Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is a sector within the cryptocurrency and blockchain space which aims to provide a decentralized version of the products available in traditional finance- without central control and at a lower cost with potentially higher returns. These products include loans, interest-bearing deposits and borrowing services.
The advantages of decentralized finance are that it addresses the problems we have with the traditional banking system. For example, decentralized finance protocols are controlled by multiple people, and all participants are required to abide by the rules written into the smart contracts underlying the protocols.
Aster DEX positions itself as the “retail-friendly, yield-integrated, Binance-aligned” perpetual hub with $1.14B TVL and $3.26B daily volume, recently overtaking Hyperliquid in trading metrics. Key differentiators include 1001x leverage, hidden orders, yield-bearing collateral (asBNB/USDF), and multi-chain support across 8+ networks. The Stage 2 Genesis airdrop distributes 53.5% of total supply through weekly Rh points based on trading volume, position holding time, and yield asset usage. Current ASTER price at $1.40 reflects 2,100%+ post-TGE gains but faces volatility from 96% supply concentration and upcoming unlocks.
Simple Mode: AMM-based trading against Aster Liquidity Pool (ALP) with up to 1001x leverage and one-click execution
Pro Mode: Fully on-chain CLOB with hidden orders, grid trading, and maker/taker fee structure (0.01% maker / 0.035% taker)
vs. Hyperliquid: Single CLOB integrated at L1 consensus layer with 0.2s latency and 200k orders/second capacity. gitbook
Multi-Chain vs. Sovereign L1:
Aster: Deployed across BNB Chain (78% TVL), Arbitrum, Ethereum, Solana, Base, zkSync, Scroll with planned “Aster Chain” L1
Hyperliquid: Purpose-built L1 with HyperBFT consensus and dual-block architecture (1s small blocks, 1min big blocks)
Unique Trading Features
Feature
Aster
Hyperliquid
Max Leverage
1001x (Simple) / Variable (Pro)
40-50x
Order Types
Hidden Orders, Grid Trading, Trailing Stops
Market, Limit, Stop, TP/SL, Post-only
Asset Classes
Crypto + US Stock Perps (TSLA, NVDA, AAPL)
100+ crypto perps and spot
Fee Structure
0.01% maker / 0.035% taker
Flat 0.025% taker / -0.002% maker rebate
Hidden Orders: Aster’s dark pool functionality conceals order size/direction until execution, unavailable on most perp DEXs including Hyperliquid. binance
Yield-Bearing Collateral Innovation
Game-Changing Feature: Aster allows yield-bearing assets as trading collateral:
asBNB: Auto-compounds BNB Launchpool and Megadrop rewards while serving as margin
USDF: Delta-neutral stablecoin earning deposit rewards for holders >1 USDF
Capital Efficiency: Trade volatility while earning 5-7% baseline yield + airdrops
vs. Hyperliquid: Standard collateral types without native yield generation
On-Chain Performance Metrics
Current Market Position
Metric
Aster
Hyperliquid
Advantage
24h Volume
$3.26B
$8B
Hyperliquid 2.5x
TVL
$1.14B
$0.67B
Aster 70% higher
Users
2M+ (527k wallets)
972k wallets
Aster 2x users
Open Interest
$4.87M
$15B
Hyperliquid 3,000x
Market Cap
$2.48B (ASTER)
$16.75B (HYPE)
Hyperliquid 6.8x
Volume & Liquidity Analysis
Aster’s Rapid Growth:
Cumulative perp volume: $149.13B with $137B since March 2025
Post-TGE surge: $371M first-day volume, 330k new wallets in 24h
Timeline: Started September 17, 2025 (post-TGE) through Q4 2025+Allocation: 53.5% of total supply (4.28B ASTER) for community rewards Points System: Rh points reset weekly (Monday 00:00 UTC), convert to future token drops
🔄 Transfer to Pro-mode margin for asset-score multiplier
3. Trading Strategy (Daily activity)
📊 Trade in Pro-mode exclusively (Simple mode doesn't count)
⚡ Favor taker orders (2x points vs maker)
⏰ Hold positions >60 minutes (improves holding-time score)
💸 Target ≥$500k weekly volume for "High" tier
📈 Realize P&L weekly (both wins/losses count)
4. Optimization Tactics
🎯 Monthly volume goal: >$5M for 5x multiplier
🔄 Use yield collateral for extra multipliers
👥 Build referral network (10% + 5% second-level)
📱 Monitor via mobile app for point tracking
⏰ Reset strategy weekly (Monday 00:00 UTC)
5. Claim Process
🌐 Claim portal: asterdex.com/en/airdrop
⏰ Window: Sep 17 - Oct 17, 2025 (09:00 UTC)
💸 Gas-free claims directly to Spot balance
📤 Withdrawals enabled: October 1, 2025
Risk Considerations
Token Distribution Risk: 96% supply in 4 wallets creates dump potential from insider selling ($60M+ in one day observed). x.com
Upcoming Unlocks: October 1 withdrawal enablement may trigger selling pressure from airdrop recipients.
Social Sentiment & Market Narrative
Community Perception
Positive Sentiment (60% bullish):
“Next Hyperliquid” narrative driving rotation from HYPE profits into ASTER
CZ endorsement as largest BSC-USDT holder legitimizes project
Accessibility wins: No VPN required for US users, seamless SOL USDT deposits
Concerns (40% mixed/bearish):
“Temu Hyperliquid” memes about being inferior copy
Centralization fears from 96% supply concentration
Early glitches: Paused Arbitrum withdrawals, vanished ETH balances
Key Opinion Leader Perspectives
Bullish KOLs:
CZ (@cz_binance): Highlights Aster as largest BSC-USDT holder post-Binance x.com
Quinten Francois: Positions ASTER as undervalued vs. Hyperliquid (1B vs 15B market cap) x.com
Frank (DeGods): Praises seamless SOL USDT deposit without bridging x.com
Critical Voices:
aixbt_agent: Warns of 92% supply concentration and zero-cost basis dumps x.com
Technical Analysis & Trading Setup
Price Action Overview
ASTER Performance:
Current Price: $1.407 (-11.45% 24h)
ATH: $2.00 (1,650%+ gain from $0.03 launch)
Market Cap: $2.48B (Rank #47)
Pattern: Bearish flag after parabolic surge, testing channel support
HYPE Comparison:
Current Price: $49.77 (-7.46% 24h)
Market Cap: $16.75B (Rank #11)
Pattern: Oversold bounce potential after ATH rejection near $60
Technical Indicators Dashboard
Timeframe
ASTER Signal
HYPE Signal
Key Levels
1H
🟡 Neutral RSI 45
🔴 Oversold RSI 26
ASTER: $1.41 S / $1.49 R
4H
🟢 Bullish but overbought
🟡 Below EMAs
HYPE: $49.80 S / $58 R
Daily
🟢 Channel support holds
🟢 Reversal setup
Trading Recommendations
ASTER Long Setup:
Entry: $1.41-$1.43 (support confluence)
Target: $1.64 (channel resistance)
Stop: $1.33 (key support break)
R:R: 2.26 (Excellent)
Probability: 60% (needs volume confirmation)
HYPE Long Setup (Preferred):
Entry: $49.80-$50 (oversold bounce)
Target: $58 (resistance retest)
Stop: $48 (support break)
R:R: 4.26 (Excellent)
Probability: 75% (oversold + strong fundamentals)
Investment Thesis & Conclusions
Aster’s Competitive Advantages
Multi-chain liquidity aggregation without bridging friction
Yield-bearing collateral creates capital efficiency moat
1001x leverage appeals to retail speculation
Hidden orders solve MEV and front-running issues
Binance ecosystem backing provides legitimacy and resources
Hyperliquid’s Defensive Moats
Purpose-built L1 delivers 0.2s latency unmatched by multi-chain
Deflationary tokenomics with 97% fee buybacks vs. no ASTER mechanism
Proven scale with $15B open interest vs. Aster’s $4.87M
Community ownership (no VC allocation) vs. centralized ASTER distribution
Risk-Adjusted Recommendations
For Conservative Portfolios: Favor HYPE for stability, proven liquidity, and excellent oversold setup at current levels
For Aggressive Speculation: Allocate 20-30% to ASTER on support tests, targeting rotation plays and airdrop maximization
Airdrop Strategy: High conviction for Stage 2 participation given 53.5% supply allocation and early-stage competition dynamics
Timeline Catalysts: Monitor October 1 ASTER unlock impact and Q4 2025 Stage 2 token distributions for strategic entries
Titan Exchange is a Solana-based meta-DEX aggregator that raised $10.5M total funding ($3.5M pre-seed + $7M seed) and processed $1.5B volume during private beta. Currently operates with zero fees to capture market share from Jupiter’s 54% dominance. No official airdrop campaign exists despite community speculation.
Funding Timeline: The two rounds represent a clear progression from pre-seed to seed 12 months later, coinciding with Titan’s public launch after private beta testing. blockworks
Valuation Assessment
Metric
Status
Market Inference
Official Valuation
Undisclosed
Not reported by any source
Estimated Range
$28-70M
Based on typical 10-25% equity for Solana infrastructure seed rounds
Confidence Level
Low
Pure market-based speculation without confirmation
Assessment: Valuation remains private with no secondary market data available. Industry comparisons suggest mid-eight-figure valuation, but this is unconfirmed speculation.
Business Model & Revenue Strategy
Current Model: Zero-fee meta-aggregation to bootstrap user adoption
Consumer Frontend: No swap fees during growth phase
Titan Prime API: Enterprise-grade quote comparison, launching fee-free
Ecosystem Context: Solana DEX aggregator ecosystem processed $76B in December 2024 (down from $84B in November), providing significant TAM for Titan’s expansion. x.com
Technical Performance
Route Optimization: Nano-precision splitting for large trades (down to $1 precision on $1B notional)
Latency Improvements: 3x faster quote updates vs competitors
Cost Savings: Demonstrated $4,000 savings on $150k trades x.com
Social Sentiment Analysis
Community Perspective
Bullish Signals:
KOLs praise technical improvements and execution quality
Positive reception of router upgrades and precision enhancements
Strong engagement on performance demonstrations
Notable Commentary:
@timahhl: “extremely bullish on upcoming router improvements… splitting $1 billion notional trades down to $1 precision” x.com
Focus on technical merit rather than speculative hype
Sentiment Quality: High-signal discussions centered on technical capabilities and real-world performance rather than token speculation.
Airdrop Campaign Status
Official Position
No Confirmed Airdrop: Comprehensive analysis reveals zero evidence of official airdrop announcements or token distribution plans.
Key Findings:
Press releases focus solely on funding and platform features
No mention of token generation events (TGE) or reward programs
Official communications emphasize infrastructure development over tokenomics
Community Speculation
Speculative Activity:
Community discussions reference potential “pre-TGE” rewards for early users
Comparisons to other Solana DEX airdrop precedents
Important: All speculation lacks official confirmation or primary source validation
Risk Assessment: Users engaging with Titan based on airdrop expectations do so without any official guarantee or roadmap for token distribution.
Competitive Analysis
Market Position
Protocol
Market Share
Strengths
Titan Advantage
Jupiter
54%
Established user base, proven track record
Superior pricing (80% win rate), zero fees
Raydium/Orca
~30% combined
Direct DEX liquidity
Meta-aggregation layer
Titan
<1%
Advanced routing, zero fees
New entrant, unproven scale
Differentiation Strategy
Meta-Aggregation Approach: Titan operates one layer above existing aggregators, comparing quotes from multiple sources including its proprietary Argos algorithm. This positions it as infrastructure for the infrastructure.
Zero-Fee Competitive Moat: Aggressive pricing strategy to capture market share during growth phase, with monetization planned through enterprise API services.
Risk Assessment
Business Risks
Revenue Model Uncertainty: No confirmed timeline for monetization
Market Share Challenge: Competing against established Jupiter dominance
Execution Risk: Early-stage platform with limited proven scale
Technical Risks
Integration Complexity: Meta-aggregation model depends on multiple external systems
Performance Claims: Superior routing performance needs sustained validation
Investment Considerations
Growth Stage: Early with significant funding runway
Total Addressable Market: Large Solana DEX ecosystem ($76B monthly volume)
Competitive Advantage: Technical differentiation through meta-aggregation
Conclusions
Titan Exchange represents a well-funded challenger to Jupiter’s DEX aggregation dominance on Solana, with $10.5M in verified funding and demonstrated technical capabilities. The platform’s zero-fee meta-aggregation strategy and superior routing performance provide clear competitive advantages, though market adoption remains in early stages.
Key Investment Thesis: Strong technical foundation with experienced team and quality investors, operating in a large addressable market with a differentiated approach.
Critical Gap: No official airdrop campaign exists despite community speculation, making any token-based expectations purely speculative.
Outlook: Success depends on converting technical advantages into sustained market share gains against established competitors, with monetization strategy requiring careful execution to maintain user growth.
Ethereum remains the backbone of decentralized finance, but even after its shift to proof-of-stake, scalability issues persist. Polygon has emerged as a leading layer-2 solution, offering faster, cheaper transactions through a growing suite of tools like zkEVMs, Optimistic rollups, and modular sidechains.
Originally launched as Matic Network, Polygon now powers a vast ecosystem of DeFi apps, games, and enterprise platforms. Its SDK enables developers to build scalable, secure chains with minimal friction, while the MATIC token supports staking and transaction fees. In 2025, Polygon is not just supporting Ethereum—it’s helping redefine its future.
Background
Polygon began its journey as Matic Network, a solution aimed at accelerating blockchain transactions and making them more accessible. Initially focused on general scalability, the project pivoted toward Ethereum, evolving into a layer-2 scaling solution provider. With this shift came a rebrand to Polygon.
Founded by Jaynti Kanani, Anurag Arjun, and Sandeep Nailwal—later joined by Mihailo Bjelic—the team envisioned a future where blockchain technology would seamlessly connect humans and machines. Their early efforts culminated in a seed round in August 2019, backed by MiH Ventures.
Since the release of Polygon SDK v1 in March 2021, the platform has undergone significant evolution. By 2025, Polygon has become a cornerstone of Ethereum’s scaling strategy, especially as Ethereum 2.0 continues its phased rollout. Polygon’s suite now includes zkEVM (zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine), which launched in 2023 and has gained traction for its ability to offer Ethereum-compatible smart contracts with enhanced scalability and privacy.
Polygon Labs, the development arm, has also expanded its ecosystem through strategic acquisitions and partnerships, including integrations with major Web3 platforms and enterprise blockchains. The team has focused heavily on modularity, enabling developers to choose between various scaling architectures—Optimistic rollups, zk-rollups, and validium chains—depending on their needs.
In 2025, Polygon is not just a scaling solution but a multi-chain ecosystem builder, with its technology underpinning thousands of decentralized applications (dApps) across DeFi, gaming, and enterprise sectors. Its commitment to Ethereum compatibility, developer accessibility, and security modularity continues to position it as a leader in blockchain infrastructure.
What is Polygon ($MATIC)?
Polygon is a modular framework designed to scale Ethereum by enabling faster, cheaper, and more flexible blockchain development. Originally launched as Matic Network, it has evolved into a full-fledged layer-2 ecosystem supporting a wide range of scaling solutions—including zkEVM chains, Optimistic rollups, and app-specific sidechains.
At its core is the Polygon SDK, which allows developers to build custom chains that are interoperable with Ethereum. These chains can be secured independently or leverage shared security from Ethereum or third-party validator networks. Polygon’s infrastructure now supports thousands of decentralized applications across DeFi, gaming, and enterprise use cases.
In 2025, Polygon is more than just a scaling tool—it’s a key pillar in Ethereum’s multi-chain future. Its native token, MATIC, continues to power transactions and staking across the network, while Polygon’s developer tools have become essential for building scalable, user-friendly Web3 applications.
Advantages of Polygon
Here are some of the major advantages of Polygon.
Scalability and Speed
Polygon continues to deliver on its promise of scaling Ethereum. With production-grade zkEVM chains and Optimistic rollups now widely adopted, transaction speeds have reached near-instant levels, and gas fees remain consistently low. This has enabled developers to build high-performance dApps without compromising on user experience or cost efficiency.
Developer-Friendly Infrastructure
Polygon’s SDK has matured into a modular toolkit that supports rapid deployment of custom chains. Developers can now choose between stand-alone chains with independent security or secured chains leveraging Ethereum or third-party validator networks. The WebAssembly (WASM) environment and plug-and-play architecture make it easy for teams—even those without deep blockchain expertise—to launch scalable applications.
Security and Flexibility
Polygon’s “security as a service” model allows developers to select their preferred security layer, whether it’s Ethereum’s native validators or external professional pools. This flexibility ensures that chains can be tailored to specific use cases without sacrificing safety. All Polygon-based products remain fully compatible with Ethereum, preserving interoperability across the ecosystem.
User Experience
For end users, Polygon offers fast, low-cost transactions and intuitive interfaces. The network now supports seamless token swaps, smart contract interactions, and oracle integrations, making it a go-to platform for DeFi, gaming, and enterprise applications. These improvements have helped onboard millions of new users to Web3.
Ecosystem Growth
By 2025, Polygon has become a foundational layer for Ethereum’s multi-chain future. Its infrastructure supports thousands of active dApps, and its developer community continues to expand. Major brands, financial institutions, and governments are now exploring Polygon for scalable blockchain deployments.
Polygon Chains
Polygon’s architecture has evolved significantly since its early days as Matic Network. Initially built on the Plasma framework, which allowed sidechains to operate semi-independently from Ethereum, Polygon has grown into a modular, multi-chain ecosystem tailored to diverse blockchain use cases.
As of 2025, Polygon supports three primary chain types:
Stand-alone Chains
These chains operate independently and manage their own security. They are ideal for projects that require full control over their validator set and consensus mechanisms. Common use cases include gaming platforms and enterprise blockchains that prioritize performance and customization over shared security.
Security: Self-managed validator pools
Use Cases: High-performance decentralized applications (dApps), private enterprise solutions
Examples: Polygon PoS (still active but gradually being phased out in favor of zk-based chains)
Secured chains outsource their security to Ethereum or other trusted validator networks. This model has gained popularity due to its simplicity and strong trust assumptions.
Security: Ethereum-based fraud proofs, validity proofs, or third-party validator services
Use Cases: DeFi protocols, public infrastructure dApps
Examples: Polygon zkEVM, chains built using the Polygon Chain Development Kit (CDK)
Polygon’s most transformative innovation has been its zero-knowledge (zk) rollup technology. With the launch of Polygon zkEVM in 2023 and the release of the CDK in 2024, developers can now deploy custom zk-powered chains that are Ethereum-compatible, scalable, and privacy-preserving.
Security: Inherited from Ethereum via zk proofs
Use Cases: Scalable DeFi, identity solutions, cross-chain bridges
Features: Native EVM compatibility, low latency, high throughput
MATIC token
MATIC remains the native utility and governance token of the Polygon ecosystem, but its role has expanded significantly since its early use for transaction fees and staking.
Core Functions
Transaction Fees: MATIC continues to be used for paying gas fees across Polygon chains, including zkEVM and CDK-based rollups.
Staking & Validation: Validators stake MATIC to secure Polygon’s proof-of-stake chains, although many newer chains now rely on Ethereum-based security via zk proofs.
Governance: MATIC holders participate in on-chain governance, influencing protocol upgrades, treasury allocations, and ecosystem grants.
Evolution Since 2023
zkEVM Integration: With the rise of zkEVM and modular chain deployments, MATIC has been integrated into fee markets and bridge mechanisms, allowing seamless movement between Ethereum and Polygon-based chains.
Deflationary Pressure: A portion of transaction fees on certain chains is now burned, introducing deflationary dynamics similar to Ethereum’s EIP-1559 model.
Cross-Chain Utility: MATIC is increasingly used as collateral and liquidity across DeFi protocols on other chains, including Arbitrum, Optimism, and Base, thanks to improved interoperability.
Market Position in 2025
Institutional Interest: Polygon Labs has secured partnerships with enterprise clients in gaming, supply chain, and identity sectors, boosting MATIC’s utility beyond retail DeFi.
Price Volatility: MATIC has experienced fluctuations due to broader market cycles and competition from other layer-2 tokens, but remains a top-30 crypto asset by market cap.
Conclusion
Polygon has evolved from a promising Ethereum sidechain into a foundational layer of the Ethereum scaling ecosystem. Its modular architecture, developer-friendly tools, and pioneering work in zero-knowledge technology have positioned it as a leader in the multi-chain future of Web3.
In 2025, Polygon is no longer just a workaround for Ethereum’s limitations—it’s a robust platform enabling scalable, secure, and interoperable blockchain networks. The launch of Polygon zkEVM and the Chain Development Kit (CDK) has empowered developers to build custom rollups with native Ethereum compatibility, while maintaining high throughput and low costs.
Polygon’s vision of a seamlessly connected blockchain world is materializing through its growing network of zk-powered chains, enterprise integrations, and developer adoption. As Ethereum 2.0 continues its rollout, Polygon complements it by offering flexible scaling solutions that serve both public dApps and private infrastructure.
In a rapidly evolving crypto landscape, Polygon remains a critical pillar for Ethereum’s long-term scalability, usability, and mass adoption.
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency trading involves significant risks and may result in the loss of your capital. You should carefully consider whether trading cryptocurrencies is right for you in light of your financial condition and ability to bear financial risks. Cryptocurrency prices are highly volatile and can fluctuate widely in a short period of time. As such, trading cryptocurrencies may not be suitable for everyone. Additionally, storing cryptocurrencies on a centralized exchange carries inherent risks, including the potential for loss due to hacking, exchange collapse, or other security breaches. We strongly advise that you seek independent professional advice before engaging in any cryptocurrency trading activities and carefully consider the security measures in place when choosing or storing your cryptocurrencies on a cryptocurrency exchange.
Aave V3 leads with the highest safety rating and 4.67% APY on USDC, while Pendle Finance offers exceptional 13.58% fixed yields through yield tokenization. Venus Protocol provides competitive 4.27% rates on BSC, Curve Finance delivers deep liquidity with variable yields, and Stargate Finance enables cross-chain positioning at modest returns.
Protocol Rankings & Key Metrics
Rank
Protocol
Best APY
TVL
Safety Rating
Primary Chain(s)
1
Aave V3
4.67% (USDC)
$39.56B
A – Lowest Risk
16 EVM chains
2
Pendle Finance
13.58% (sUSDe PT)
$11.85B
Audited, No Exploits
Ethereum
3
Venus Protocol
4.27% (USDT)
$1.92B
Certik Top-Tier
BSC-focused
4
Curve Finance
16.24% (niche pools)
$2.33B
Battle-tested
10+ chains
5
Stargate Finance
0.36% (average)
$270M
Audited V2
25+ chains
Detailed Protocol Analysis
1. Aave V3 – The Gold Standard
Current Opportunity: USDC supply on Ethereum V3 offers 4.67% APY with $825M pool TVL. defillama
Trade-offs: Higher complexity and smart contract surface area compared to traditional lending
3. Venus Protocol – BSC Efficiency
Current Opportunity: USDT Core Pool delivers 4.27% APY with $316M market size. venus
Strengths:
Competitive yields: 4.27% on major stablecoins
Strong security: 3rd-highest security score on BNB Chain per Certik venus
Incident response: Recent $13M phishing attack resolved within hours via governance, demonstrating robust recovery mechanisms x.com
Cost efficiency: BSC’s lower gas costs enhance net yields
Focus: 90%+ of activity concentrated on BUSD, USDT, USDC with 65-75% utilization rates
4. Curve Finance – Liquidity Infrastructure
Current Opportunity: High-yield niche pools like busdv2 at 16.24% APY, though with limited $95K TVL. Flagship 3pool offers stable yields from trading fees. curve
Strengths:
Deep liquidity: Flagship 3pool maintains ~$840M TVL for minimal slippage
Battle-tested: Recovered from major exploits including 2023 Vyper bug x.com
Yield spikes: APY increases during market volatility from increased trading activity
Decentralization: Community-controlled protocol with proven governance
Considerations: Base yields often minimal (~0%) unless incentivized; historical exploit record requires caution
5. Stargate Finance – Cross-Chain Positioning
Current Opportunity: Omnichain liquidity pools averaging 0.36% APY across 25+ chains with $148M in LP vaults. defillama
Strengths:
Cross-chain utility: Earn yield while maintaining liquidity across L2s
Growing adoption: +6.3% TVL growth over 30 days defillama
Clean security record: No major exploits since V2 launch
Strategic positioning: Bridge volumes of $40-60M daily during volatility
Use case: Ideal for users seeking yield while maintaining cross-chain optionality
Safety Assessment
Highest Security Tier
Aave V3: Exponential “A” rating, no material 2024-25 exploits
Curve: Recovered from major exploits, hardened codebase with active bug bounties
Stargate: Audited V2 contracts, clean operational history
Innovation Risk
Pendle: Audited but higher complexity through yield tokenization mechanics
Strategic Recommendations
For Safety-First Approach: Aave V3 USDC pools offer the optimal risk-adjusted returns at 4.67% APY with institutional-grade security.
For Maximum Yield: Pendle’s sUSDe PT provides 13.58% fixed returns for users comfortable with advanced DeFi mechanics.
For Multi-Chain Strategy: Combine Aave V3 (Ethereum), Venus (BSC), and Stargate (cross-chain) for diversified exposure.
Risk Management: The data shows “blue-chip” money markets (Aave, Venus) currently provide the best balance of 4-5% yields with proven security profiles. defillama
ZKsync is a layer-2 scaling solution designed to speed up transactions and lower gas fees on Ethereum. There are reports ZKsync have have their token generation event (TGE) in the coming few days. Their airdrop is also anticipated to be around 13th June 2024. Meanwhile, ZKsync airdrop could entitle you to both a ZKsync ($ZK) and an ecosystem project airdrop! Here’s how to get a potential ZKsync ($ZK) token and ecosystem airdrop.
Check out our Upcoming Crypto Airdrops! And our video guide on how to get the ZKsync $ZK token airdrop!
ZKsync is a layer-2 scaling solution designed to speed up transactions and lower gas fees on the Ethereum network while maintaining high security and privacy for users. It does this through Zero-Knowledge Rollup (ZK-Rollup) — transactions on Ethereum are bundled up to be processed off-chain and then sent back to the main chain after validation.
The ZK-rollup is the core element of ZKsync. ZK-rollups generate cryptographic proofs (ZK-SNARK or ZK-STARK) to verify transactions without revealing the information itself, hence the name “zero-knowledge proofs.” It maintains privacy by making transaction details such as token amounts anonymous. It is also highly secure because compressed transaction data are stored on-chain.
Unlike other layer-2 solutions, ZKsync relies on math instead of third-party validators to scale computation. Validators are known as “operators” or “sequencers” and are in charge of executing, aggregating, and submitting transactions to the main chain, but they do not validate the transactions themselves — the Ethereum smart contract does. By relying on math and cryptographic security, ZKsync ensures a truly secure and trustless environment for decentralized finance (DeFi).
What’s the Difference Between ZKsync Era and ZKsync Lite?
At its inception, ZKsync lacked support for smart contracts, preventing activities such as using DeFi or purchasing NFTs, which are common on Ethereum. However, it did provide significant scaling for Ethereum, leading to its nickname “ZKsync Lite.”
The ZKsync Era represents an upgrade to the network, delivering all the features of Ethereum while also providing more cost-effective and faster transactions.
Does ZKsync have a Token?
ZKsync has a native token known as $ZK, which was launched on 17th June 2024. The $ZK token is the native utility and governance token in the ZKsync ecosystem by maintaining and enhancing ZKsync’s operation. One main use for the ZKsync token is to pay for transaction fees on the ZKsync network and to vote on governance decisions. Users can also stake $ZK tokens and they will be rewarded with additional ZK tokens.
Is there a ZKsync ($ZK) Token Airdrop?
The ZKsync ($ZK) token airdrop started on 24th June 2024 and eligible users can claim their airdrop until 5th January 2025. 3.675 billion $ZK tokens i.e. 17.5% of the total token supply will be airdropped to eligible users.
How to claim ZKsync ($ZK) Token Airdrop
To check your eligibility and claim your ZKsync ($ZK) token airdrop, connect your wallet or GitHub usernameHERE.
How to Receive Potential ZKsync ($ZK) Token Airdrop?
The best chance to receive $ZKS airdrop is to interact with ZKsync Lite and ZKsync Era Mainnet Alpha. Moreover, many projects in the zkSync ecosystem also do not have a token yet. So, interacting with their ecosystem dApps may entitle you to potential airdrops from zkSync and the ecosystem project. Here’s how to receive a potential ZKsync token airdrop:
Add ZKsync Era Alpha Mainnet on MetaMask.
Bridge Funds to ZKsync.
Interact with ZKsync Lite and ZKsync Era Mainnet Alpha.
Interact with the ZKsync ecosystem.
Complete quests on ZKsync’s Crew3.
Add ZKsync Era Alpha Mainnet on MetaMask
You will need to connect ZKsync Era alpha mainnet to your MetaMask. To do this, go to your MetaMask and click on the network button, then “Add network”. Then, click “Add a network manually”. Add the following information and click “Save”:
Network Name: ZKsync Era Mainnet
New RPC URL: https://mainnet.era.zksync.io
Chain ID: 324
Currency Symbol: ETH
Block Explorer URL: https://explorer.zksync.io/
WebSocket URL: wss://mainnet.era.zksync.io/ws
Bridge Funds to ZKsync Era Mainnetand ZKsyncLite
Bridge funds from Ethereum Mainnet to ZKsync Era Mainnet at bridge.zksync.io by connecting your wallet. Select the amount you wish to bridge and click “deposit”. Then, swap back to Ethereum Mainnet by clicking the arrows, choosing the amount you wish to bridge back to Ethereum, and click “Withdraw”.
Bridge funds to ZKsync Lite at https://lite.zksync.io/ by connecting your wallet. Then, top up your balance using the ZKsync bridge. You can also try using other bridges in the ZKsync Lite ecosystem such as Orbiter Finance and ZigZag Exchange.
Cheapest way to bridge funds to ZKsync Era?
Here’s a cheaper way to bridge funds to zkSync Era Mainnet:
Buy ETH on a centralized exchange (e.g. Binance or Bybit)- Sign up for a Bybit account HERE!
Send your ETH from the Exchange to your Metamask using the Arbitrum network (fees are around US$1-2)
Use Orbiter Finance to bridge ETH from Arbitrum to ZKsync Era (fees are around US$2-3)
Interact with ZKsync Lite and ZKsync Era Mainnet Alpha
Any user can now use ZKsync Lite (formerly known as ZKsync 1.0) and ZKsync Era Mainnet Alpha. This can be a potential way for users to get a zkSync airdrop even though they missed the whitelist. To interact with zkSync Lite, connect your L1 ETH wallet on ZKsync Lite (note the single-time account activation fee of 1.279 USDT). Then, interact by moving your balances from L1 on ZKsync Lite by depositing ETH or USDT. Or, withdraw your funds back from ZKsync Lite to L1.
Interact with the ZKsyncecosystem
ZKsync has an entire ecosystem of protocols. Here are some top ZKsync ecosystem projects you could interact with to maximise your chances of a potential ZKsync airdrop and even double your rewards:
Orbiter Finance is a decentralized cross-rollup layer-2 bridge that supports ZKsync as well as Arbitrum. You can send ETH, MATIC, BNB and other tokens to ZKsync and other layer-2 blockchains via the bridge. However, these are mainnet tokens (with value) since the bridge is live, but you can always bridge them back to Ethereum. Check out our Orbiter Finance Token Airdrop Guide.
ZigZag Exchange
ZigZag Exchange is an orderbook decentralized exchange (DEX) powered by ZK-rollups. You can trade or swap on ZigZag Exchange. Do 1 buy or sell transaction between ETH and USDC every week (gas fees are less than US$0.25). Here’s how to interact with ZigZag Exchange:
Deposit funds to https://lite.zksync.io/. Note you will need to deposit at least US$3 worth of ETH or USDC in order to pay the 1-time activation fee on Zigzag (around US$2.6).
Do 1 buy or sell transaction between ETH and USDC every week (gas fees are less than US$0.25).
ZigZag Exchange has also just finished its second round of airdrops (out of 7). So check out our ZigZag Exchange ($ZZ) token airdrop guide so you won’t miss out on their future airdrops!
Bungee
Bungee is a tool powered by Socket that helps people find the best way to move a digital token from one blockchain to another. Bungee has recently gone live on ZKsync Era. So sending tokens to and from ZKsync Era (and especially using the Stargate route) could position yourself for potential ZKsync, Bungee, Socket, Stargate AND LayerZero airdrops!
Argent is the only crypto wallet that offers multi-signature security and social recovery. The wallet is built on ZKsync and is the first wallet for StarkNet. The wallet has a mobile version available on the App Store and Google Play. Download Argent and use their wallet! You can send and receive funds, buy, earn, and stake crypto using Argent.
Argent recently announced an NFT drop in collaboration with JediSwap, here’s how to get the NFT:
Do a swap on JediSwap using your Argent X wallet on mainnet before 23:59 UTC on 23rd May 2023. Those who have done a swap on JediSwap using Argent X wallet before 1st April 2023 will be automatically eligible for the snapshot and won’t need to do any more swaps.
To do the swap, either use the built-in swap feature in the Argent X wallet or do the swap at https://app.jediswap.xyz/#/swap.
The team will take the snapshot at 23:59 UTC on 23rd May 2023. The claim/mint page will be shared afterwards, and you will have a total of 12 months from then to mint your NFT.
SyncSwap is a DEX built on ZKsync and has recently announced its launch on ZKsync Era testnet. It is predicted they will be one of the first protocols to launch on ZKsync Era Mainnet since they are one of the first protocols built on ZKsync. Therefore, interacting with SyncSwap will put you in a good position to get a potential ZKsync token airdrop (and possibly a SyncSwap airdrop too)! (fii-institute) Here’s how to interact with Syncswap:
Go to their Swap page. Choose the type and amount of tokens and click “Swap”. We also suggest swapping tokens on the ZKsync network using Paymaster. Paymaster allows SyncSwap users to pay gas fees using other tokens such as $USDT, $USDC and $HOLD in addition to ETH. To do this, first make sure your MetaMask wallet and SyncSwap are both on the ZKsync Era Network. Then, click and hold on your account balance and you can see the fee discounts offered by Paymaster when using other tokens to pay for gas fees. For example, you get a 50% fee discount when paying with $HOLD!
Deposit liquidity to their Pools. On the top bar, click the down arrow, “Positions” and “New Position”. Select USDC and ETH and click “Enter Pool”. Then click “Deposit” located on the left-hand side of the screen and deposit both USDC and ETH. Then, unlock your tokens and deposit them into the pool.
Interacting with SyncSwap is one of the best ways to maximize your potential airdrop with the least amount of fees. Learn how with our SyncSwap token airdrop guide!
SpaceFi
SpaceFi allows users can trade, earn, mint, stake, sell, create, and invest in a variety of projects. With SpaceFi, users can also swap assets, farm rewards, mint, and stake Planet NFTs, join or create a spacebase, and invest in new projects. SpaceFi has already launched 30 million $SPACE on Evmos mainnet, and will be launching 30 million $SPACE on ZKsync 2.0 (i.e. ZKsync Era) when mainnet goes live. The team has also confirmed they will be doing an airdrop.
Since the protocol is already live on ZKsync testnet, it may be a good idea to interact with SpaceFi in anticipation of when zkSync Era mainnet goes live. To interact with SpaceFi, request testnet tokens here. Then connect your wallet to Space.io, swap some $tSPACE tokens. Then, add liquidity to their pool. Finally, join the SpaceFi Discord and their Crew3. You can also complete the tasks on Crew3 which include joining their guilds, adding them to your CoinGecko watchlist or inviting friends to their Discord.
Velocore is the first ever ve(3,3) DEX on ZKsync. They have a native token $VC, so there may be a chance of a Velocore airdrop too? Here’s how to interact with Velocore:
If you don’t have funds on ZKsync Era yet, use Orbiter.finance to bridge funds to ZKsync Era.
Connect your wallet to Velocore’s swap page and swap some tokens. You can swap any token pairings e.g. ETH to USDT, ETH to VC etc.
Go to their Liquidity Pools and add liquidity. There are 30 pools to choose from!
Keep an eye on their Launchpad for upcoming projects and join in.
iZUMi Finance is a multi-chain DeFi protocol that provides One-Stop Liquidity as a Service (LaaS). iZiSwap, a next-generation DEX on Multi-Chains, is live on ZKsync Era and provides concentrated liquidity AMM and generates extra income for your assets. They also have their own $iZi token. In addition to doing their own airdrop, they have also promised to distribute 50% if any ZKsync and Linea airdrops they receive! Here’s how to interact with iZUMi Finance:
Mute.io is a AMM DEX with limit orders, a farming and Bond platform. They are live on ZKsync Era. Although the mute.io team have confirmed the will NOT do an airdrop, interacting with this protocol may nevertheless be helpful in getting a ZKsync airdrop. Here’s how to interact with Mute.io:
If you don’t have funds onZKsync Era yet, use Orbiter.finance to bridge funds to ZKsync Era.
Connect your wallet to their Swap page and swap any amount of tokens.
Go to their Pools and add liquidity. You can earn fees for doing this! Click “Manage” and choose the amount of liquidity you wish to add. You can also withdraw your liquidity and check your rewards at any time.
As an optional task, you can buy their $MUTE token and lock it up here.
ZKsync Name Service
ZKsync Name Service is an omnichain name service that allows users to establish their Web3 profile. Here’s how to interact with ZKsync Name Service:
Search for an available domain name. If you find an available one that you want, click “Available”.
Click “Request to register with ETH” and approve the transaction. It will cost around US$6.5 to buy a domain.
GameSwift
GameSwift aims to be a one-stop web3 gaming ecosystem based on a modular chain and zkEVM technology. From 28th September 2023, GameSwift will be hosting a GameSwift Multiverse Expansion campaign which will last for 6 weeks. In particular, week 3 of the campaign which goes live on 12th October 2023 will involve bridging to ZKsync! So completing the tasks for week 3 may position yourself for a potential GameSwift and ZKsync airdrop! Here’s how:
GameSwift also has tasks for interacting with the LayerZero network. So, there is a chance to also get a potential LayerZero airdrop too by doing these tasks!
Gitcoin is a community platform that funds and coordinate new open-source developments. To donate, go to the “grants” page. Pay via the ZKsync network for lower transaction fees.
We have found 3 projects which are also doing airdrops! All you have to do is complete the tasks and mint their NFTs! What’s more, these projects require you to interact with ZKsync, so you will be positioning yourself for a ZKsync airdrop as well.
Hypercomic
Hypercomic has just announced its collaboration with ZKsync and has launched a NFT minting celebration campaign. The objective is to complete the tasks and mint their exclusive ZK24 NFTs. There are 3 parts to the minting campaign, Part 1: Transaction Maker is LIVE until 9th February 2024, Part 2: ZKsync Expert will run from 5th to 15th February 2024, and Part 3: Dapp Hustler will run from 13th to 23rd February 2024.
To mint the ZK24 NFTs, connect your wallet HERE to see which NFTs you may already qualify for. For Part 1: Transaction maker, users with 30 or more ZKsync transactions, users with 50 or more ZKsync transaction and users with 100 or more ZKsync transactions will be eligible to mint 1 NFT. So, depending on the number of ZKsync transactions you have, you can get a maximum of 3 NFTs in Part 1. What’s more, the NFT you can mint for having over 100 ZKsync transactions is a Boost NFT which will help boost the cubic mining power in the Hypercomic Dapp.
To mint the ZK24 NFTs, connect your wallet HERE to see which NFTs you may already qualify for. If you qualify, you will be able to mint the NFT. Then, go to the “Airdrop” page to check your eligibility for the Hypercomic ($HYCO) airdrop. Users who have over 60 transactions are eligible to claim the HYCO token airdrop and are given on a first come first served basis for the first 15,000 people.
Tabi
Tabi is the first gaming chain on Cosmos. Whilst you need to be on Binance Smart Chain to complete the tasks, 2 of them are on ZKsync, which will position yourself for any ZKsync related airdrops. Complete the airdrop tasks on Tabi by connecting to their site and completing their tasks. These are mostly social tasks such as connecting your social media profiles and following their social media pages. You will be able to mint the NFT once you have completed the tasks.
GRVT
GRVT is an on-chain perpetuals exchange for ZKsync. They are currently running a social airdrop campaign. For now, all you need to do is join their waitlist. Joining their waitlist lets you earn invite points for airdrop rights as well as a ZKsync mystery box.
Complete quests on Crew3
Go to ZKsync’s Crew3 Questboard and complete the quests. Tasks include following them on social media, reading their articles, and completing quizzes.
Join the ZKsync Guild
Connect your wallet and Google and Discord accounts to https://guild.xyz/zksync-era. Note you will also need at least 20 points on Gitcoin Passport. To check the number of points you have on Gitcoin Passport, connect your wallet to https://passport.gitcoin.co/#/dashboard. On the same page, you can also connect your other accounts to gain more points. However, some accounts require more than just having an account. For some, there are requirements to have a certain age/status/role or completed tasks in those accounts in order to qualify, which will make it difficult. Here’s a list of the easiest/ least requirement accounts to sign up for in order to get 20 points: Twitter, Discord, Google, Github, Facebook, LinkedIn, ENS, BrightID, Proof of Humanity, ETH, ZKsync, Gnosis Safe, Trusta Labs.
Bonus: Complete ZKsync Era tasks on RabbitHole
RabbitHole now offers the first ZKsync Era quests, which include SyncSwap, EraLend, and Maverick. Completing each quest earns users NFT rewards and helps build their onchain history in the ZKsync ecosystem. The more quests you complete, the more quest rewards you become eligible for. Note that even if you have done similar tasks before, you will need to do them again to be eligible on RabbitHole. Here’s how to complete the tasks on RabbitHole:
Make sure you are on the Ethereum network and connect your wallet to RabbitHole.
Swap on Uniswap on Optimism.
Deposit on Exactly on Optimism.
Mint Dappad zk-KYC NFT
Dappad is running a campaign where you can mint a non-transferable Soulbound NFT powered by ZkPass and Paymaster. Minting this NFT will give you access to future launchpads in ZKsync, and it could be key to qualifying for the potential ZKsync ($ZK) token airdrop. Note you only have 10 days (i.e. until 29th March 2024) to mint the NFT! Here’s how to mint the Dappad zk-KYC NFT:
Select 1 of the 5 supported centralized exchange accounts (i.e. Binance, Bybit, KuCoin, OKEx, Coinbase) for KYC verification.
Log in to your selected exchange account when redirected. Make sure your exchange account is at least Level 1 verified.
Approve sharing your KYC details with zkPass by clicking “START”.
Return to the Dappad launchpad page after verification to see the ‘Already Verified KYC’.
Your wallet app will then prompt you to sign a contract. Confirm the transaction and the non-transferable Dappad zk-KYC NFT will be sent to your wallet with 0 fees. The NFT is proof that you have successfully completed the KYC verification process.
You can also check out our step-by-step video guide HERE.
Best ZKsync Airdrop Route for swaps?
Here’s one of the best ZKsync Airdrop routes for swaps. By doing this route you can make the most of the potential ZKsync airdrop and interact with other protocols and possibly get those airdrops too!
With this latest airdrop route, you will be interacting with 3 different protocols to get 4-in-1 airdrop! These protocols are ZKsync Domain ($ZNS), Beecoin ($BEE), and Passport NFT ($ZKP) in addition to ZKsync.
Mint ZKsync Domain ($ZNS)
Mint a ZKsync Domain HERE. Minting a domain will cost 0.0028 ETH but this is for lifetime ownership!
Share referral link
Go to the Airdrop page and share your referral link. You will get more $ZNS rewards for successful invitations.
Claim Beecoin ($BEE)
Click on “Free Mint $BEE” or to go Bee Coin. Follow their Twitter accounts, select your ZKsync Domain and click “Free Mint” to mint 1 million $BEE coins. Then click, “Add Wallet” to add your $BEE coins to your wallet. Note you will need to pay gas fees and their total supply is 100 billion coins! So, act fast before they are all minted! You can also share your invite link to receive an extra 500,000 Beecoin for each person you invite.
Passport NFT ($ZKP)
Connect your wallet HERE and click “Free Mint” to get a NFT passport. Note you will need to pay gas fees for this. Then, invite your friends to get 200 $ZKP and boost Passport Rank per friend.
ZKsync airdrop season 1: Am I eligible?
Eligibility for season 1 of ZKsync’s token airdrop was based on a snapshot taken on ZKsync Era and ZKsync Lite on 24th March 2024 at 0:00 UTC. 2 categories of users were eligible for the ZKsync airdrop: users (89%) and contributors (11%). Users on ZKSync are those who have made transactions and reached a certain level of activity. Contributors, on the other hand, include individuals, developers, researchers, communities, and companies who have contributed to the ZKSync ecosystem and protocol through development, advocacy, or education, regardless of their network activity.
The airdrop allocations for ZKsync were calculated using a points system. Here’s how the points were calcualted:
Activity-Based Points: Wallets earned points for actions like interacting with smart contracts, depositing liquidity into DeFi protocols, and trading ERC-20 tokens.
ZKsync Lite Activity: Points were also awarded for activities on ZKsync Lite, such as donating to a Gitcoin round or transacting over three different months.
Bridged Assets: Allocations were based on assets bridged to ZKsync Era, with multipliers for activity on ZKsync and Ethereum mainnet.
Minimum and Maximum Allocations: Wallets with fewer than 450 ZK tokens had their tokens recycled, while those with more than 100,000 tokens had excess tokens recycled. The minimum allocation was up to 917 $ZK tokens per wallet.
ZKsync season 1 airdrop: How to claim?
ZKsync will conduct a one-time token airdrop of 3.675 billion $ZK tokens (i.e. 17.5%) of the total token supply. Eligible users can claim their airdrop by connecting to their wallet to https://claim.zknation.io/ starting from 24th June 2024. The airdrop claim will be open until 3rd January 2025.
ZKsync season 2 airdrop strategy guide
ZKsync season 2 airdrop has already started! 2 main strategies to best position yourself for the token airdrop is to delegate your tokens and to maintain a high time weighted average balance (TWAB).
In terms of strategies to find the best delegate to delgate your $ZK token, you may want to find delegates that are active in voting on governance proposals.
How to identify and avoid ZKsync airdrop scams
ZKsync has not announced its official token yet. However, this has not stopped scammers from enticing unsuspecting victims with airdrops in order to steal their cryptocurrencies. Here are some ways in which you can identify and avoid ZKsync airdrop scammers.
Look at social media handles
Many scammers will use social media (e.g. Twitter, Telegram) handles that are confusingly similar to the official ones. For example, spelling the project name incorrectly or using different fonts and hidden characters in the handle. Other fake accounts may have spelled the project name correctly but has other words behind it e.g. ZKsync (@ freetokens). Always check the official ZKsync website.
Impersonating admins or mods
Scammers have been known to impersonate admins or mods on ZKsync’s official channels. They may send DMs asking for users’ private information in order to “participate” in airdrops, or send you a link asking you to connect your wallet and drain your funds. zkSync admins or mods would not DM users first.
Fake accounts tweeting ZKsync airdrop info
There are fake accounts tweeting ZKsync token airdrops. However, there is no official announcement yet. Always check the official channels.
ZKsync Airdrop Review
When reviewing an airdrop, there are several factors to consider. First, the likelihood the project will even do an airdrop in the first place. Then, to look at how many tokens the project intends to allocate towards airdrop campaigns, as well as the difficulty in participating in their airdrop. It is also important to look at the utility of the token so that there will be an actual use and purpose in participating in the airdrop in the first place. Finally, a factor to consider when reviewing an airdrop is whether the airdropped tokens are subject to any lockup period.
Likelihood of Airdrop: ZKsync has completed season 1 of its token airdrop.
Airdropped Token Allocation: In season 1 of the ZKsync airdrop, a total of 3.675 billion $ZK tokens will be airdropped. This is equivalent to 17.5% of the total $ZK token supply.
Airdrop Difficulty: Tasks which allowed you to be eligible for season 1 of the airdrop includes interactions, donations and bridging assets. This would not be difficult for a general crypto trader.
Token Utility: The $ZK token is used for transaction fees, governance and staking.
Token Lockup: There is no lockup period for $ZK tokens which were distributed in the airdrop.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I participate in the ZKsync Airdrop?
Here’s how to participate in the ZKsync airdrop · Add ZKsync Era Alpha Mainnet on MetaMask. · Bridge Funds to ZKsync Lite and ZKsync Era Mainnet. · Interact with ZKsync Lite and ZKsync Era Mainnet Alpha. · Interact with the ZKsync ecosystem. · Mint NFTs for ZKsync airdrop. · Complete quests on ZKsync’s Crew3. · Join the ZKsync Guild · Bonus: Complete ZKsync Era tasks on RabbitHole.
How do I participate in the ZKsync Airdrop?
ZKsync has not announced details of any potential airdrop yet.
Is there a minimum amount of tokens I can receive from the ZKsync airdrop?
This will depend on the rules of the ZKsync airdrop campaign, which has not been announced.
Which is the best ZKsync ecosystem dApp to interact with for the ZKsync airdrop?
We find SyncSwap to be the best ZKsync ecosystem dApp to interact with to position yourself for the airdrop. This is because SyncSwap refunds you 50-6 0% of your Ethereum gas fees. We’ve managed to do 30 ZKsync transactions on SyncSwap in 10 minutes for only US$3! Check out our SyncSwap ($SYNC) token airdrop guide!
When is the ZKsyncairdrop?
The ZKsync airdrop was on 24th March 2024 at 0:00 UTC when the eligibility and allocations snapshot was taken. Eligible users can claim the airdrop from 24th June 2024 to 3rd January 2025.
Will zkSync do an airdrop?
ZKsync season 1 airdrop is now available for claim until 3rd January 2025.
How do I prepare for a ZKsyncairdrop?
Projects often reward early users. Follow our guide to prepare for a potential airdrop.
Does ZKsync have a token?
ZKsync has a native token known as $ZK. It is used for paying transaction fees on the network, staking and governance.
How do I get season 2 of the ZKsync airdrop?
2 ways to get the potential season 2 of the ZKsync airdrop is to delegate your tokens and to maintain a high time weighted average balance (TWAB).
Looking for free tokens with huge upside potential? LayerZero is one of the major upcoming crypto airdrops, funded by many reputable global enterprises such as PayPal. The LayerZero airdrop is now available to claim. This is our LayerZero airdrop ultimate guide.
LayerZero is a trustless omnichain interoperability protocol designed to connect multiple chains. Let’s break it down what this means in simple terms:
Underlying Issues of Current Interoperability Techniques
Interoperability is a big problem for blockchains. Blockchains can’t talk to each other in a way that makes sense, so they’re like separate islands. This makes it hard for people to move things like money and data between them. There are two ways to fix this, but they both have problems.
Middle Chain
In the blockchain world, there are some protocols that help blockchains talk to each other such as Polkadot or Cosmos. They’re like a middleman that helps different blockchains exchange messages. This is a good way to make sure that blockchains can work together and it’s not too expensive. But it’s not very secure because if something goes wrong with the middleman, then everything can be stolen. It’s like having all your eggs in one basket.
On-Chain Light Node (Decentralized Bridges)
Instead of having one person in charge, decentralized cross-chain bridges use on-chain light nodes to communicate between blockchains. A light node is like a small part of the blockchain ledger’s transaction history. It’s connected to a full node to make sure everything is correct.
To send messages between chains, light nodes on one chain check the metadata of a block from another chain. Then they send proof of the transaction to the other chain. This is a safe way to send messages between chains, but it’s also very expensive. You would need to build a new bridge for every pair of chains, and each one would need its own interface and code.
LayerZero’s Solution to Interoperability
Instead of a middle chain or a layer-2 solution, LayerZero provides a massive infrastructure that would seamlessly enable direct, trustless transactions across all chains. Think of it like this: if blockchains are nations and bridges are immigration, then LayerZero would be a global super-passport and air-traffic control that allows communication between all blockchains at once. It focuses more on the communication problem of the interoperability layer (layer 0) rather than providing a third party solution like a bridge or middle chain.
LayerZero achieves this by using on-chain light nodes in a much more economical way. The team behind LayerZero, LayerZero Labs, coined it Ultra Light Node (ULN). The ULNs are connected to oracles and relayers, both independent off-chain entities in charge of transferring messages from one chain to another.
Instead of keeping all block headers sequentially, block headers are streamed on demand by decentralized oracles, i.e. Chainlink, allowing the ULN endpoints to be small and cost-effective. The relayers are responsible for moving transaction proofs. Initially, LayerZero Labs will run and maintain the relayers, which will soon be fully open-sourced so that anyone can operate their own relayer.
Moreover, the use of an oracle-relayer pair provides additional layers of security since responsibilities are broken up. But if both parties are compromised, LayerZero would be vulnerable to attacks–no easy task, given the progressive decentralization of relayers growing in the network.
Who is the Team behind LayerZero?
LayerZero Labs, a Vancouver-based startup, developed LayerZero protocols to enable omnichain decentralized applications across multiple blockchains. LayerZero was co-founded in 2021 by Bryan Pellegrino, Ryan Zarick, and Caleb Banister. The three have previously worked together in computer network research labs at the University of New Hampshire.
LayerZero Labs have recently raised US$120 million in Series B funding at a valuation of US$3 billion. The funding is expected to go towards growth initiatives, in particular expanding the Company’s presence in the Asia-Pacific. In March 2022, LayerZero Labs raised $135 million in a Series B funding round from the likes of FTX Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, Uniswap Labs, Sequoia Capital, a16z, PayPal Ventures and more. Interestingly, LayerZero is PayPal’s first ever web3 investment. Seeing as that PayPal is one of the world’s leading payment networks this goes to show LayerZero has huge potential that spans beyond the crypto space.
Does LayerZero have a Token?
LayerZero does not have a token YET. But based on their information code we know it will be called $ZRO.
Stargate Finance (Check out our airdrop guide here) is the first live LayerZero protocol. LayerZero Labs believes Stargate will be integral to any dApp that wants to move cryptocurrency across blockchains. Thus, Stargate users, especially DAO voters, could have a very high chance to receive $ZRO airdrops. Here’s how to stake and become a DAO Voter on Stargate:
Buy Stargate’s $STG token (for as little as $0.74) on centralized crypto exchanges like Bybit or on decentralized exchanges like Uniswap. We suggest staking at least 25 $STG because it is the minimum required to get some guild roles.
Stake $STG to get $veSTG. This gives you voting power on Stargate’s staking tab: https://stargate.finance/stake. The staking period can range from 1 to 36 months. You can also browse the pools and farms on the staking page to earn more $STG yields.
Add liquidity to Pools. Go to https://stargate.finance/pool, choose your preferred Pool and add liquidity. You can remove liquidity at any time on the “Remove” tab. You earn LP tokens as a reward, which then be farmed to get $STG. Check our guide here.
Regularly vote on governance proposals. Tip: Select “Turn On My Notifications” so you don’t miss any voting opportunities.
Interact with Stargate Bridge
Interact with dApps such as Stargate Finance’s Stargate Bridge by bridging your funds across networks repeatedly to generate volume. To do this, select the “from” token and network, the “to” token and network, and confirm your transaction.
Bonus: How to save costs when using Stargate Bridge
Here’s how to save costs when using Stargate Bridge:
Do not transfer assets to/from the Ethereum network as it usually costs the most.
Instead, to save costs when using Stargate Bridge transfer to/from these networks: BNB/AVAX, BNB/MATIC, BNB/FTM, BNB/METIS, AVAX/MATIC, AVAX/FTM, AVAX/METIS, MATIC/FTM, ARB/BNB, ARB/AVAX, ARB/MATIC and FTM/METIS.
Check the estimated gas cost before bridging by clicking “Transfer Gas Estimator” before transferring assets.
Use Stargate on Bungee
Bridge tokens on Bungee using the Stargate route. This will also make you eligible for the Bungee, Socket and Stargate potential airdrops. For more details, see our Bungee token airdrop guide.
The Aptos Bridge is powered by LayerZero. You can move USDC, USDT, and ETH from Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Avalanche, Polygon, and BSC to the Aptos network. Connect your EVM (e.g. MetaMask) and Aptos wallets (e.g. Martian wallet). Then, choose the number of cryptocurrencies and networks you wish to use. However, keep in mind there is a 3-day transfer window if you want to withdraw your funds out of the Aptos ecosystem. You will also need to pay gas fees in Aptos $APT tokens.
To use the Aptos Bridge with the least amount of gas fees, transfer USDC from BNB Chain to Aptos network. To do this, you will need USDC and BNB (gas fees) in your EVM wallet (e.g. MetaMask). You will also need $APT to your Martain wallet to pay for gas fees.
Use the LiquidSwap Bridge
Go to https://bridge.liquidswap.com/ and bridge USDT, and ETH from Ethereum or Arbitrum to the Aptos network. Connect your EVM (e.g. MetaMask) and Aptos wallets (e.g. Martian wallet), and choose the cryptocurrency and network (Ethereum/Arbitrum to Aptos and vice versa) you wish to bridge tokens. Note you will need to pay gas fees in Aptos $APT tokens.
Use LEVEL Finance Bridge
LEVEL Finance is a decentralized perpetual exchange on BNB Chain that provides risk management solutions for liquidity providers and is built by experienced entrepreneurs and contributors. To use LEVEL, you will need to buy their native $LVL token on DEXs such as Uniswap or Pancakeswap. Then, go to LEVEL Bridge and bridge $LVL tokens between BNB Chain and Arbitrum. Note that depending on which direction you are bridging, you will need BNB or ETH for gas fees.
Use SushiSwap Cross-Chain Swap
SushiSwap released its SushiXSwap, which is built upon LayerZero’s Stargate protocol. You can swap tokens directly to another network without using a bridge. As such, users are likely to be qualified for a $ZRO token airdrop!
Use BitcoinBridge
BitcoinBridge allows users to transfer BTC.b. BTC.b is a new type of wrapped Bitcoin that can be used on the Avalanche Network. It is moved to Avalanche using the Avalanche Bridge. This makes it easy to use Bitcoin on many different networks with the help of LayerZero.
Meanwhile, BitcoinBridge is a good way for people on a budget to interact with the LayerZero ecosystem. Doing 20 transactions on BitcoinBridge will only cost around US$15! Here’s how to use BitcoinBridge:
Rage Trade is a double-legged trading protocol that offers a perpetual ETH swap and a USDC yield-farming product built on Arbitrum and LayerZero. Therefore, interacting with it may qualify you for 3 airdrops at the same time! To use Rage Trade, simply trade and deposit and stake on their platform. Also, contribute to their community.
Altitude ($ALTD) is a dApp built on LayerZero, designed to allow DeFi users to transfer assets with enhanced security features, inexpensive bridging fees, and fast transactions. Altitude have confirmed they will launch its $ALTD token as well as an airdrop when their mainnet launches!
Dexalot is a decentralized exchange that uses LayerZero as its default bridge provider. To use Dexalot, you will need to have ETH on the Arbitrum network and AVAX on the Avalanche network. Connect your wallet to Dexalot and go to the “Portfolio” tab, making sure you are on the Avalanche network. At the bottom of the page you will see a list of your tokens, select AVAX and click the 3 points on the right hand side. On the popup window, deposit some AVAX onto Dexalot. Note however depending on the amount of AVAX deposited, it may cost more gas fees to withdraw than the amount itself. So you may need to consider it as a loss for the sake of interacting with Dexalot.
Interact with Abracadabra
Abracadabra is intergrated with Layer Zero and allows users to borrow, leverage or earn yield. To interact with Abracadabra, you will need to have their native $MIM token. $MIM can be purchased on several decentralized exchanges such as Uniswap, Sushiswap or Trader Joe. Make sure you are on the Avalanche network, or you will have to first bridge your $MIM tokens there. Back on Abacadabra, send one $MIM token from Avalanche to Arbitrum network. If you don’t want to keep your $MIM tokens, you can proceed to sell it for ETH on Arbitrum.
Use SteakHut Finance
SteakHut Finance is a yield optimization protocol that has integrated with LayerZero to launch $STEAK as an omnichain token. On SteakHut, $STEAK will be abe to be bridged across Avalanche, Arbitrum and eventually other blockchains on a 1:1 ratio. To use SteakHut, you will need to buy $STEAK tokens on the Avalanche Network. Note that currently only Trader Joe offers $STEAK tokens. Afterwards, connect your wallet to SteakHut and go to the “Bridge” tab. Send your $STEAK tokens to Arbitrum. You can also send your $STEAK tokens in reverse i.e. from Arbitrum to Avalanche networks. This would increase the number of interactions you have with SteakHut, which may put you in a better position for any potential airdrop. Note that you will need to pay gas fees in AVAX.
Interact with Mummy Finance
Mummy Finance is integrated with LayerZero and lets users trade BTC, ETH, FTM, OP, ARB and other cryptocurrencies with up to 100x leverage. To interact with Mummy Finance, you will first need to buy some of their native $MMY tokens on the Arbitrum network here. Then, go to Mummy bridge and bridge your tokens from the Arbitrum to Fantom network. Note it may cost more gas fees transfer back or sell your $MMY tokens. Therefore, you may need to consider it as a loss for the sake of interacting with Mummy Finance.
Interact with other dApps on LayerZero
You can also interact with other dApps on LayerZero including Holograph, Mugen Finance, Radiant Capital, Omni X or Angle Protocol. You can make small transactions, deposit funds, provide liquidity, swap assets etc. By actively and consistently using the ecosystem, it is highly likely LayerZero will reward users who genuinely interact with the ecosystem.
To get the veStaker role, hold at least 25 $veSTG. To do this, buy at least 25 $STG on exchanges such as Bybit, Binance, or Uniswap. Then, stake your $STG here to get $veSTG. For detailed instructions see above.
To get the 100 STG role, you will need to hold at least 100 $STG. Note that staked $STG does not count.
To get the 1k LP Farmer role, supply at least $1,000 of USDC, USDT or BUSD on Ethereum, BNB Chain, Avalanche, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism or Fantom (not Metis) to receive LP tokens.
How to claim the LayerZero ($ZRO) token airdrop?
Here’s how to claim the LayerZero ($ZRO) token airdrop:
To claim the LayerZero ($ZRO) token airdrop, those who are eligible must donate US$0.10 in USDC, USDT or native ETH per $ZRO. This is known as LayerZero’s Proof-of-Donation mechanism. Donations would go to the Protocol Guild.
Users can claim from the following chains: Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Polygon, BNB Chain, and Avalanche.
Once claimed, $ZRO holders can transfer their tokens via the above chains using Stargate.
LayerZero Airdrop Review
When reviewing an airdrop, there are several factors to consider. First, the likelihood the project will even do an airdrop in the first place. Then, to look at how many tokens the project intends to allocate towards airdrop campaigns, as well as the difficulty in participating in their airdrop. It is also important to look at the utility of the token so that there will be an actual use and purpose in participating in the airdrop in the first place. Finally, a factor to consider when reviewing an airdrop is whether the airdropped tokens are subject to any lockup period.
Likelihood of Airdrop: The LayerZero token airdrop is available to claim from 20th June to 20th September 2024.
Airdropped Token Allocation: 85 million $ZRO are available to claim.
Airdrop Difficulty: To be eligible for the LayerZero token airdrop, users could submit unique proposals for LayerZero or provided multiple ongoing transactions on the protocol.
Token Utility: The LayerZero ($ZRO) token acts as a governance token, and to facilitate transactions across different blockchain networks.
Token Lockup: The token will be unlocked on launch. However, those who are eligible for the airdrop must donate US$0.10 per $ZRO to claim the token
Injective ($INJ) aims to create a financial system that is truly free and inclusive through decentralization. With the fastest blockchain built for finance and plug-and-play Web3 modules, Injective’s ecosystem is reshaping a broken financial system with dApps that are highly interoperable, scalable, and truly decentralized.
Although Injective is a decentralized platform, it moves away from the stereotype definitions of such platforms to bring a new era of DeFi with better functionality. For example, it provides the liquidity that matches that of CEXs. To understand how it achieves this and more, let’s take a more in-depth look into the platform.
Check out our interview with Co-founder and CEO Eric Chen!
Injective FRENZY: Interview with CEO Eric Chen
Background
Injective was founded in 2018 and incubated by Binance Labs. They are developed by a team with a vast experience in blockchain technology and other closely related technologies. Its Co-founder and CEO, Eric Chen, is a protocol researcher at Investing Capital, while its CTO, Albert Chon, is a software developer at Amazon.
Others include full-stack developers, Solidity developers, and Golang developers. Moreover, the Injective team comprises members experienced in ASIC design and computer science.
Apart from the core team members, Injective is supported by notable names in the industry, such as Binance, Pantera, Jump and Mark Cuban.
What is Injective?
Injective brings the features of centralized exchanges onto DEXs. The network brings speed, security, and liquidity into DEXs unlike most of the top projects at the moment, and thus, aiding DeFi adoption. The system achieves this through a layered design and the employment of various technological advancements.
3 Main Features of Injective
Inter-chain Trading
By interfacing with other blockchain-based networks, Injective can support many trading pairs. Consequently, traders can choose between trading pairs considering their profit margin. Ethereum, INJ, MKR, and DAI are the cryptocurrencies tradable on the Injective platform.
A Combination of DeFi and Derivatives
Injective has its eyes set on the DeFi space. For this reason, it includes features that enable the interaction between DeFi networks and the digital currency derivatives space, which culminates with an innovative trading offering.
Distributed Futures and Margin Trading
This is among the differentiating factors in the Injective ecosystem. It allows traders to trade futures and derivatives while enjoying the fruits of decentralization.
What’s in it for Users?
Through its features, it is evident that the platform is focused on end-users. Among the immediate benefits are security, low entry barrier, flexibility, convenience, speed, trust, and liquidity.
5 Primary Layers of Injective
The 5 primary layers of Injective are interlinked. Below is its technical architecture.
Let’s take a look at each of the layers in detail.
Injective Chain
The Injective chain forms the network’s core and powers decentralized trading. However, instead of being a full chain per se, it is actually a sidechain that is connected to the Ethereum blockchain. Notably, Ethereum is the home of the vast majority of the DeFi platforms.
Moreover, the chain, through a connection to the Cosmos IBC, provides cross-chain functionalities. This layer acts as a derivatives platform and holds the exchange’s distributed order book.
In addition, the Injective chain comprises a system that coordinates the platform’s trades, an execution space for the Ethereum virtual machine (EVM), and a bridge that makes it easier to interact with Ethereum-based tokens on Injective. Note that EVM handles the execution of smart contracts allowing for the creation of decentralized applications (Dapps).
Other features domiciled in the Injective chain include, but are not limited to, DEX contracts, derivatives contracts, 0x V3 exchange contracts, and the staking contract.
Exchange Client
The client allows permissionless participation on the network by supporting an open-source front-end. For ease of use, it has a professionally designed graphical user interface that appeals to both novice and experienced users.
API Provider
Application programming interface (API) providers form a key part of the Injective ecosystem by interacting with transactions and acting as a data layer.
An API node can either provide a transaction relay service or be a data layer. As a transaction relay service, it provides mechanisms for users to interact with the system.
On the other hand, API providers acting as a data layer provide data and analytic capabilities to external users.
EVM RPC Provider
This aspect of Injective deals with the interconnection between Injective and Ethereum.
Ethereum Bridge
The bridge provides an interface for exchanging tokens built using the Ethereum standard (ERC-20). Also, it creates a peg-zone where the exchange takes place.
Injective Token (INJ) and its Use Cases
Injective has a native token called INJ. It has a maximum circulating supply of 100 million tokens. Though only around 15.2 million tokens are in circulation, it is projected to increase due to inflation, which happens at roughly 7%. Luckily, the platform has instituted measures to reduce inflation to around 2% over time.
The token was first made available to the public via Binance Launchpad, the exchange’s Initial Exchange Offering (IEO) platform. INJ is currently listed on Binance and on Uniswap.
INJ Token’s Uses on the Injective Platform
Offering discounts on transaction fees – Traders on the platform are charged less when paying their transaction fees using the network’s native currency.
Rewarding stakers – Since the platform supports staking, rewards to stakers are paid using INJ.
Governance rights – Being a decentralized community-focused platform, governance-related issues are decided by the Injective community. However, to participate, members have to hold INJ.
The more the tokens held, the stronger the voice on the governance table since INJ is required when submitting a proposal and when voting.
Providing passive income – Apart from paying staking rewards in the native token, INJ can be locked in a wallet to attract tips.
Incentivizing market makers – Market makers or liquidity providers are key roles. Therefore, to attract more liquidity, the platform uses its native token to incentivize liquidity providers.
Injective CosmWasm Upgrade
On 5th July 2022, Injective’s Injective CosmWasm Mainnet upgrade has gone live. As a part of this upgrade, Injective will have, among others, the following updates:
Smart contract support with CosmWasm;
Automatic smart contract execution;
Support for negative maker fees; and
Support for binary options markets.
Smart Contract Support with CosmWasm
As a result of the latest upgrade, Injective now supports smart contracts by CosmWasm. The name “CosmWasm” comes from the combination of 2 things- Cosmos, and WebAssembly. CosmWasm is a smart contract platform built for the Cosmos ecosystem, its unique feature is that it allows developers to build multi-chain smart contracts using the InterBlockchain Communication (IBC) Protocol. Furthermore, this update will allow developers to build applications on Injective whilst at the same time making use of the existing core modules provided by Injective. For example, developers can use Injective’s decentralized order book module to create other decentralized apps (dApps) such as exchanges, prediction markets, lending protocols etc.
Automatic Smart Contract Execution
The latest mainnet upgrade also allows smart contracts to be executed automatically at every block. This is unique because generally, smart contracts require an external agent such as a user to manually invoke the contract and trigger the logic associated with the contract. Now, with the CosmWasm platform, smart contracts can be triggered individually and block by block, meaning that developers can create truly decentralized and permissionless applications.
Negative Maker Fees
In cryptocurrency trading, exchanges usually charge trading fees on a maker/taker structure, with maker fees being charged when the user places an order that goes onto the order book (whether fully or partially) i.e. “making” the market or providing liquidity.
Injective charging negative maker fees mean that instead of users paying, users will receive a percentage of their trade as a rebate. The community will be invited to submit governance proposals for which trading markets they would like to implement negative maker fees, so the decision is left in the community’s hands.
The overall benefit to the Injective community would be that it would encourage more users, thereby increasing liquidity for more orders and trading options.
Binary Options Support
Binary options are a type of financial contract, where there are 2 options based upon the outcome of an underlying asset or question. And when the correct answer occurs, there will be a payoff. Having binary options support on Injective means that new and diverse types of apps can be built on the platform, for example, those involving prediction markets.
What is the Injective Volan upgrade?
Injective’s Volan upgrade is expected to be the largest mainnet update in the project’s history. The Volan upgrade comes as the result of months of research and development and will involve a hard fork of the Injective network. Here are some key features that will be introduced in the Volan upgrade:
Sub-second block times: Injective will achieve near-instant finality with sub-second block times, enabling fast and seamless transactions for users and developers. This will also reduce the risk of front-running and MEV attacks, which are prevalent on other blockchains.
IBC integration: Injective will become fully interoperable with the Cosmos ecosystem and other IBC-enabled chains, allowing users to transfer assets and data across different networks. This will open up new possibilities for cross-chain composability and innovation, as well as access to a vast pool of liquidity and users.
CosmWasm and EVM smart contracts:Injective will support CosmWasm, a smart contract framework for the Cosmos ecosystem that allows developers to write smart contracts in any programming language that compiles to WebAssembly. Injective will also maintain its compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), allowing developers to deploy existing Ethereum smart contracts on Injective with minimal changes. This will enable developers to create diverse and complex applications on Injective, such as decentralized exchanges, lending protocols, prediction markets, NFT platforms, and more.
When is the Injective Volan upgrade?
The Volan upgrade will take place at block height of 57,076,000, or approximately 2:00pm on 11th January 2024 (UTC). Some exchanges such as Binance will temporarily suspend deposits and withdrawals of tokens on the Injective network from 1:00pm on 11th January 2024 (UTC) to support the network upgrade.
Injective ecosystem token airdrop?
Injective is doing an airdrop for the Injective ecosystem. Here are 3 ways you can position yourself for a potential Injective token airdrop:
Staking on Injective validators: We suggest participants mostly focus on this item since staking on Injective validators may qualify you for other token airdrops.
Mainnet interactions: You can position yourself for a potential airdrop and earn yields by depositing $INJ or other cryptocurrencies into the Black Panther vaults. Another option is to trade Injectives NFTs Talis Protocol, which is also very popular amongst users as they have also announced an airdrop. You can also trade or provide liquidity on Helix, which is a decentralized exchange and they are also doing an ongoing airdrop.
Testnet interactions: Some protocols on the Injective ecosystem offer incentivized testnets which allow you to position yourself for airdrops without putting in any actual cryptocurrencies or funds. These include Ninja Blaze and Aeroscraper.
By providing the required liquidity to power an active trading experience on a decentralized platform, Injective can siphon users from CEXs to DEXs. Consequently, cryptocurrency users and traders are hedged away from potential risks.
In addition, enabling cross-chain interaction opens the platform to DeFi enthusiasts. Additionally, providing support for ERC-20 tokens increases interaction with DeFi tokens and protocols.
Decentralised Finance (DeFi) series: tutorials, guides and more
With content for both beginners and more advanced users, check out our YouTube DeFi series containing tutorials on the ESSENTIAL TOOLS you need for trading in the DeFi space e.g. MetaMask and Uniswap. As well as a deep dive into popular DeFi topics such as decentralized exchanges, borrowing-lending platforms and NFT marketplaces
More videos and articles are coming soon as part of our DeFi series, so be sure to SUBSCRIBE to our Youtube channel so you can be notified as soon as they come out!
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency trading involves significant risks and may result in the loss of your capital. You should carefully consider whether trading cryptocurrencies is right for you in light of your financial condition and ability to bear financial risks. Cryptocurrency prices are highly volatile and can fluctuate widely in a short period of time. As such, trading cryptocurrencies may not be suitable for everyone. Additionally, storing cryptocurrencies on a centralized exchange carries inherent risks, including the potential for loss due to hacking, exchange collapse, or other security breaches. We strongly advise that you seek independent professional advice before engaging in any cryptocurrency trading activities and carefully consider the security measures in place when choosing or storing your cryptocurrencies on a cryptocurrency exchange.
zkLend began its creation in late 2021 with aims to create a layer 2 money-market protocol built on StarkNet. With StarkNet being one of the hottest anticipated airdrops, there is massive speculation that zkLend will also have an airdrop. Particularly since zkLend’s V1 mainnet is fast approaching. This guide will teach you how to get a potential zkLend ($ZEND) token airdrop, which may also increase your potential StarkNet airdrop too!
zkLend is a money-market protocol built on StarkNet. Its aim is to combine the best of zk-rollups and Ethereum. zkLend will enable users to earn interest on deposits and borrow assets. To achieve this, zkLend will be offering a dual solution in the form of 2 products: Artemis, and Apollo.
Currently, zkLend has launched the Artemis MVP testnet on StarkNet Goreli testnet. Artemis is designed for regular DeFi users, and enables them to deposit, borrow and lend in a decentralized and permissionless manner on StarkNet.
zkLend’s other major product, Apollo, is designed for institutional clients. The aim of Apollo is to become a gateway for institutional users into the world of DeFi. It will allow permissioned users to deposit, borrow and lend on StarkNet, but without compromising on compliance and security.
What is the zkLend ($ZEND) token?
The zkLend ($ZEND) token has not been launched yet. However, when it does, there will be a total token supply of 100 million tokens. 35% of the total supply of $ZEND tokens will be allocated towards staking and distribution rewards.
The ZEND token is intended for governance and utility functions on zkLend. In particular, ZEND tokens will be rewarded to users when they interact with the zkLend network. For example, ZEND tokens will be distributed for users when borrowing/lending or providing liquidity to the network. Also, when users participate in community events or marketing/airdrop campaigns. ZEND token holders will also be entitled to voting rights which allow them to vote on future features of zkLend.
What is the Current Status of the zkLend ($ZEND) Token Airdrop?
zkLend has not launched its $ZEND token yet. However, the chances of zkLend doing an airdrop are promising. This is because they have already stated in their Whitepaper that a proportion of zkLend’s revenue would be allocated for airdrop campaigns.
How do I participate in the $ZEND token airdrop?
As there is no official airdrop announcement yet, many users can only speculate how to become eligible for $ZEND token airdrops. It is speculated that users could participate in the Artemis public testnet. This is in the hopes that completing zkLend testnet actions will inevitably entitle them to airdrops when the $ZEND token is launched. However, users should note that an airdrop is not guaranteed.
Connect your wallet to zkLend’s Questboard and complete the tasks. Tasks include joining their Discord, liking and retweeting their Tweets, and submitting your Starknet mainnet wallet address.
Artemis is still in the testnet stage, and it is hoped that the mainnet will be launched in 2023, as well as the launch of the $ZEND token.
When reviewing an airdrop, there are several factors to consider. First, the likelihood the project will even do an airdrop in the first place. Then, to look at how many tokens the project intends to allocate towards airdrop campaigns, as well as the difficulty in participating in their airdrop. It is also important to look at the utility of the token so that there will be an actual use and purpose in participating in the airdrop in the first place. Finally, a factor to consider when reviewing an airdrop is whether the airdropped tokens are subject to any lockup period.
Likelihood of Airdrop: The zkLend ($ZEND) token has not been launched yet. But the team has said that $ZEND tokens would be allocated towards staking and distribution rewards.
Airdropped Token Allocation: zkLend ($ZEND) will be a total token supply of 100 million tokens. 35% of the total supply of $ZEND tokens will be allocated towards staking and distribution rewards.
Airdrop Difficulty: It is possible that participating in the Artemis public testnet could make you eligible for a potential $ZEND airdrop. Whilst this requires time and technical knowledge, you will only be using testnet ETH so it does not cost any money on your part. Otherwise, there are simple social tasks on their Questboard which are easy to do. There may also be a possibility that doing zkLend tasks may make you eligible for the potential StarkNet airdrop too!
Token Utility: The ZEND token is intended for governance and utility functions on zkLend. ZEND tokens will also be rewarded to users that interact with the zkLend network.
Token Lockup: There is no announcement on the $ZEND token lockup yet. However, it is hoped that the mainnet will be launched in 2023, together with the $ZEND token.
Hunting for crypto airdrops is a great way to make free money. Some people have made as high as $10,000 from the Aptos token airdrop. If you missed it, Quai Network is another upcoming project with airdrop qualifications happening right now. Let’s take a look at what Quai Network is and what you can do to receive their token airdrop before it’s too late!
Quai Network ($QUAI) Airdrop Step-by-step Guide
Here’s how to receive a potential Quai Network ($QUAI) token airdrop:
Quai Network is a decentralized network of multiple proof-of-work (PoW) blockchains running in unison. These blockchains have native interoperability, allowing for cross-chain transactions and messages. It is also fully EVM compatible, allowing any Solidity contract to be ported and deployed.
Quai Network provides a novel approach to blockchain scaling, different from parallel processing chains such as Aptos and Sui. It aims to maximize the energy efficiency of PoW by introducing the concept of modularity.
Proof-of-Work 2.0 (PoW2)
Quai Network sought to improve upon the PoW consensus mechanism by addressing its environmental concerns. For the longest time, Bitcoin’s PoW algorithm has been infallible, but it also consumes massive amounts of energy. And it will continue to rise as mining difficulty increases after every Bitcoin Halving event. This is why Ethereum switched to proof-of-stake (PoS).
But Quai Network believes that PoS is inherently centralized due to the amount of money it requires to be a validator, creating a gap between the validator “class” and everyday users. Therefore, Quai Network has introduced an upgraded version of PoW called Proof-of-Work 2.0 (PoW2) where hash power can be reused to secure multiple chains. This is achieved by utilizing a novel combination of merged mining and sharding, reducing computational cost while allowing the network to scale more efficiently.
Merged Mining
Merged mining is the process of securing multiple blockchains with one miner, allowing miners to earn rewards in multi cryptos without having to switch between networks or use additional hardware. It was first conceived by Satoshi Nakamoto in the Bitcoin white paper, in which a completely seperate blockchain could share CPU power with Bitcoin, inheriting the same security and decentralization of Bitcoin without requiring dedicated miners.
Quai Network uses this concept, but instead of having Bitcoin as a parent chain, it has its own parent chain (the Prime Chain) which secures the many other chains beneath it by sharing hashrate. This improves throughput over monolithic chains such as Solana without the need for layer-2 solutions. Moreover, Quai Network is horizontally scalable, which means additional chains can be added to meet network demands. This is possible because of their multi-chain architecture.
Multi-Chain Architecture
Quai Network’s architecture makes use of sharding by dividing a single blockchain into multiple smaller and faster blockchains to improve network performance, similar to Ethereum and Polkadot. Its network is divided into a hierarchical structure of three different types of chains. At mainnet launch, Quai Network will begin with the single Prime Chain, three Region Chains, and nine Zone Chains.
Prime Chain
The Prime Chain is at the core of the entire network, utilizing a hashing algorithm that is shared across all subordinate chains (Region and Zone). It aggregates and settles state transitions across the network, which means miners are required to mine the Prime Chain to keep the blockchains functional.
However, it has the highest mining difficulty, which means it has the slowest throughput (one block every 15 minutes). Therefore, it is not ideal for simple transactions and DApp activities. It is mostly for use in situations where the whole network is being addressed and securing the network.
Region Chains
There are three Region Chains at mainnet launch: Cyprus, Paxos, and Hydra. These chains have lower mining difficulty, thus a higher throughput than the Prime Chain (one block every 5 minutes). These chains handle lesser network interactions that are not necessary to address the entire network. They can also interact natively on the network, but each require unique mining power. Therefore, a miner can only mine a single Region Chain at a time, in addition to the Prime Chain.
Zone Chains
At mainnet launch, each Region Chain will have three Zone Chains under it. These Zone Chains have the highest throughput (one block per 10 seconds) and TPS capacity, making them ideal for regular transactions and contract interactions. As such, most activity on Quai Network will occur on Zone Chains. They are also able to interact with other Zone chains, even those under different Region Chains. But similar to Region Chains, miners can only select one Zone Chain to mine.
Coincident Blocks
Coincident Blocks tie the whole hierarchal structure together, linking all chains which enables cross-chain state transfers and periodic pegging of all chains to the Prime Chain’s total work. These blocks allow the entire network to inherit the same security of the Prime Chain, governed by three rules:
All Prime blocks must contain a Region and Zone block.
All Region blocks must contain a Zone block.
Zone blocks can be mined asynchronously without being included in a Prime or Region coincident block.
Basically, a Coincident block occurs when (1) a Prime, Region, and Zone block are confirmed at the same time OR (2) when just a Region and Zone block. Each time a Coincident block is mined, all blocks since the last coincident block are then confirmed by the Region Chain, continuing upwards until the Prime Chain — think of it as a roll call. Therefore, chains lower in the hierarchy can inherit the security of the Prime Chain while still conducting independent activities.
Who is the Team behind Quai Network?
Quai Network is developed by Dominant Strategies, a technology development company based in Austin. The company was co-founded in 2019 by Alan Orwick, Jonathan Downing, Karl Kreder, Yanni Georghiades, and Sriram Vishwanath, all of whom worked together in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at the University of Texas. They co-wrote and published the white paper for Quai Network in December 2021.
Dominant Strategies has raised $10 million over two funding rounds — $8 million from Polychain Capital in March 2022 and $2 million from Alumni Ventures in May 2022.
Does Quai Network have a Token?
Yes. $QUAI will be used to ensure network security and as an exchange of value in the ecosystem. Their token supply is hard-capped but its total number is not yet determined. According to their tokenomics, 25% is distributed as “adoption incentives”, 3% for “community” and 0.5% for “testnet incentives.” This means token airdrop opportunities for early users of Quai Network!
How to Receive Quai Network ($QUAI) Token Airdrop?
Quai Network has a Social Media Rewards Program that will airdrop $QUAI tokens for engaging with their Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, TikTok, and Instagram. Compared to other projects, this is one of the easiest ways to earn free tokens.
To begin, join their Discord server and follow their Twitter account. Afterwards, you can check your rewards on the Quai Dashboard. If you have a Citizen role in their Discord server, you will have a 1.5x multiplier for your $QUAI rewards. You can obtain it by completing their survey here. It is easy to do if you have some degree of understanding of the project.
From here on out, Quai Network will reward you $QUAI tokens for your engagement with their social media platforms. As of now, only Twitter and Reddit rewards are available. YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram rewards will be available soon.
Liking and retweeting Quai Network’s Tweets that are less than seven days old (limited to twice a day).
Make a Tweet mentioning Quai Network. Original and insightful Tweets that are liked or replied by Quai Network will grant you additional rewards.
Reddit
Make a unique post in their channel (limited to twice a day).
Make a post about Quai Network in another approved crypto-related Subreddit (limited to twice a day).
It is worth noting that your account must have more than 50 post/comment karma, and the post must be approved by their team. Therefore, it will some time for your rewards to show if you make a post on Reddit.
Quai Airdrop Review
When reviewing an airdrop, there are several factors to consider. First, the likelihood the project will even do an airdrop in the first place. Then, to look at how many tokens the project intends to allocate towards airdrop campaigns, as well as the difficulty in participating in their airdrop. It is also important to look at the utility of the token so that there will be an actual use and purpose in participating in the airdrop in the first place. Finally, a factor to consider when reviewing an airdrop is whether the airdropped tokens are subject to any lockup period.
Likelihood of Airdrop: Quai Network’s token airdrop is now live!
Airdropped Token Allocation: According to Quai’s tokenomics, 25% will be distributed as “adoption incentives”, 3% for “community” and 0.5% for “testnet incentives.” This could mean token airdrop opportunities for early users of Quai Network!
Airdrop Difficulty: Quai Network has a Social Media Rewards Program that will airdrop $QUAI tokens for engaging with their social media accounts on Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, TikTok, and Instagram. This is one of the easiest ways to earn free tokens compared to other projects!
Token Utility: The $QUAI token will be used to ensure network security and as an exchange of value in the ecosystem.
Token Lockup: Participants of Quai Network’s Social Media Rewards Program will receive their $QUAI tokens upon Quai Network’s Mainnet Launch
ZK-rollups could be one of the strongest performing sectors in 2023, as demand for Ethereum scaling solutions is increasing. As such, Sovereign Labs is one of the most promising upcoming projects in the ZK-rollup space. The team is well-funded and the development is on track to be completed in Q2 2023. As such, Sovereign should definitely be on your watchlist for 2023.
Check out our zkSync article for another highly anticipated ZK-rollup project this year.
What is Sovereign?
Sovereign Labs, the team behind Sovereign, is creating an open, interconnected rollup ecosystem to make it easier for developers to deploy interoperable and scalable rollups on any blockchain. It’s been compared to Cosmos ($ATOM), but instead of layer-1 chains, Sovereign uses their software development kit (SDK) and inter-blockchain communication protocol (IBC) for ZK-rollups.
Current Problems of Blockchain Scaling Solutions
The current blockchain scaling solutions including application-specific layer-1s, optimistic rollups and ZK-rollups, all have their own drawbacks:
Application-specific layer-1s are the easiest to design and implement, but require large amounts of capital from validators to secure the blockchain. This approach is only viable for a few well-funded blockchain apps.
Optimistic rollups produce fraud proofs to prevent misbehavior. However, during an attack, fraud proofs can be censored, leading to long finality delays. This makes bridging out of optimistic rollups slow and costly.
ZK-rollups share the advantages of optimistic rollups, but without the long finality delay. Large batches of transactions can be finalized with validity proof in a matter of seconds. However, ZK-rollups are incredibly difficult to build because it involves a very high level of cryptography and protocol engineering.
Out of the three blockchain scaling solutions, ZK-rollups prove to be the most promising scaling paradigm despite the massive undertaking it requires to build them. As such, Sovereign aims to make it easier for developers to create secure and interoperable ZK-rollups, just like the Cosmos SDK did for layer-1 chains. As a result, developers do not need to be experts in cryptography to write their apps, allowing them to focus on the business logic of their chain.
Who is the Team behind Sovereign?
Sovereign Labs is co-founded by Cem Özer (CEO) and Preston Evans (CTO). Özer had worked as a smart contract and protocol engineer in ConsenSys, the company behind MetaMask. On the other hand, Evans had worked as a software engineer in Amazon, and has years of experience in computer science and machine learning.
Sovereign aims to make scaling simple, supporting billions of blockchain users without sacrificing security. In late January 2023, Sovereign Labs raised $7.4 million in seed funding led by Huan Ventures with participation from Maven 11, 1KX, Robot Ventures and Plaintext Capital. According to CoinDesk, a spokesperson from Sovereign stated the fundraise puts the company’s valuation in the “eight-figure” range. The fund will be used to build the SDK and hire protocol and researchers with expertise in blockchains and cryptography.
Properties and Key Features of ZK-Rollup SDK
The Sovereign SDK will provide a set of default modules, a peer-to-peer network, a database, and an RPC node, and will abstract away the details of zero-knowledge. This way, developers can write their apps in Rust or C++, and the SDK will automatically compile it to an efficient zero-knowledge virtual machine.
It will also use a novel bridging technique based on proof aggregation to allow rollups on a shared L1 to bridge back and forth at minimal cost without a trusted third party. Off-chain relayers can combine the proofs of all the peer rollups into one proof, which can then be verified on the chain. As the state transitions are proven to be valid, there is no need to pay fees to a liquidity provider or wait a week for transactions to be completed. This means that bridging can be done immediately with no drawbacks.
The biggest feature here is that Sovereign SDK Rollups are able to be used on any blockchain, as the responsibility of verifying proofs is given to the user, not the original blockchain. This is what sets them apart from smart-contract rollups. As the data availability layer does not need to be able to check proofs, SDK rollups can be used on any blockchain without needing to be rewritten. This makes them incredibly versatile, creating an ecosystem of interoperable and scalable rollups that can run on any blockchain.
When is Sovereign Launching?
Sovereign is currently in the process of developing the SDK, which includes designing the default storage module, cryptoeconomics, and core APIs. They are also working on a research prototype which is currently integrating with modular blockchain Celestia for data availability and ZK virtual machine Risc0 for the proving system. This phase is expected to be complete around Q2 2023.
Initial implementation of the SDK will begin afterwards, which they will implement a peer-to-peer network, RPC node, core APIs, default storage and sequencing modules. Once this feature is complete, the SDK will be repeatedly stress tested and audited for about six months until it is ready to be deployed across all mainnet chains.
