g., Sushiswap on Sei), and use Sei’s native lending protocols.
11. Manta Network
Chain: Ethereum L2 (ZK-Rollup, privacy-focused)
Why it might airdrop: Manta has completed a successful testnet (tomo) and raised $25M from Polychain and Binance Labs. The team has hinted at a retroactive airdrop for early testers and liquidity providers. The mainnet launched in late 2023, but token distribution is ongoing.
Estimated value: $500–$2,000 per wallet.
How to qualify: Use Manta’s private transaction features, bridge ETH to Manta, provide liquidity on MantaSwap, and run a node on the tomo testnet. Active participation in the Manta Discord also helps.
10. Celestia
Chain: Modular Data Availability (DA) Layer
Why it might airdrop: Celestia (TIA) already had a massive airdrop in 2023, but the ecosystem is expanding. Future airdrops are expected for node operators, developers building on Celestia, and users of rollups like Eclipse or Dymension that settle on Celestia.
Estimated value: $1,000–$2,500 per wallet.
How to qualify: Run a Celestia light node or full node, submit data blobs to the network, or deploy a sovereign rollup on Celestia. Also, stake TIA tokens to validators.
9. Sui
Chain: Layer 1 (Move language)
Why it might airdrop: Sui has a native token (SUI) but has reserved a large portion for “Community Access Program” and “Developer Grants.” Airdrops are expected for users of Sui-based dApps like Cetus, Turbos, and SuiSwap. The Sui Foundation often rewards early adopters.
Estimated value: $500–$1,500 per wallet.
How to qualify: Stake SUI tokens, trade on Cetus or Turbos, lend/borrow on Sui lending protocols, and mint NFTs on Sui. Also, participate in Sui’s “Move” language hackathons.
8. LayerZero
Chain: Cross-chain interoperability protocol
Why it might airdrop: LayerZero has no native token yet. The protocol has facilitated billions in cross-chain volume and is used by Stargate, Rarible, and many others. A retroactive airdrop is widely expected, especially for users who bridged assets or provided liquidity.
Estimated value: $1,000–$3,000 per wallet.
How to qualify: Use Stargate Finance to bridge assets between chains (Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, etc.), deploy an Omnichain Fungible Token (OFT), or run a LayerZero endpoint. Consistent bridging over multiple months is key.
7. EigenLayer
Chain: Ethereum restaking layer
Why it might airdrop: EigenLayer has already distributed an initial airdrop (EIGEN) in 2024, but a second wave is expected for restakers, operators, and users of EigenLayer-based AVS (Actively Validated Services). The protocol has $15B+ in TVL.
Estimated value: $500–$2,000 per wallet.
How to qualify: Restake ETH or Lido stETH on EigenLayer, run an EigenLayer operator node, or use AVS like EigenDA or Lagrange. The more capital and time, the higher the allocation.
6. Fuel
Chain: Modular Layer 2 (Optimistic rollup)
Why it might airdrop: Fuel raised $80M from Blockchain Capital and Coinbase Ventures. Its testnet (Fuel Sepolia) has been active since 2024, and the team has hinted at rewarding early testnet participants and developers.
Estimated value: $1,000–$3,500 per wallet.
How to qualify: Bridge ETH to Fuel testnet, deploy smart contracts using Fuel’s Sway language, swap tokens on Fuel DEXs, and run a Fuel node. Active participation in Fuel’s Discord and GitHub is also beneficial.
5. Berachain
Chain: Layer 1 (Polkadot parachain, EVM-compatible)
Why it might airdrop: Berachain is a community-driven L1 with a “Proof of Liquidity” consensus. It has no native token yet, but the team has raised $100M from Polychain and Hack VC. Airdrops are expected for stakers, liquidity providers, and governance participants.
Estimated value: $1,500–$4,500 per wallet.
How to qualify: Stake BERA tokens (testnet), provide liquidity on Berachain DEXs, vote on governance proposals, and run a validator node. Also, participate in Berachain’s “Honey” ecosystem.
4. Monad
Chain: Layer 1 (EVM-compatible, high throughput)
Why it might airdrop: Monad is one of the most hyped L1s of 2025–2026, raising $225M from Paradigm and Dragonfly. The testnet (Monad Testnet) has been running since 2024, and the mainnet is expected in late 2025. A retroactive airdrop for testnet users is almost certain.
Estimated value: $2,500–$6,000 per wallet.
How to qualify: Run a Monad node (testnet), deploy dApps, trade on Monad DEXs, and bridge assets from Ethereum. The team values active participation and developer contributions.
3. Linea
Chain: Ethereum L2 (ZK-Rollup, by ConsenSys)
Why it might airdrop: Linea has been running “Linea Voyage” quests since 2023, rewarding users with LXP (Linea Experience Points). The team has confirmed a future token, and the Voyage campaign is widely seen as a precursor to a retroactive airdrop.
Estimated value: $1,000–$3,000 per wallet.
How to qualify: Complete Linea Voyage tasks (swap, bridge, mint NFTs), provide liquidity on Linea DEXs (e.g., SyncSwap), and use Linea-based dApps like LayerBank or ZeroLend. The more Voyage points, the higher the allocation.
2. zkSync Era
Chain: Ethereum L2 (ZK-Rollup)
Why it might airdrop: zkSync has already distributed one airdrop (ZK token) in 2024, but the ecosystem is still growing. A second wave (zkSync Era Phase 2) is expected for users who bridged assets, used DeFi protocols, or deployed contracts after the initial snapshot.
Estimated value: $1,500–$4,000 per wallet.
How to qualify: Bridge ETH to zkSync Era, trade on SyncSwap or Mute.io, lend on zkSync lending protocols, and mint NFTs. The key is to have multiple transactions across different months.
1. Scroll
Chain: Ethereum L2 (zkEVM)
Why it might airdrop: Scroll is arguably the most anticipated airdrop of 2026. The project raised $80M from Polychain, Bain Capital, and others. The mainnet launched in 2023, but the team has
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I qualify for crypto airdrops in 2026?
A: To qualify, you typically need to perform on-chain actions like bridging assets, using decentralized exchanges, providing liquidity, or running testnet nodes. Focus on projects with high VC backing and active testnets, and ensure you complete multiple transactions over several months to show consistent engagement.
Q: What is the best crypto airdrop to farm in 2026?
A: Scroll is currently the most anticipated airdrop due to its $80M funding and active mainnet since 2023. Other top contenders include Monad, with $225M raised, and Berachain, which offers a unique “Proof of Liquidity” consensus. Prioritize projects with confirmed token plans and large community participation.
Q: Are crypto airdrops still profitable in 2026?
A: Yes, airdrops remain profitable, but the landscape has matured. Estimated values per wallet range from $300 to $6,000 for top projects like Scroll and Monad. However, competition is higher, so you need to be strategic and focus on quality interactions rather than just volume.
Q: How do I find upcoming crypto airdrops before they are announced?
A: Monitor project testnets, follow official Discord and Twitter channels, and use platforms like AirdropAlert or DropsTab. Also, check GitHub activity and VC funding announcements—projects with recent large raises and no token yet are prime candidates for future airdrops.
Q: What is the difference between retroactive and ongoing airdrops?
A: Retroactive airdrops reward past on-chain activity, like using a protocol before a snapshot date. Ongoing airdrops require continuous participation, such as completing quests or staking tokens. Most 2026 airdrops combine both, with retroactive drops for early users and ongoing incentives for new participants.
Q: Can I use multiple wallets to increase my airdrop allocation?
A: Yes, using multiple wallets can increase your chances, but be careful not to appear as sybil behavior (many wallets with identical patterns). Projects like LayerZero and zkSync have anti-sybil measures. Use different funding sources and vary your transaction types across wallets to stay under the radar.
Q: What are the risks of farming crypto airdrops?
A: Risks include wasting time on projects that never airdrop, losing funds to scams or phishing sites, and incurring high gas fees for transactions. Additionally, some projects may exclude users who engage in sybil farming. Always verify official links and only use reputable platforms.
Q: How do I claim a crypto airdrop once it is announced?
A: Typically, you claim through the project’s official website by connecting your wallet and verifying eligibility. You may need to pay gas fees for the claim transaction. Never share your private keys, and always double-check URLs to avoid phishing sites that mimic official airdrop pages.