What Are Points-Based Airdrops (And Why Everyone’s Farming Them)
If you’ve been around crypto long enough, you’ve probably seen airdrops come and go — free tokens raining down from new projects, wallets suddenly getting blessed overnight.
But that era’s changed.
These days, most legit projects aren’t just throwing tokens around. They’re making you earn them — through points-based airdrops.
By late 2025, this has become the new standard. You don’t just hold a token and wait for free money anymore — you farm points, stack XP, complete quests, and prove you actually contribute. Projects like Brevis, Myriad Markets, and HeyElsa are using this exact model. It’s not hype anymore; it’s the new gold rush.
Let’s break down what this is, how it works, and how you can start farming before the next snapshot hits.
So, What’s a Points-Based Airdrop?
Think of it like a loyalty program on steroids.
Instead of random wallet snapshots, projects now track your activity — trading, providing liquidity, referring friends, or even completing social tasks — and give you points.
Later on, when the token goes live (at TGE), those points usually convert into real tokens.
Simple example:
If a project has 1,000,000 points total and you’ve earned 10,000, that’s 1% of the drop.
It’s not free money, but it’s the fairest way to reward people who actually show up and help build early traction.
How It Works (Step-by-Step)
Project goes live — they announce a points or XP system on X or Discord. Usually all you need is a wallet to join.
Start earning — trade, stake, refer friends, or complete social quests.
Watch your points climb — some projects even have leaderboards and tiers (Bronze to Diamond).
Snapshot or TGE hits — your points get converted into tokens.
Most of the time, points can’t be sold or transferred — that’s the point. They’re a way to measure activity before tokens exist.
Common Ways to Farm Points
Trade or swap – you get 1–10 pts per $1 traded.
Provide liquidity – LPs earn higher multipliers.
Referrals – invite friends, get 25–50 pts each + % of what they earn.
Social quests – follow on X, join Discord, quote-tweet campaigns.
Bridges or testnets – sometimes 500 pts or more for early users.
Projects often have weekly resets or “seasons,” so staying active is what separates grinders from tourists.
Real Examples (Live and Proven)
Brevis Sparks (@brevis_zk) — simple quests, confirmed airdrop ahead.
VDEX — gasless omnichain DEX, XP turns into VPOINTS weekly.
HeyElsa AI — bridges, swaps, referrals, and AI-powered actions.
ETHGas — turns gas fees into “Beans” points. Retroactive rewards included.
Some early farmers have made $1K–$10K+ just from these campaigns. Others missed because they thought points didn’t matter. Don’t be that guy.
Pros & Cons (No Bullshit Version)
👍 Pros:
Fairer than random airdrops.
Actually rewards activity.
Projects grow faster, users get paid.
👎 Cons:
Takes time — daily tasks can add up.
Not all points = guaranteed tokens.
Multi-account farmers still exist (Sybil hell).
The trick is to diversify across 3–5 projects. Don’t overcommit to one farm.
How to Get Started (Quick Setup)
Connect your EVM or Solana wallet.
Follow Farmit.Fun or similar trackers.
Join live campaigns like Brevis, VDEX, HeyElsa, Koi Protocol.
Check in daily — even small XP adds up.
Join Discords early — sometimes roles = future multipliers.
If you’re serious, track your points with a simple spreadsheet or use dashboards like Dune or DeBank.
Why Points Are the Future
Projects don’t want airdrop farmers who dump and vanish.
They want loyal users who actually use the product.
Points make that possible. They filter out the noise, build community, and keep people active before the token even drops.
This is how most legit projects will launch from now on — earn first, claim later.
Final Word
The next big token won’t just drop into random wallets.
It’ll go to the ones who showed up, farmed daily, and stuck around.
So if you’re still sitting out of the points meta, you’re literally leaving money on the table.
Start with one or two campaigns. Be early, stay consistent, and watch your XP compound.
The next 5-figure airdrop could be hiding behind a “Check In” button.
