ZKsync Clarifies Airdrop Controversy Incorporating Contribution instead of just Activity into Consideration

Authored by: ZKsync
1. How can one qualify for this airdrop?
There are two ways for addresses to qualify for a 17.5% airdrop:
1. Users (89%): Bridge their crypto assets to ZKsync Era and meet at least one of the seven qualifying criteria as a ZKsync user.
2. Contributors (11%): Individuals, developers, researchers, communities, and companies contributing to the ZKsync protocol and ecosystem through development, promotion, education, or engagement, regardless of using the ZKsync network.
For wallets in the contributor category, participation in the ZKsync Era activity is optional. Contributions are primarily targeted towards early projects built on ZKsync, contributions to related GitHub repositories, security research, serving as Discord moderators, or involvement in communities like Degen, Bonsai, Crypto the Game, Pudgy, and Milady.
2. What does it mean when it’s mentioned that this airdrop is usage-based?
The user-based allocation (89% of total airdrop) aims to identify and reward a diverse group of users on ZKsync Era who will help in the long-term management and growth of ZKsync. The goal is to identify individuals bridging crypto assets to ZKsync Era and provide multiplier rewards for actions indicating themselves as organic users. Such individuals are likely to become valuable members of the ZKsync community.
Historical records of wallets across various chains can reveal a lot about their owners. Genuine users are often more risk-tolerant, especially when they feel they are part of a community. They spend time exploring, trying out new protocols, and holding speculative assets. On the other hand, bots and speculators act cautiously, seeking to integrate into the community and gain value with minimal effort.
3. I meet some of the qualifying criteria but did not receive an allocation, why?
The ZKsync user airdrop allocation (89% of total airdrop) is based on the following combination:
1. How many of the seven qualifying criteria are met.
2. Value Scaling based on the Time-Weighted Average Balance (TWAB) of the amount bridged and held on ZKsync Era over the preceding 12 months from the snapshot date (whether in your wallet or DeFi protocols). This is known as value scaling (refer to details in question 5).
3. Bonus multiplier: If the wallet belongs to a predefined group such as early ETH adopters, top holders of ZKsync-native NFTs/tokens, or holders of ARB, OP, ENS airdrops, it receives an allocation multiplier.
Important note: Trading volume itself does not affect the allocation scale.
Allocations are calculated for users based on the above criteria. To receive an allocation, the result must be greater than ZK 450.
This means that even if you meet all seven criteria but have held a minimal average amount over a period or do not qualify for any other bonus multiplier, you may not qualify for an allocation.
4. I meet four qualifying criteria, but the reward received is less than someone who only meets two criteria. Why?
The number of qualifying criteria met is just one of the three factors determining the allocation size. The ZKsync airdrop allocation is a combination of qualifying criteria, Time-Weighted Average Balance (TWAB) on ZKsync Era, and bonus multiplier.
In this case, the other person may have transferred a significant amount of crypto assets to ZKsync Era and/or held them for a longer period. Alternatively, the other person may qualify for one of the bonus multipliers or be part of a contributor-based airdrop, while you do not.
5. How does “Value Scaling” work?
To identify and reward users who bridge crypto assets to ZKsync Era, a portion of the allocation is based on the Value Scaling formula. This formula adjusts the allocation of addresses based on the amount sent to ZKsync Era and the duration those crypto assets have been held in the wallet.
For example, an address that sent $100 to ZKsync Era at the mainnet launch (March 2023) and has held it since then will have a greater weight than an address that deposited only $100 a month before the snapshot.
Value Scaling = Time-Weighted Average Balance (TWAB) = Scaling of the allocation based on the value of crypto assets bridged and the duration held in the wallet.
Reminder: Trading volume itself does not impact Value Scaling.
For more information, refer to these examples.
6. What if I only use ZKsync Lite? Why am I excluded?
To qualify for the airdrop, addresses must meet one qualifying criterion and bridge crypto assets to ZKsync Era. The focus of the airdrop is on the first ZK chain, ZKsync Era, as it is expected to become a decentralized hub for the entire ZKsync ecosystem.
ZKsync Lite users, as OGs of the ZKsync ecosystem, can earn up to 2 qualifying points for using ZKsync Lite. However, they also need to have crypto assets on ZKsync Era at some point.
For usage-based airdrop: If a user only uses ZKsync Lite and not ZKsync Era, unfortunately, they do not qualify for any user airdrop allocation.
7. Why do some addresses with zero transactions still receive allocations?
The airdrop is divided into user-based allocation (89% of the airdrop) and contributor-based allocation (11% of the airdrop). Wallets in the contributor category do not need to show activity on ZKsync Era. For example, contributor allocations focus on building early projects on ZKsync, contributing to relevant GitHub repositories, conducting security research, managing communities on Discord, or participating in communities like Degen, Bonsai, Crypto the Game, Pudgy, and Milady.
There are 184 addresses that meet the airdrop eligibility, have bridged assets on ZKsync Era, and have no other transactions.
Additionally, 10 test addresses were added for internal quality assurance and testing. These addresses were allocated a minimum of 917 tokens. Once claimed, these tokens will be sent to a burn address.
0x6adb27812220f1ff5df618e3273d83c430705eec 0xb1ded8ff2f7a45f436951f082dda770e1dcee84d 0x07528fba97b02bba1aaa03a8ffe51d3fda86b585 0xc527a57ebcc7af699055bb8a3aca917a00a235ed 0x358291b1ea089437a9b16fb8c23d8a035ea7c358 0x023e3e6d98d7a5c7209910ab4ab9f91713dbdc1d 0x65f8dfc419b418ae82f289059d038428d038cd9a 0x6cc3a7f20f0f2f3d3fb5e07f89f7449e6a2537d6 0xae757f4c8aad55712018e6fef0612a091279517a 0x5f66edefd2d3d228244d5801911cdccb87df92bc 0x0e602a94192f9da3db92f159a724ea8442916987
8. Why are rewards given to external groups like Degen, Bonsai, instead of ZKsync users?
A small portion (2.8%) of the airdrop total is reserved for experimental on-chain communities: recipients of Degen and Bonsai, Crypto The Game, Pudgy, and Milady. These communities are known for their advocacy and passionate defense of their ecosystems, sharing the same cypherpunk values as ZK Nation, while also experimenting in innovative self-organizing ways. These positively oriented communities are valuable additions to any network and are expected to become long-term members and guardians of ZKsync.
9. Why did some people receive over 100,000 tokens?
100K is the maximum reward in the user-based allocation of the airdrop (again, 89% of the airdrop). 155 addresses (0.022%) received allocations of over 100K tokens because they qualified for the highest user reward and also qualified for contributor category rewards (11% of the total airdrop).
Examples of contributor category groups: native ZKsync projects, GitHub developers, security researchers, Discord community moderators, ZK Credo translators, and more.
Disclaimer: Address disclosures follow this privacy policy.