Getting Started with NFT Airdrops: Security and Basics

Key Points

• NFT airdrops are a popular method for promoting new collections or NFT projects. Some airdrops also reward current holders of coins, tokens, or NFTs with new NFTs.

• It is important to take precautions when participating in airdrops, especially before connecting your crypto wallet to a decentralized application or website.

NFT airdrops are very popular among collectors, traders, and investors. Let's explore the different types of available airdrops and consider useful tips for ensuring safety during the hunt for NFTs.

For an NFT collector, an airdrop is a great opportunity to acquire new collection items without the usual costs. Airdrops have always been common in the crypto world, and with the rise in popularity of NFTs, we are seeing an increase in their number. If the idea of adding free NFTs to your portfolio interests you, read on - we will discuss the basics of NFT airdrops and how to minimize risks.

What is an NFT airdrop?

NFT airdrop is the distribution of NFTs among the general public or a specific list of users, often for free. Participation may require holding a certain token, attending an event, or fulfilling other conditions. Airdrops are different from regular NFT purchases at sales, as they are usually used for promotional purposes. The project may also provide current owners of its NFTs with additional items to upgrade or replenish their collection. Let's take a closer look at the different types of airdrops you may encounter.

Why do creators and projects conduct airdrops?

The most common reason is marketing and advertising. Distributing NFTs through airdrops is relatively inexpensive for the creator or project, as part of the total number of minted NFTs can be allocated for such promotions. The project can also transfer additional NFTs to current holders, which increases their value or simply serves as a gift or reward. This can create more "buzz" in the community around the already existing NFT collection.

What types of NFT airdrops are there?

Not all NFT airdrops you encounter will work the same way. Let's take a look at the most common types:

Standard airdrop

The standard NFT airdrop allows anyone who has registered their wallet to receive the distributed NFT. However, there will likely be time and quantity restrictions on the NFTs.

Bounty Airdrop

The bounty airdrop serves as a reward for completing a specific task. For example, you may be required to share a post on social media related to the NFT project in order to qualify for participation in the airdrop. Often, multiple tasks must be completed to get whitelisted or to have a chance to participate in the airdrop draw.

Exclusive airdrop

The exclusive airdrop distributes NFTs among people who attended the event, completed a task, or participated in other one-time opportunities. It differs from a bounty airdrop in its exclusivity, whereas a bounty airdrop is typically open to everyone for an extended period. An example of an exclusive NFT could be distribution among listeners of a specific podcast episode. The host may provide a code for subsequent NFT acquisition.

Airdrop Giveaway

If the airdrop is intended for particularly rare or limited NFTs, raffles are often held. A group of wallets or NFT owners is whitelisted, and then winners are randomly selected. You can get on the whitelist by participating in contests and tasks or simply by registering.

Holder airdrop

The holder airdrop sends NFTs to wallets containing certain NFTs or cryptocurrencies. The number of tokens you hold may also determine the amount of NFTs you receive. A metaverse project with its own token might decide to give all token holders a brand new NFT as a reward to the community. For example, holders of NFTs from the Bored Ape Yacht Club collection received one Serum NFT for each ape they owned.

How to Participate in the NFT Airdrop

The exact steps to receive an NFT in an airdrop will depend on the specific promotion. However, some requirements are common. First, you will need a cryptocurrency wallet that supports the blockchain and type of NFT you want to receive. Generally, an EVM-compatible wallet should meet most of your needs today, but always double-check!

At a certain stage, the airdrop will also require your public wallet address for sending NFTs. You can easily find it in the interface or app that you use to manage your wallet. You may even need to connect your wallet to a DApp to receive the NFT, which will eliminate the need for manual address entry. In that case, double-check the authenticity of the site you are connecting your wallet to. For maximum security, it is also recommended to use a new empty wallet.

If you are receiving an NFT airdrop based on the fact that you already own a coin, token, or NFT, you will likely not need to do anything. The creator will send it to you directly, or you may need to request it through a DApp by performing the same actions mentioned above.

How to find NFT airdrops?

In addition to tracking specific projects of interest to you, there are many places to learn about new airdrops. Social media and communication platforms such as Twitter, Discord, and Reddit can be excellent sources of information about airdrops. Gate and other price tracking or data aggregating sites also regularly publish lists of current NFT airdrops.

Remember that any information found should be thoroughly verified. Projects often disseminate misleading information, and one can also encounter fraudsters.

How to Ensure Security When Participating in Airdrops

When interacting with any third parties or services in the blockchain world, it is important to exercise caution. Not every airdrop will be legitimate, but there are simple measures that can help protect you.

1. Provide the project/creator only with the public address of your wallet for the airdrop. Never disclose your private key(and) wallet, seed phrase, or password.

2. If you need to connect to a website or DApp to obtain an NFT, double-check the legitimacy of the project and make sure you are using the correct website. Remember that connecting your wallet to any DApp always carries risks. Consider creating a new wallet specifically for participating in airdrops.

3. If participation in the airdrop requires completing tasks, be careful with the information you provide. You may need to post a message on social media, which could link your public identity to your crypto wallet. Not everyone wants to establish such a connection. If you are asked to transfer money or cryptocurrency to participate, it is almost certainly a scam.

4. Thorough research is your friend. Always verify any information you read and study the projects that interest you.

5. Avoid airdrops that are communicated to you via private or direct messages. These are either low-quality airdrops or outright scams.

6. Beware of counterfeit copies of projects or NFT collections. Scammers often duplicate or copy the marketing, website, and even NFTs of other projects.

Conclusion

It's always nice to see a new, free, and shiny NFT in your wallet. There is almost always an opportunity to participate in an airdrop, and searching for them can be quite exciting. Whether the NFT will be worth something is unknown, and that's part of the fun, but the key point is to stay safe while searching for and interacting with any NFT airdrops.

For more information about NFTs, NFT airdrops, and how to purchase NFTs, please refer to the following resources:

• (Gate Academy) What is NFT?

• (Gate Academy) What is a crypto airdrop?

• (FAQ Gate) How to buy an NFT on the Gate NFT marketplace