Tag: ZK-rollup

  • Taiko ($TKO) Token Airdrop Guide: Phase 1 airdrop confirmed!

    Taiko ($TKO) Token Airdrop Guide: Phase 1 airdrop confirmed!

    Taiko is a ZK-EVM scaling solution for Ethereum, similar to zkSync and StarkNet. Taiko token airdrop has been confirmed and Phase 1 of the airdrop has begun! In this article, we will explain what Taiko is and how to position yourself for the $TKO airdrop.

    Check out our EXCLUSIVE Taiko Airdrop trip to farm mainnet for FREE!

    Taiko Airdrop 200 IQ TRICK (Farm Mainnet for FREE)

    Taiko ($TKO) Airdrop Step-by-Step Guide

    Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get a potential Taiko ($TKO) token airdrop:

    1. Add Taiko Network to MetaMask
    2. Claim Faucet Tokens
    3. Bridge Testnet Tokens
    4. Deploy a Smart Contract to Taiko A1
    5. Run a Node on Taiko
    6. Complete Galxe Tasks

    See below for more details.

    What is Taiko?

    Taiko is building a decentralized and Ethereum-equivalent (Type 1) ZK-EVM. Taiko’s goal is to scale Ethereum in a manner that emulates it as closely as possible – both technologically and ideologically. They have raised $22 million across two funding rounds and launched their latest testnet (Alpha-3) in their mission to build a decentralized and Ethereum-equivalent (Type 1) ZK-EVM.

    The Taiko alpha-3 testnet is the latest update and is a significant milestone on the journey towards a decentralized, Ethereum-equivalent ZK-EVM. This testnet will be critical in testing much of the network design and components. It’s also known as Grímsvötn. The primary purpose of the alpha-3 test network is to evaluate the economic design and implementation of new protocols, including new fee/reward structures.

    Technical Overview of Type-1 ZK-EVM

    Ethereum-equivalent ZK-Rollups, also known as ZK-EVMs, are the ideal layer-2 scaling solution as they do not sacrifice security or compatibility. Taiko aims to be a type-1 ZK-EVM, putting perfect EVM/Ethereum equivalence over ZK proof generation speed.

    The various types of ZK-EVMs can be distinguished by how closely they adhere to Ethereum’s architecture at the base layer, such as the Merkle Patricia Tree for the state trees, the execution client specification, and the gas costs for each opcode.

    Different types of ZK-EVMs (Source: Taiko Labs)

    These ZK-EVMs make compromises between compatibility and proof generation cost, with Type 1 ZK-EVMs prioritizing compatibility over cost. This type is also known as “Ethereum-equivalent” because it does not alter any aspect of the Ethereum architecture, including the hash function, state trees, and gas costs. This allows existing execution clients to be reused with minimal modifications.

    Who is the Team behind Taiko?

    Taiko Labs is co-founded by Daniel Wang, the founder and former CEO of Loopring — an EVM DEX protocol powered and scaled by zero-knowledge proof technology. In July 2022, Wang brought in Brecht Devos, his former Chief Architect at Loopring, to lead the project’s zero-knowledge research and development team. As of now, the company has more than twenty people across thirteen countries with most people having an engineering and cryptography background.

    Does Taiko have a Token?

    Yes, Taiko Labs confirmed it in their white paper that they will have a Taiko Token ($TKO). The protocol mints $TKO to reward block verifiers. The token is transparent to L2 users, providing a seamless user experience equivalent to that on the Ethereum chain.

    Users will pay transaction fees in ETH, and block proposers will receive these fees for each block they successfully propose. In return, block proposers must burn a certain amount of $TKO to participate in the protocol, and pay ETH to Ethereum validators for block inclusion in L1 blocks.

    Taiko Alpha-1 Testnet – Confirmed Airdrop Strategy

    Taiko launched their Alpha-1 Testnet in late December 2022. It consists of two networks: Taiko A1, a fully decentralized Ethereum-equivalent ZK-Rollup, and Ethereum A1, the latter serving as the L1 network. The testnet includes L1 and L2 nodes with the Taiko protocol contracts deployed and a mining interval of 12 seconds. In their user document, Taiko has a guide for what users can do in the testnet, which strongly hints at a potential airdrop strategy.

    On 22nd May 2024, Taiko ($TKO) launched its Phase 1 airdrop, with 5% of the initial token supply up for grabs!

    The best way to receive $TKO airdrop is to bridge tokens between Ethereum A1 and Taiko A1, deploy smart contracts, and run a node. Completing these steps puts you in a great position to be eligible for an airdrop. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

    1. Add Taiko Network to MetaMask

      You can automatically add Taiko A1 and Ethereum A2 to your MetaMask at their wallet configuration page. If it doesn’t work, you can instead manually add the networks at their RPC configuration page.

    2. Claim Faucet Tokens

      After adding the network to your MetaMask, you will need testnet tokens to interact with their protocol. Go to l1faucet.a1.taiko.xyz for Ethereum A1 ETH, and l2faucet.a1.taiko.xyz for Taiko A1 ETH. You will need to make a Tweet and put your wallet address in the post. Copy your Tweet’s link and paste on the request box as shown in the image below. This is to prevent bots from abusing the faucet.

    3. Bridge Testnet Tokens

      Now you can use the bridge to transfer assets between Ethereum A1 and Taiko A1. As a prerequisite, you will need some testnet ETH on either A1 networks. Some transfers may take a while, but you can check your transactions in their bridge contracts.

    4. Deploy a Smart Contract to Taiko A1

      You will need to install Foundry to deploy a smart contract on Taiko A1. You only need to have the private key to an account that has some ETH on Taiko A1 to pay the small transaction fee for deploying the contract. It should only take about 15 minutes. Taiko has a complete guide on this here.

    5. Run a Node on Taiko

      According to the team, this is the most important part of the testnet, as Taiko is a community-driven protocol. This step alone has the highest chance to get you qualified for a potential airdrop. The complete guide is on their user document. But if you are still confused, a contributor on their Discord channel posted a detailed guide on setting up a node for windows.

    Taiko Alpha-2 Testnet – Confirmed Airdrop Strategy

    Here’s how to potentially receive an airdrop in Taiko’s Alpha-2 Testnet:

    1. Add Sepolia и Taiko (Alpha2 Testnet) to Metamask.
    2. Claim testnet tokens using Sepolia Faucet and Horse/BLL.
    3. Add these 2 token contract addresses to your wallet: Bull Token — 0x6048e5ca54c021D39Cd33b63A44980132bcFA66d and Horse Token — 0xCea5BFE9542eDf828Ebc2ed054CA688f0224796f.
    4. Connect your wallet to Taiko bridge.
    5. Transfer tokens from Sepolia to Taiko A2. To do this, go to the “Bridge” tab, choose the Sepolia Network, and choose your token type and amount. Then, click on “Bridge”. Remember to also transfer the $HORSE and $BLL tokens!
    6. Transfer tokens from Taiko A2 to Sepolia. This is basically the same steps as point 5 above.

    How to Receive Potential $TKO Airdrop for Taiko Alpha-3 Testnet

    Here’s how to potentially receive an airdrop in Taiko’s Alpha-3 Testnet:

    1. Add Sepolia Network to Metamask.
    2. Add Taiko (Alpha-3 Testnet) to Metamask.
    3. Get Sepolia ETH at either https://sepolia-faucet.pk910.de, faucet-sepolia.rockx.com or sepoliafaucet.com.
    4. Connect your wallet to the Taiko Faucet and mint 50 Bull ($BLL) and 50 Horse ($HORSE) tokens. If you don’t see these tokens in your Metamask it may be because you have not added the token address. Click “Import tokens” on your Metamask and input the token details.
    5. Go to Taiko Bridge and bridge $ETH, $BLL and $HORSE from the Sepolia to Taiko network. You may need to increase the gas in order to avoid the transaction failing.
    6. Claim your transfer by going to the Transaction page and clicking “Claim”. Then, confirm the transaction on Metamask.
    7. Complete tasks on Taiko’s Galxe page. Tasks include answering their quizzes, bridging and swapping funds.

    Taiko Quiz Answers

    Here are the answers for the Taiko Quizzes on their Galxe page:

    Exclusive: How to farm Taiko Mainnet for free!

    Taiko is currently running Season 1 of their Trailblazers campaign which will end on 16th September 2024. As Taiko has launched its mainnet, you would usually need to use real funds to complete the tasks for the potential airdrop. However, with our EXCLUSIVE tips and tricks, you can farm the Taiko airdrop for FREE! Here’s how to farm the Taiko potential airdrop for free:

    • Connect wallet to https://crackandstack.com/
    • Play Crack & Stack. Crack & Stack is a PvP game that rewards you in ETH for mining as quickly as possible and avoiding the goblins. You have 10 free games per day.
    • With your earned ETH, transact on platforms such as World of Dypians and 0xAstra.
    • Transact on World of Dypians by claiming the free boxes.
    • Transact on 0xAstra by collecting daily logins.
    • You can also use the ETH earned in Crack & Stack to cover any transaction fees on Taiko mainnet. This way, you will not need to bridge your ETH to Taiko or deposit real funds to the platform.

    TIP: On Crack & Stack, the objective is to mine as fast as you can. However, do not be greedy until you have around 20 seconds on the timer as you want as much movement speed as you can. Your inventory space will start flashing yellow so your movement speed will be a little bit slower, but not slow enough for people to kill you. It also does not matter if you die in the game because you will still earn ETH on your wallet.

    Taiko token airdrop eligibility criteria?

    Taiko proposers, provers, bridgers, users (including Galxe users) and developers are eligible for the Taiko token airdrop. GitHub contributors and Loopring community members that meet the specified conditions are also eligible. Note however the activities are weighted and a score is assigned to them. You will only be eligible if you meet the minimum score and any conditions set by the Taiko team.

    How to check your eligibility for the Taiko token airdrop?

    Here’s how to check your eligibility for the Taiko token airdrop:

    1. Go to https://claim.taiko.xyz/
    2. Click “Check eligibility” at the top of the page
    3. Connect your wallet (e.g. MetaMask) and GitHub account, if any.
    4. Bind your wallet and GitHub account.

    Note that users have 7 days i.e. until 30th May 2024 to check their eligibility. Once the claim window is open, eligible users will have 1 month to claim their TKO tokens.

    Airdrop Review

    When reviewing an airdrop, there are several factors to consider. First, the likelihood the project will even do an airdrop in the first place. Then, to look at how many tokens the project intends to allocate towards airdrop campaigns, as well as the difficulty in participating in their airdrop. It is also important to look at the utility of the token so that there will be an actual use and purpose in participating in the airdrop in the first place. Finally, a factor to consider when reviewing an airdrop is whether the airdropped tokens are subject to any lockup period.

    Likelihood of Airdrop: Taiko has a guide for what users can do to interact with their testnet, which strongly hints at a potential airdrop strategy.

    Airdropped Token Allocation: Taiko confirmed they will have a token known as $TKO, but the tokenomics are unknown.

    Airdrop Difficulty: The latest Taiko Alpha-3 Testnet only requires you to use testnet funds to bridge, which is relatively simple. Deploying a smart contract and running a node on Taiko however, may need a bit more technical knowledge.

    Token Utility: The $TKO utility is unknown.

    Token Lockup: The $TKO token lockup is unknown.

  • Scroll Token Airdrop Guide: Beta Testnet LIVE NOW!

    Scroll Token Airdrop Guide: Beta Testnet LIVE NOW!

    Zero-knowledge rollups (ZK-rollups) could be one of the strongest performing sectors in 2023, as demand for Ethereum scaling solutions is increasing. As such, Scroll is another highly anticipated ZK-rollup project that has recently hinted at a token airdrop. On 3rd July 2024, Scroll completed the Curie upgrade to its mainnet. As the potential for ZK-rollups is massive this year, this is a good opportunity for you to earn free airdrop rewards.

    If you are interested in other trending ZK-rollup projects, zkSync and StarkNet should definitely be on your watchlist.

    Scroll Airdrop Step-by-step Guide

    Here’s how to position yourself for a potential Scroll airdrop:

    1. Add Scroll Alpha Testnet to MetaMask
    2. Claim Goerli ETH from Goerli Faucet
    3. Bridge Goerli ETH to Scroll L2
    4. Bridge Scroll L2 to Goerli
    5. Send ETH to another wallet using MetaMask
    6. Interact with Scroll Ecosystem
    7. Use Scroll Alpha on Aave
    8. Use Scroll Alpha network on SyncSwap
    9. Interact with Izumi Finance
    10. Perform swaps and add liquidity using Symbiosis
    11. Get Scroll Guild roles
    12. Collect the Scroll Origins NFT

    See below for more in-depth details!

    What is Scroll?

    Scroll is developing a ZK-rollup that is fully compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Their proving system supports the direct verification of an Ethereum block with a single, concise proof. This means much faster Ethereum transaction finality and less gas fees.

    How Does Their ZK-Rollup Work?

    The concept involves verifying the accuracy and completeness of each operation code in the EVM execution trace. As a result, layer-1 smart contracts can be easily transferred to Scroll. Instead of incorporating new ZK-specific features, they will take a different approach by supporting the native EVM with tailored optimizations. This gives them a significant advantage as they can work seamlessly with all existing Ethereum systems without the need for any modifications.

    Layer-2 Proof Outsourcing

    Scroll also aims to establish and standardize the outsourcing of layer-2 proofs, which streamlines rollup processes. They have created a strong outsourcing system that motivates rollers to produce zero-knowledge proofs for them. They will standardize this approach to accommodate a wider range of off-chain computations. This will create a new proof market.

    Another benefit for developers is that they can deploy complex contracts on Scroll without worrying about gas limits. This opens up many new possibilities for off-chain applications with on-chain proofs.

    Key Takeaway of Scroll’s Proof System

    Based on the two points mentioned above, Scroll is a hierarchical zero-knowledge proof system. The first layer will be optimized for prover efficiency, utilizing custom circuit optimization and hardware-friendly proving algorithms. The second layer will be optimized for verifier efficiency, featuring succinct proofs and verification algorithms that are compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).

    This proof system has the potential to support larger programs than the EVM and offer additional features such as privacy, surpassing the capabilities of existing solutions.

    Who is the Team behind Scroll?

    Scroll is co-founded by Sandy Peng, Ye Zhang, and Haichen Shen. Peng has rich experience in business development, project strategy and data curation. On the other hand, Zhang and Shen are experts in computer science, open-source protocol engineering, and cryptography. Shen, in particular, previously worked for Amazon as a senior applied scientist on AI compilers.

    In April 2022, Scroll successfully raised $30 million in a Series A funding round led by Polychain Capital and Bain Capital Crypto, with participation from Robot Ventures and Geometry DAO. As of now, their team has at least 20 people across the globe who are experts in zero-knowledge cryptography and distributed systems on blockchain technology.

    Does Scroll have a Token?

    Scroll does not have a token yet. According to their roadmap published on Discord, they mentioned that they are creating an incentive mechanism to encourage participation in the network. They also have a Scroll Marks system which rewards participation and engagement in the Scroll ecosystem. This strongly indicates that there will be a token coming soon, and airdrops will be rewarded for early users.

    How to Get the Potential Scroll Token Airdrop?

    Here is our step-by-step guide on how to get the potential Scroll token airdrop

    1. Add Scroll Alpha Testnet to MetaMask

      Go to the Scroll Alpha Testnet portal, and add the L1 and L2 configurations to your wallet.

      Add the Scroll Alpha Testnet to Metamask- the network configuration details are here. If you have added the Pre-Alpha Testnet network before, you will need to remove it from your MetaMask before proceeding. Afterwards, reset MetaMask for Scroll’s L2.

    2. Claim Goerli ETH from Goerli Faucet

      In case you haven’t added the Goerli network to your MetaMask, you can do it via ChainList.

      Now, you will need Goerli ETH on your wallet. Request them at any Goerli faucets such as Alchemy or Goerli PoW.

    3. Bridge Goerli ETH to Scroll L2

      Use the Scroll Bridge to transfer testnet ETH tokens from Goerli Testnet to Scroll Alpha Testnet. The transaction will take around 10-15 minutes.

      You can check your transactions on the Scroll Rollup Explorer.

    4. Bridge Scroll L2 to Goerli

      While on the Scroll Alpha Testnet network, you can also do the reverse of step no.3 i.e. bridge your testnet ETH tokens back to the Goerli Testnet.

    5. Send ETH to another wallet using MetaMask

      Send ETH from one wallet to another on the Scroll Network using Metamask.

    6. Interact with Scroll Ecosystem

      Scroll has a large ecosystem of projects. Interacting with them generates on-chain evidence that can help you qualify for a potential airdrop. Some examples include Aave, Syncswap, Izumi Finance and Symbiosis (see below). Here’s a list of the Scroll ecosystem projects.

    7. Use Scroll Alpha on Aave

      Connect your wallet to Aave, then click the settings button on top right hand corner and turn on Testnet Mode. Then, click the down arrow on the left hand side and choose “Scroll Alpha” for the Aave Testnet Market. Finally, supply and borrow some tokens such as ETH, DAI, USDC and USDT.

    8. Use Scroll Alpha network on SyncSwap

      Connect your wallet to SyncSwap and choose the Scroll Alpha network on the top right hand side. Click on “Faucet” and “Claim now” to get testnet tokens. Note you will need ETH to cover gas fees. Perform some swaps on the “Trade” tab, add liquidity to some pools on the “Pool” tab and remove part of the liquidity.

      SyncSwap may also be doing its own $SYNC token airdrop! Learn more here!

    9. Interact with Izumi Finance

      Connect your wallet to Izumi Finance. On the “Swap” tab, swap between tokens such as ETH, USDT, WETH, USDC and IZI. Then, go to the “Pro” tab to access their exchange. On the exchange, make some limit orders. Finally, click on “Liquidity” and add liquidity.

    10. Perform swaps and add liquidity using Symbiosis

      Perform swaps on Symbiosis exchange. Also add liquidity to their Liquidity Pools. Remember to do this with Scroll tokens only! You can tell which tokens are Scroll tokens since they will have the 📜 emoji on them.

    11. Get Scroll Guild roles

      Go to the Scroll Guild Page. Connect your wallet, Discord and Twitter accounts. Complete the tasks to earn guild roles.

    12. Collect the Scroll Origins NFT

      Scroll Origins is an NFT mint launched by Scroll to celebrate their earliest builders. To be eligible, you must deploy a smart contract to Scroll Mainnet within 60 days of 10th October 2023 at 6:00am GMT. Then, you will be eligible for 1 of 3 NFTs based on the deployment date (before 9th and 24th November, and 9th December 2023 respectively). Your NFT will be a better rank if you deploy earlier! The Scroll Origins NFT can be claimed on the Scroll website from 15th December 2023 onwards.

      To deploy a smart contract to the Scroll Mainnet and be eligible for the Scroll Origins NFT, you must first bridge funds from Ethereum Mainnet to Scroll mainnet here (this is for gas fees when deploying the smart contract). Then, create your own token by going here and selecting the “ERC-20” tab. Choose a name and ticker symbol for your token. Under “Features”, select “Mintable” and at “Access Control” select “Ownable”. Then, click “Open in Remix” on the upper right-hand corner. On the new window, click on “Solidity Compiler” (the two arrows button on the left sidebar) and see if there is a green tick next to it. Afterwards, click the blue “Compile contract” button and the “Deploy and run transactions” button (this is the button showing the Ethereum logo with an arrow). Under “Environment” click on the drop-down menu and select” Injected provider-MetaMask”. Your MetaMask wallet will then pop up, log in and make sure you are on the Scroll Mainnet. Back on the webpage, paste your wallet address next to the “Deploy” button and click. Confirm the transaction when prompted to on MetaMask.

      To check you have correctly deployed the smart contract, go to https://scroll.io/developer-nft/check-eligibility and check your eligibility for the NFT. If you are eligible, you will be told so and asked to come back on 15th December 2023 to claim it.

      Here are the 3 Scroll Origin NFTs you can expect to get based on the smart contract deployment date: (1) Quintic: Before 9th November; (2) Quartic: Before 24th November; and (3) Cubic: Before 9th December.

    13. Participate in Scroll’s Session Zero

      To participate and be eligible for Scroll’s Session Zero, bridge $ETH or $wstETH via Scroll’s native bridge or STONE Bridge using LayerZero to Scroll. You will earn Scroll Marks for holding specified assets on Scroll. Those who have spent more than US$5 on gas on Scroll from 10th October 2023 to 29th April 2024 at 12:00pm UTC will also be eligible for Scroll Marks.

    14. Participate in Scroll’s Session One

      In Sroll Session One, participants earn Scroll Marks for depositing assets into specific DEX liquidity pools. For now, depositing into the ETH/USDC pool using the Scroll network on Ambient Finance and depositing into the pools on Nuri will make you eligible to earn Scroll Marks. Other eligible protocols for Scroll’s Session One include Izumi Finance, Syncswap, Oku Trade, Unisswap and Zebra. You will earn more Scroll Marks for liquidity deposits with tighter rangers or more market depth. Scroll has suggested you could get Scroll Marks faster by, for example, choosing LP positions that are more concentrated around the actual price. Also, LP positions with higher volatility such as ETH-USDC would accrue Scroll Marks faster than low/no volatility positions such as USDC/USDT.

    15. Mint a Scroll Canvas

      Scroll Canvas is a way to display your onchain credentials, status and achievements across the Scroll ecosystem. To mint a Scroll Canvas, connect your wallet to Scroll Canvas. Minting a Scroll Canvas requires a mint fee of 0.001 ETH, however you can enter our invite code TRQI1 to get 50% off the mint fee! Afterwards, choose your username and click “Mint my Canvas”.

    16. Earn Scroll Badges

      After you have minted your Scroll Canvas, click “Mint eligible badges” to collect the Scroll Badges you are already eligible to mint. To earn other Scroll Badges, click the “Badges” tab and then “Explore badges” for a list of other badges you can earn and their eligibility criteria. Here are some of the easiest Scroll Badges to earn: Ethereum Year Badge (At least 1 year old wallet), Scroll Origins NFT Badge (own Scroll Origins NFT), AlienSwap Badge (interact with AlienSwap), Pudgy Penguin Badge (Own a Pudgy Penguin NFT) and Unique Humanity Score Badge (have a Passport XYZ score of over 20).

    Scroll Badges List: Which is the easiest or most difficult?

    Scroll Badges are Badges you can earn by completing various tasks on the Scroll ecosystem. These Scroll Badges may play an important role in a potential Scroll token airdrop. Here is a list of the Scroll Badges you can earn ranked in order of difficulty from easiest to hardest:

    • Ethereum year badge: Free, shows off the year your wallet debuted on Ethereum
    • Scroll on Highlight commemorative mint badge: Free, go to the mint page and click “Mint now”.
    • XHS holder: Free, go to XHS and click “Genesis”, join their Discord and connect your Twitter.
    • Gitcoin Passport: Free, complete proof of humanity and get at least 20 points (level 1).
    • Trusta Labs Proof of Humanity: Free, complete and mint your proof of humanity on Linea Chain.
    • Omnihub: 0.000005 ETH, create one NFT collection through OmniHub to Scroll network.
    • XHS booster: 0.002 ETH, Go to XName and register a .scroll name.
    • ZNS domain badge: 0.002 ETH, register your ZNS domain name.
    • Scrolly: 50,000 $SCROLLY, go to Scrolly Name Service and mint a .scrolly domain name.
    • Symbiosis Swapper: US$10, do a minimum of $10 worth of swaps on Scroll
    • Symbiosis Beginner: US$10, bridge a minimum of $10 through Symbiosis to Scroll
    • Symbiosis Professional: US$100, bridge a minimum of $100 through Symbiosis to Scroll
    • Scroll Retro-Bridger: US$150, bridge 0.05 ETH or US$150 worth of stables via RetroBridge to Scroll.
    • Ambient Swapoor: US$500, make 1 or more single swaps on Ambient Finance for $500.
    • Symbiosis Whale: US$500, bridge a minimum of $500 through Symbiosis to Scroll
    • Ambient Filoor: US$500, have 1 or more filled limit orders on Ambient Finance valued over US$500.
    • Zebra: US$1,000, swap over US$500 and provide liquidity of over US$1,000.
    • Ambient Providoor: US1,000, make at least 1 LP positions on Ambient Finance valued over US$1,000.
    • Pencils P: 0.1 ETH, stake at least 0.1 ETH for a minimum of 28 consecutive days
    • Pencils S: 0.5 ETH, stake at least 0.5 ETH for a minimum of 28 consecutive days
    • Ambient Yeet: US$50,000, provide liquidity of over a “sizable amount” (rumoured to be US$50,000) in a single position on Ambient.

    Airdrop Review

    When reviewing an airdrop, there are several factors to consider. First, the likelihood the project will even do an airdrop in the first place. Then, to look at how many tokens the project intends to allocate towards airdrop campaigns, as well as the difficulty in participating in their airdrop. It is also important to look at the utility of the token so that there will be an actual use and purpose in participating in the airdrop in the first place. Finally, a factor to consider when reviewing an airdrop is whether the airdropped tokens are subject to any lockup period.

    Likelihood of Airdrop: Scroll has hinted they will create an “incentive network” to encourage participation on Scroll. They currently have a campaign where users can collect Scroll Badges which many speculate would position you for a potential airdrop.

    Airdropped Token Allocation: Scroll has not given any information on its token yet.

    Airdrop Difficulty: Scroll has not yet released details about its airdrop. However, there is a Scroll Badge campaign which many believe may lead to a potential airdrop.

    Token Utility: Scroll has not given any information on its token yet.

    Token Lockup: Scroll has not given any information on its token yet.

  • Polygon zkEVM (MATIC) Token Airdrop Guide: LIVE NOW!

    Polygon zkEVM (MATIC) Token Airdrop Guide: LIVE NOW!

    Polygon recently launched its own zkEVM mainnet, and co-founder Sandeep Nailwal hinted on Twitter that there could be a MATIC airdrop for users! In this article, we will briefly explain what Polygon zkEVM is and what you can do to position for a potential airdrop.

    Polygon zkEVM Airdrop Step-by-Step Guide

    Here’s how to get the Polygon zkEVM Airdrop:

    1. Add Polygon zkEVM to MetaMask
    2. Bridge to Polygon zkEVM
    3. Interact with Polygon zkEVM DApps
    4. BONUS: trade on Satori Finance
    5. DOUBLE BONUS: Join in the zkEVM saga with Intract x Polygon to get free NFTs

    See below for more in-depth details!

    What is Polygon zkEVM?

    Polygon zkEVM is a Layer-2 scaling solution for Ethereum that leverages the scaling power of zero-knowledge proofs while maintaining Ethereum compatibility, similar to zkSync and Linea. Developers and users on Polygon zkEVM can use the same code, tooling, and apps that they use on Ethereum, but with much higher throughput and lower fees. This allows Ethereum-based DApps to scale more efficiently, which is critical for mass adoption of DeFi.

    What’s the Difference Between Polygon zkEVM and Polygon?

    The original Polygon functions as a sidechain that runs parallel to the Ethereum mainnet, whereas Polygon zkEVM uses a ZK-Rollup architecture that is built on top of Ethereum. The key distinction is that Polygon is EVM compatible but Polygon zkEVM has total EVM equivalence. The latter is focused on being a near-perfect replica of Ethereum’s execution environment, which means it uses ETH instead of MATIC for gas fees.

    Is There an Airdrop for Polygon zkEVM?

    Yes, it is very likely there will be an airdrop for Polygon zkEVM users. Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder of Polygon, strongly hinted on Twitter that there will be a huge MATIC airdrop for zkEVM users. He also compared the current development of Polygon zkEVM to Arbitrum, which took more than a year to mature. This means that we are currently at the early stage, allowing users plenty of time to perform on-chain activities that would qualify them for the airdrop!

    How to Get the Polygon zkEVM Airdrop?

    The best way to get the MATIC airdrop is to interact with the Polygon zkEVM mainnet. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

    1. Add Polygon zkEVM to MetaMask

      Go to ChainList and add Polygon zkEVM to MetaMask. It is launched on Mainnet Beta, which means you will need ETH for gas fees.

    2. Bridge to Polygon zkEVM

      If you have funds on the Ethereum network, you can bridge ETH from Ethereum to Polygon zkEVM via the Native Bridge.

      Alternatively, if you have funds on Arbitrum and/or gas fees are too high, you can also use other third-party bridges recommended by Polygon, such as Orbiter Finance. Using Orbiter Finance, in particular, refunds 60% to 70% gas fees back to you.

    3. Interact with Polygon zkEVM DApps

      Here are the top DApps in Polygon zkEVM ranked by total value locked (TVL). Try to perform transactions consistently every week as frequency of smart contract interaction is an important criterion to qualify for the airdrop:

      Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs):
      1. Quickswap
      2. Kokonut Swap
      3. Dove Swap
      4. Mantis Swap

      Lending Protocol
      1. 0vix

    4. Interact with Quickswap

      Here’s how to interact with Quickswap. First, connect your wallet to Quickswap Exchange. Make sure you have switched the network on Polygon zkEVM. Then, go to the Swap section and (1) Swap ETH for USDC; and (2) Swap the same amount of ETH for WETH. Afterwards, go to their Pool, select ETH and USDC tokens as the token pair, approve the tokens and add liquidity.

    5. Interact with Kokonut Swap.

      Here’s how to interact with Kokonut Swap. First, connect your wallet to Kokonut Swap. Make sure you have switched the network on Polygon zkEVM. Then, go to their Swap page and swap ETH to USDC.

    6. Interact with Dove Swap

      Here’s how to interact with Dove Swap. Connect your wallet to Dove Swap and make sure you are on the Polygon zkEVM network. Then, swap ETH for USDT.

    7. Interact with Mantis Swap.

      Interact with Mantis Swap by going to their website. Then, connect your wallet and make sure you are on the zkEVM network. Finally, swap USDC to USDT.

    8. Interact with 0vix

      To interact with 0vix, connect your wallet to their website and make sure you are on the Polygon zkEVM network. On the Supply Markets, supply a small amount of ETH and click “Supply”.

    9. BONUS: Trade on Satori Finance

      Satori Finance is a protocol on Polygon zkEVM (as well as zkSync, Linea and Scroll). To trade on Satori Finance, connect your wallet to https://satori.finance/, making sure that you are on the Polygon network. Then, go to “Portfolio” and deposit some trades. Next, go to the “Trade” tab and do some trades.

    10. DOUBLE BONUS: Join in the zkEVM saga with Intract x Polygon to get free NFTs

      Connect your wallet to the Quest Page and complete the tasks to get a free NFT. Tasks include signing messages, following social accounts and posting Tweets. Finally, click “Get your NFTs” and follow the instructions on your wallet to mint your free NFT. Note you will need to pay gas fees in ETH

    Airdrop Review

    When reviewing an airdrop, there are several factors to consider. First, the likelihood the project will even do an airdrop in the first place. Then, to look at how many tokens the project intends to allocate towards airdrop campaigns, as well as the difficulty in participating in their airdrop. It is also important to look at the utility of the token so that there will be an actual use and purpose in participating in the airdrop in the first place. Finally, a factor to consider when reviewing an airdrop is whether the airdropped tokens are subject to any lockup period.

    Likelihood of Airdrop: Although not confirmed, it is very likely there will be a MATIC airdrop for Polygon zkEVM users, according to Sandeep Nailwal.

    Airdropped Token Allocation: There is no confirmation on the token allocation, but Nailwal said that it would be a “massive” airdrop.

    Airdrop Difficulty: Simply bridge to Polygon zkEVM and interact with QuickSwap and other high TVL DEXes. You will need real ETH to perform these tasks.

    Token Utility: MATIC is the native token of the Polygon blockchain. Although Polygon zkEVM uses ETH for gas fees, it is likely MATIC will be airdropped as rewards.

    Token Lockup: No mentions of token lockup.

  • Polyhedra Network Token Airdrop Guide: BIG POTENTIAL!

    Polyhedra Network Token Airdrop Guide: BIG POTENTIAL!

    Polyhedra Network is building an interoperable Web3 infrastructure using zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) technology, and it is backed by the likes of Binance, Polychain Capital, and Animoca Brands. The project is in its early stages and has not yet issued a token, but it is very likely that it will do so in the future. The zkBridge Testnet is currently live, and early users have a favorable opportunity to receive future rewards. In this article, we will explain what Polyhedra is and what you can do to position yourself for the potential airdrop.

    Polyhedra Network Airdrop Step-by-step Guide

    Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to receive a potential Polyhedra Network airdrop:

    1. Claim Testnet Tokens from Faucets
    2. Create New NFTs with Polyhedra CreatorTool
    3. Import NFT to Polyhedra zkBridge
    4. Provide Feedback on Discord
    5. Complete tasks on Galxe

    See below for more details

    What is Polyhedra Network?

    Polyhedra Network is building a Web3 infrastructure that focuses on interoperability, scalability, and privacy using advanced zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) technology. The network offers secure and highly efficient solutions for transferring assets, exchanging messages, and sharing data between different Web2 and Web3 platforms.

    Project Team and Funding

    The team behind Polyhedra Network consists of leading engineers, developers, and researchers from prestigious institutions like UC Berkeley, Tsinghua University, and Stanford University. In February 2023, Polyhedra successfully raised $10 million in a strategic funding round co-led by Binance Labs and Polychain Capital. The project also received support from Animoca Brands, ABCDE Capital, Sparkle Ventures, and more.

    Does Polyhedra Network have a Token?

    Polyhedra Network has not officially announced a token launch. However, it is a blockchain infrastructure provider, so it stands to reason that it needs a token to support its ecosystem and facilitate the functioning of the platform. According to its roadmap, the team is currently focusing on integrating its bridge and decentralized identity infrastructure with other blockchain networks, and launching application programming interfaces (API) and software development kits (SDK) for developers.

    How to Receive Potential Polyhedra Network Token Airdrop?

    The best chance to receive a future token airdrop is to interact with the Polyhedra Network testnet. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

    1. Claim Testnet Tokens from Faucets

      You will need testnet tokens on different chains to cover gas fees. You can get some from these faucets: ETH Goerli Faucet, BNB Faucet, Oasis Faucet, Polygon Faucet, Avalanche Faucet, and Fantom Faucet.

    2. Create New NFTs with Polyhedra CreatorTool

      Use the Polyhedra CreatorTool to create new NFTs. Set a name and description, and select a Testnet network of your choice. You can view all created and owned NFTs on the My NFTs page.

    3. Import NFT to Polyhedra zkBridge

      Go to the My NFTs page and click on the “zkBridge” button. Select a testnet receiver blockchain of your choice and transfer the NFT. Make sure you have gas fees on the other end as well.

      Claim your NFT on the testnet receiver chain, and that’s it! Repeat the process on different testnet blockchains to enhance visibility of your on-chain activities.

    4. Provide Feedback on Discord

      Share your feedback, including wallet address, screenshots, and transaction IDs, in the “suggestions-and-support” Discord channel.

    5. Complete tasks on Galxe

      Polyhedra has a Galxe page where they have various campaigns. Completing these tasks (including those where they are partnered with other projects) may put you in a better position for any potential airdrop.

    Airdrop Review

    When reviewing an airdrop, there are several factors to consider. First, the likelihood the project will even do an airdrop in the first place. Then, to look at how many tokens the project intends to allocate towards airdrop campaigns, as well as the difficulty in participating in their airdrop. It is also important to look at the utility of the token so that there will be an actual use and purpose in participating in the airdrop in the first place. Finally, a factor to consider when reviewing an airdrop is whether the airdropped tokens are subject to any lockup period.

    Likelihood of Airdrop: Polyhedra Network hasn’t confirmed a token launch yet, but as a blockchain infrastructure provider, it likely requires a token to support its ecosystem and facilitate platform operations.

    Airdropped Token Allocation: There is no tokenomics yet.

    Airdrop Difficulty: The steps are fairly easy to follow. All you have to do is create an NFT on Polyhedra and transfer it to different testnet chains. You will need some testnet tokens to cover gas fees.

    Token Utility: There is no token yet, but it is likely it will be used for governance, ecosystem support, platform operations, and network security.

    Token Lockup: There is no tokenomics yet.

  • StarkNet ($STRK) Token Airdrop Guide: Are you eligible?

    StarkNet ($STRK) Token Airdrop Guide: Are you eligible?

    StarkNet is another major ZK-rollup player, and its mainnet is launching soon. StarkNet has just released its airdrop eligiblility critiera. In this article, we will explain StarkNet what you can do to receive its airdrop and the eligibility criteria to see if you can get their airdrop.

    Check out our zkSync Airdrop Guide and Scroll Airdrop Guide for another highly anticipated ZK-rollup airdrop.

    StarkNet ($STRK) Airdrop Step-by-Step Guide

    Here’s how to receive a potential StarkNet ($STRK) token airdrop:

    1. Set Up and Use Argent X Wallet
    2. Bridge to StarkNet
    3. Interact with 10KSwap
    4. Interact with zkLend
    5. Bridge out of StarkNet
    6. Mint an NFT on MintSquare
    7. Mint a Starknet ID
    8. Lend assets on Nostra

    See below for more details!

    What is StarkNet?

    StarkNet is a permission-free, decentralized Validity-Rollup (or “ZK-Rollup”) that works as a secondary network on top of Ethereum. This allows any decentralized application to have unlimited computational capacity without sacrificing the security and compatibility of Ethereum. This is because StarkNet utilizes STARK, the most secure and scalable cryptographic proof system. The contracts and operating system of StarkNet are coded in Cairo, which enables the deployment and expansion of any kind of business logic. StarkNet’s alpha v0.11.0 has just gone live on Testnet. The mainnet upgrade to Starknet alpha v0.11.0 will be decided by a governance vote.

    A Closer Look at ZK-STARK

    ZK-STARK (Zero-Knowledge Succinct Transparent Argument of Knowledge) is a type of zero-knowledge proof system that guarantees the accuracy and confidentiality of computations on blockchain systems through innovative cryptographic proofs and advanced mathematics. They allow blockchains to move computations through a single off-chain STARK prover, and then confirm the validity of these computations through a STARK Verifier on the blockchain network.

    Who is the Team behind StarkNet?

    StarkNet is developed by StarkWare Industries, an Israeli software company that specializes in cryptography. The company employs 70 people and has a large team of blockchain engineers. They also work with some of the top advisors in the blockchain industry including Joseph Lubin, the CEO and founder of ConsenSys, the company behind MetaMask.

    In May 2022, StarkWare successfully raised $100 million in a Series D funding round led by Greenoaks Capital and Coatue. That puts the company’s estimated value at $8 billion.

    Leading DApps on StarkNet Ecosystem

    A variety of teams and individuals are taking part in building StarkNet and its developer tools. Some of the notable ones include Alchemy, Argent, Infura, Ledger, and OpenZeppelin. Moreover, there are hundreds of DApps, services, and wallets building on the StarkNet ecosystem.

    StarkNet Ecosystem

    Does StarkNet have a Token?

    Yes, StarkNet has deployed their token on the Ethereum Mainnet, with its ticker symbol as STRK. However, the tokens are not up for sale yet, as the Foundation is still determining the mechanism for distributing them. This also involves incentive mechanisms for the community, which means a potential incoming airdrop.

    When Will StarkNet Do a Potential Token Airdrop?

    Rumours are that StarkNet will do a token airdrop in early 2024. This is because other protocols in the StarkNet ecosystem such as Nostra ($NOS) and Ekubo have also confirmed they will launch a token. And it is expected that these protocols will launch their own tokens soon after StarkNet does.

    How to Receive Potential StarkNet Token Airdrop?

    The best chance to receive $STRK airdrop is to interact with their testnet. Moreover, some protocols on StarkNet also do not have a token yet. Using their DApps could put you in a position to receive their airdrops as well, allowing you to earn additional rewards!

    Here’s how to receive a potential StarkNet ($STRK) token airdrop:

    1. Set Up and Use Argent X Wallet
    2. Bridge to StarkNet
    3. Interact with 10KSwap
    4. Interact with zkLend
    5. Bridge out of StarkNet
    6. Mint an NFT on MintSquare
    7. Mint a Starknet ID

    Set Up and Use Argent X Wallet

    MetaMask does not currently support the Alpha Mainnet, so it is unable to integrate with the StarkNet Layer 2 network. The only option for using StarkNet is through the Argent X wallet. Argent X is the first wallet on StarkNet and is widely used as the main ecosystem wallet with over 400,000 users and is backed by leading investors such as Paragim, Index Ventures, and StarkWare Labs. You can install the browser extension for Argent X at Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Then, create an account on Mainnet. Afterward, you can send and receive funds, discover new NFTs, and swap using Argent X.

    Argent X

    Bridge to StarkNet

    To be included in the snapshot, it is important to bridge funds to the StarkNet network. To do this, we recommend using Orbiter Finance. This is usually the cheapest and fastest option. It may also make you eligible for any potential Orbiter Finance airdrop.

    Check out our Orbiter Finance Token Airdrop Guide!

    You can also use StarkGate which is the official bridge built and deployed by the StarkWare team. Connect your wallet and send ETH tokens from mainnet to StarkNet. Minimal amounts should suffice as long as you frequently use the bridge.

    StarkGate

    BONUS: Bridge funds from zkSync Era network to Starknet to position yourself for a potential zkSync ($ZKS) token airdrop too!

    Check out our zkSync ($ZKS) Token Airdrop Guide!

    Interact with 10KSwap

    10KSwap is an AMM DEX that is a fork of UniSwap deployed on the StarkNet mainnet. To be included in the snapshot, it is recommended to swap tokens frequently and provide liquidity to pools. This gives you a good chance of being eligible for the airdrop.

    10KSwap

    Interact with zkLend

    zkLend is a money market that is native to the StarkNet ecosystem. To be eligible for the airdrop, you can try depositing and lending money to earn yields, which is similar to traditional DeFi applications such as AAVE or Compound. Additionally, zkLend is also doing their own airdrop soon. Check out our zkLend Airdrop Guide for more information.

    zkLend

    Bridge out of StarkNet

    You can also use another bridge to withdraw funds from StarkNet such as Orbiter Finance. This approach of utilizing two bridging platforms acts as a safety measure in the event that the airdrop covers one of them. Additionally, there’s a possibility of receiving a higher multiplier for the StarkNet airdrop by using both bridges.

    Orbiter Finance

    Mint an NFT on MintSquare

    MintSquare is an NFT platform integrated with both zkSync and StarkNet You can mint an NFT by uploading the supported media of any picture you want. Don’t forget to switch the network to StarkNet, not zkSync. Give it a name, some attributes, and click mint. Voilà! You have yourself a newly minted NFT on StarkNet.

    MintSquare

    Mint a Starknet ID

    Connect your Argent X wallet to https://app.starknet.id/. Choose your username and enter the details to mint your Starknet ID. Note each Starknet ID costs 0.009 ETH per year.

    Deposit assets to Nostra

    Nostra ($NOS) is a DeFi protocol on the StarkNet ecosystem that allows users to lend, borrow, and trade crypto. Nostra is at a relatively early development stage and only their lending feature is available. So, it is worth trying out this feature and following them to try other features as they are released.

    Check out our Nostra ($NOS) token airdrop guide!

    StarkNet token airdrop eligibility criteria: Am I eligible?

    StarkNet has just released their token airdrop eligibility criteria! To see if you are eligible, simply connect your wallet HERE.

    Airdrop Review

    When reviewing an airdrop, there are several factors to consider. First, the likelihood the project will even do an airdrop in the first place. Then, to look at how many tokens the project intends to allocate towards airdrop campaigns, as well as the difficulty in participating in their airdrop. It is also important to look at the utility of the token so that there will be an actual use and purpose in participating in the airdrop in the first place. Finally, a factor to consider when reviewing an airdrop is whether the airdropped tokens are subject to any lockup period.

    Likelihood of Airdrop: The StarkNet Foundation is currently planning out the distribution mechanism for the token, which means an airdrop is likely.

    Token Allocation: The STRK token has a total supply of 10 billion, 17% of which goes to investors, 32.9% goes to core contributors, and 50.1% to the StarkNet Foundation.

    Airdrop Difficulty: The mainnet is launching soon, which means the snapshot window is closing. But there are rumors that a second snapshot will take place after the mainnet launch, so it is recommended to use the most out of the mainnet.

    Token Utility: The STRK token has three main utilities: (1) staking to participate in StarkNet’s consensus mechanisms, (2) governance and voting, and (3) paying transaction fees.

    Token Lockup: Tokens allocated to shareholders, employees, and independent software developers will have a 4 year lockup period.

  • Sovereign Labs: Unlocking the Potential of ZK-Rollups in 2023 – Why This Project Should Be On Your Watchlist

    Sovereign Labs: Unlocking the Potential of ZK-Rollups in 2023 – Why This Project Should Be On Your Watchlist

    ZK-rollups could be one of the strongest performing sectors in 2023, as demand for Ethereum scaling solutions is increasing. As such, Sovereign Labs is one of the most promising upcoming projects in the ZK-rollup space. The team is well-funded and the development is on track to be completed in Q2 2023. As such, Sovereign should definitely be on your watchlist for 2023.

    Check out our zkSync article for another highly anticipated ZK-rollup project this year.

    What is Sovereign?

    Sovereign Labs, the team behind Sovereign, is creating an open, interconnected rollup ecosystem to make it easier for developers to deploy interoperable and scalable rollups on any blockchain. It’s been compared to Cosmos ($ATOM), but instead of layer-1 chains, Sovereign uses their software development kit (SDK) and inter-blockchain communication protocol (IBC) for ZK-rollups.

    Current Problems of Blockchain Scaling Solutions

    The current blockchain scaling solutions including application-specific layer-1s, optimistic rollups and ZK-rollups, all have their own drawbacks:

    1. Application-specific layer-1s are the easiest to design and implement, but require large amounts of capital from validators to secure the blockchain. This approach is only viable for a few well-funded blockchain apps.
    2. Optimistic rollups produce fraud proofs to prevent misbehavior. However, during an attack, fraud proofs can be censored, leading to long finality delays. This makes bridging out of optimistic rollups slow and costly.
    3. ZK-rollups share the advantages of optimistic rollups, but without the long finality delay. Large batches of transactions can be finalized with validity proof in a matter of seconds. However, ZK-rollups are incredibly difficult to build because it involves a very high level of cryptography and protocol engineering.

    Out of the three blockchain scaling solutions, ZK-rollups prove to be the most promising scaling paradigm despite the massive undertaking it requires to build them. As such, Sovereign aims to make it easier for developers to create secure and interoperable ZK-rollups, just like the Cosmos SDK did for layer-1 chains. As a result, developers do not need to be experts in cryptography to write their apps, allowing them to focus on the business logic of their chain.

    Who is the Team behind Sovereign?

    Sovereign Labs is co-founded by Cem Özer (CEO) and Preston Evans (CTO). Özer had worked as a smart contract and protocol engineer in ConsenSys, the company behind MetaMask. On the other hand, Evans had worked as a software engineer in Amazon, and has years of experience in computer science and machine learning.

    Sovereign aims to make scaling simple, supporting billions of blockchain users without sacrificing security. In late January 2023, Sovereign Labs raised $7.4 million in seed funding led by Huan Ventures with participation from Maven 11, 1KX, Robot Ventures and Plaintext Capital. According to CoinDesk, a spokesperson from Sovereign stated the fundraise puts the company’s valuation in the “eight-figure” range. The fund will be used to build the SDK and hire protocol and researchers with expertise in blockchains and cryptography.

    Properties and Key Features of ZK-Rollup SDK

    The Sovereign SDK will provide a set of default modules, a peer-to-peer network, a database, and an RPC node, and will abstract away the details of zero-knowledge. This way, developers can write their apps in Rust or C++, and the SDK will automatically compile it to an efficient zero-knowledge virtual machine.

    It will also use a novel bridging technique based on proof aggregation to allow rollups on a shared L1 to bridge back and forth at minimal cost without a trusted third party. Off-chain relayers can combine the proofs of all the peer rollups into one proof, which can then be verified on the chain. As the state transitions are proven to be valid, there is no need to pay fees to a liquidity provider or wait a week for transactions to be completed. This means that bridging can be done immediately with no drawbacks.

    Source: Sovereign

    The biggest feature here is that Sovereign SDK Rollups are able to be used on any blockchain, as the responsibility of verifying proofs is given to the user, not the original blockchain. This is what sets them apart from smart-contract rollups. As the data availability layer does not need to be able to check proofs, SDK rollups can be used on any blockchain without needing to be rewritten. This makes them incredibly versatile, creating an ecosystem of interoperable and scalable rollups that can run on any blockchain.

    When is Sovereign Launching?

    Sovereign is currently in the process of developing the SDK, which includes designing the default storage module, cryptoeconomics, and core APIs. They are also working on a research prototype which is currently integrating with modular blockchain Celestia for data availability and ZK virtual machine Risc0 for the proving system. This phase is expected to be complete around Q2 2023.

    Initial implementation of the SDK will begin afterwards, which they will implement a peer-to-peer network, RPC node, core APIs, default storage and sequencing modules. Once this feature is complete, the SDK will be repeatedly stress tested and audited for about six months until it is ready to be deployed across all mainnet chains.