a16z crypto
a16z crypto|Apr 09, 2025 15:27
In this episode, we talk about one of the most familiar — and most misunderstood — mechanics in crypto: the airdrop. We explore the history of airdrops in and outside crypto, the challenges of incentive design, and learnings from airdrops to date. We also answer questions like how do you avoid Sybil attacks and professional airdrop farming? Should your drop be big or small, one-time or ongoing? And what happens when AI agents enter the mix? To break it all down, we’re joined by @eddylazzarin, @DarenMatsuoka, @ahall_research, & @rhhackett Whether you’re planning a token launch, looking for token rewards, or just curious why airdrops have become such a powerful mechanism in crypto — this episode is for you. Timestamps: 0:00 - introduction 1:42 - what is an airdrop? 6:27 - tokens vs traditional equity 8:49 - incentive design challenges 15:18 - origins from credit cards to crypto 17:14 - Optimism airdrop case study 23:09 - NFT market learnings 28:32 - Sybil resistance and verifying humanity 33:04 - Uniswap airdrop and beyond 36:35 - AI agents and the future of airdrops 40:33 - connection to performance reviews 45:30 - token vesting and volatility 49:08 - experimentation vs. best practices 59:20 - Batesian mimicry
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