Layer 2 Airdrops

Coinbase's L2 is 'beginning to explore' a native token, with no definitive plans. Leadership refocused on tokenisation and payments in 2026 after the consumer-social push was abandoned.

Ethereum Layer 2 incubated by Kraken, built on Optimism's OP Stack as part of the Superchain.

STARK-based ZK rollup that spun out of Polygon Labs in 2025, built around client-side proving and private state.

Layer 2 bringing Fully Homomorphic Encryption to Ethereum, enabling computation on encrypted on-chain data.

ZKsync is an Ethereum Layer 2 network built by Matter Labs that uses zero-knowledge rollup technology to enable fast, low-cost transactions with Ethereum-level security. Founded by Alex Gluchowski in 2020, it was one of the most anticipated airdrop projects in crypto for nearly four years, with millions of users bridging assets in expectation of a token launch. ZKsync Era, the EVM-compatible mainnet, launched in March 2023. The ZK token launched in June 2024, distributing 3.675 billion tokens to 695,232 wallets ,a number far smaller than expected, making it one of the most controversial airdrop launches of the year.

Starknet is an Ethereum Layer 2 network built by StarkWare using STARK zero-knowledge proofs to deliver fast, cheap transactions without compromising Ethereum's security. Unlike EVM-compatible Layer 2s, Starknet uses its own programming language Cairo, giving it unique performance characteristics and computational flexibility. Founded by Eli Ben-Sasson, a co-inventor of the STARK proof system, it was backed by $272M from Paradigm, Sequoia Capital, and other top-tier investors. The STRK token launched on February 20, 2024 through a Provisions Program that distributed 700 million tokens to over 1.3 million wallets across Starknet users, Ethereum validators, EIP authors, and open-source developers.

Ethereum's first major L2 airdrop with multi-season commitment. 5 rounds completed, 265M OP distributed. 550M OP still reserved. Unique Retroactive Public Goods Funding model rewards open-source builders.

Largest Layer 2 airdrop ever 1.275B ARB to 625,000 wallets using a 15-point eligibility system. Rewarded genuine on-chain behavior over time, not one-off deposits.