The layer 2 Optimism continues to reward its active users by launching its fifth airdrop, distributing 10.3 million OP tokens, with an estimated total value of around $16 million. This new distribution involves 54,700 user addresses that have interacted with the Superchain, a set of blockchain ecosystems developed with OP Stack technology.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
For this fifth edition of the airdrop, eligible users were those who interacted with at least 20 smart contracts on the Superchain between March 15 and September 15, 2024. The Superchain includes a wide range of chains, such as OP Mainnet, Base, Zora, Mode, Metal, Fraxtal, Cyber, Mint, Swan, Redstone, Lisk, Derive, BOB, Xterio, Polynomial, Race, and Orderly. These chains are extensions of the Optimism infrastructure, each playing a role in the growing ecosystem.
Users have until February 13, 2025, to claim the OP tokens allocated through this airdrop. According to Optimism, this distribution aims to reward the “power users,” or the most active users who have contributed to the expansion and dynamism of the Superchain ecosystem.
You can check your eligibility for this airdrop and claim your OP tokens on the official Optimism website: app.optimism.io/airdrops/5
Additional Rewards for the Most Engaged Users
In addition to the criteria for interacting with smart contracts, some users were able to benefit from an enhanced allocation by meeting additional conditions. Among these criteria were delegating a certain amount of OP tokens or interacting with at least seven different chains within the Superchain. This type of incentive strengthens user engagement and active participation in the governance and development of the ecosystem.
History of Optimism Airdrops
The fifth airdrop is part of a series of similar initiatives implemented by Optimism. Since the launch of its first airdrop on May 31, 2022, the network has distributed over 265 million OP tokens to its users. In February 2023, a second airdrop took place, followed by a third on September 13, 2023, where 19.4 million OP tokens, valued at $26 million, were allocated to nearly 32,000 addresses. This third airdrop was primarily focused on users who participated in the delegation activities of the Optimism Collective.
The fourth airdrop took place in February 2024, continuing the strategy of progressively rewarding active users in the ecosystem. To date, approximately 550 million OP tokens remain available for future airdrops, meaning that Optimism plans to continue supporting and engaging its community in the years to come.
Context of the OP Token Market
The OP token has become a key asset within the Optimism ecosystem, with a current circulation of 1.3 billion tokens and a market capitalization of approximately $1.9 billion. However, like any crypto asset, it is subject to market volatility. At the time of writing this article, the price of the OP token was trading around $1.55, experiencing a 5% decrease in the past 24 hours.
Impact of These Airdrops on the Optimism Ecosystem
Massive airdrops, like this one, play a central role in Optimism’s strategy to foster the growth of its ecosystem. By rewarding the most active and engaged users, the platform stimulates the use of different chains within the Superchain while strengthening the adoption of layer 2 solutions. Optimism utilizes these distributions not only to encourage participation but also to attract more users to its decentralized network, promoting a governance model based on delegation and interaction with the community.
With this fifth airdrop, Optimism continues to demonstrate its commitment to building a robust and decentralized ecosystem while rewarding those who actively contribute to its success.
