Crypto Airdrop Basics: 12 Terms to Know Before You Claim (2026)

By · Published 2026-09-20 · Updated 2026-11-01 · Last verified 2026-11-01

What is a crypto airdrop, in one paragraph?

A crypto airdrop is a distribution of tokens to wallet addresses that meet rules a project sets, usually based on what those addresses did on-chain before a cut-off called a snapshot. Some airdrops arrive in your wallet automatically; most now have to be claimed on the project's site within a limited window. The words around airdrops can be confusing, and scammers use that confusion. This page explains the twelve terms you'll meet most often, with two real examples from Uniswap and Arbitrum, so you can read an announcement and know what it actually promises. It doesn't promise any reward: eligibility is always the project's decision, and many airdrops end up worth little.

Educational content, not financial advice. Check every claim link against the project's official site before connecting a wallet.

Four stages of an airdrop: the activity a project rewards, the snapshot block, the claim window, and what happens after the claim
An airdrop in four stages.

Before the airdrop: who qualifies

  1. Snapshot. The moment, often a specific block, at which the project records which addresses qualify. Activity after the snapshot doesn't count for that airdrop. Arbitrum's ARB airdrop, for example, used a snapshot at block 58642080 on Arbitrum One, on 6 February 2023.
  2. Eligibility criteria. The rules a project applies to the snapshot data: using the protocol, holding a token, providing liquidity, voting and so on. Uniswap's 2020 UNI distribution gave 400 UNI to each address that had called its v1 or v2 contracts before a snapshot ending 1 September 2020, with separate allocations for liquidity providers.
  3. Retroactive airdrop. One that rewards past activity nobody was told would count. The Uniswap example is the classic case. Because the criteria are only published afterwards, nobody can honestly guarantee that today's activity will qualify for a future one.
  4. Points program. Some projects publish a score for activity before any token exists. Points may or may not turn into tokens later, and the conversion is set by the project. Treat them as a signal, not a balance.
  5. Sybil. One person running many addresses to collect more. Projects filter these out. Arbitrum, for instance, subtracted a point when all of a wallet's transactions happened within a 48-hour period and listed other anti-Sybil rules. Our guide to snapshots, eligibility and Sybil red flags goes deeper.
Grid of terms before a claim: snapshot, eligibility, criteria, Sybil filter, claim window and allocation
Terms before the claim.

Claiming: getting the tokens

  1. Claim. A transaction you sign on the project's claim page to receive your allocation. You pay the network fee. A real claim sends tokens to you; it should never ask for your recovery phrase.
  2. Merkle proof. Many claim contracts store only a compact fingerprint of the full eligibility list (a Merkle root). The claim page gives your wallet a short proof that your address and amount are in that list, and the contract checks it. You don't need to understand the maths; just know that the contract decides, not a support agent.
  3. Claim window. The period during which claims are accepted. Arbitrum's claims opened on 23 March 2023 and closed on 24 September 2023; its docs now say ARB is no longer claimable. Unclaimed tokens are handled by the project's rules, which you'll find in its official documentation, not in a DM.
  4. Token contract address. The address of the real token on its network. Fake tokens copy names and symbols, so compare the contract address with the project's official docs before you trade or add a token.

Fake claim pages are the main risk at this stage. Before you connect, run through the airdrop claim-site phishing checklist.

Two columns on terms people mix up: snapshot vs claim date, points vs tokens, and airdrop vs faucet vs task rewards, with the difference for each
Pairs people mix up.

After the claim: what the tokens can and can't do

  1. TGE (token generation event). The point at which a token is created and starts to circulate. Airdrops often happen around it.
  2. Vesting and cliff. Rules that release tokens gradually. A cliff is a waiting period before anything unlocks; vesting is the schedule after it. Airdrops to users are often unlocked at once, while team and investor tokens usually vest, so supply can grow after launch.
  3. Gas. The network fee for every on-chain action, including the claim and any later transfer. On some networks it can exceed the value of a small allocation. Plan for it with our airdrop gas fee budget calculator.

Whether airdropped tokens are taxable, and when, depends on where you live. Keep a record of the date, the amount and the transaction hash of each claim.

Three pairs of terms people mix up

If an offer mixes all three ("claim your points airdrop from our faucet"), slow down and find the official documentation before you sign anything. The overview of how crypto airdrops work and the main types is a good next read.

Reading an airdrop announcement: a quick test

With the terms above, most announcements can be checked in a minute:

Four checks for an airdrop announcement: official source, snapshot and claim dates, a signature that only receives tokens, and never a seed phrase request
Reading an announcement.

For the bigger picture of how airdrops fit with faucets and other free-crypto routes, see the airdrop safety guide hub.

Vertical Pinterest graphic with five points on crypto airdrop basics
Pinterest pin: crypto airdrop basics.

FAQ

What does "snapshot" mean in a crypto airdrop?

It's the moment, usually a specific block, when the project records which addresses qualify. Only activity before the snapshot counts for that distribution, and the project decides the rules applied to it.

Do I have to claim an airdrop, or does it arrive automatically?

Both exist. Many recent airdrops require a claim transaction on the official site within a set window, while some projects send tokens directly. The project's own documentation says which one applies.

What happens if I miss the claim window?

Usually you can no longer claim. Arbitrum's documentation, for example, states that ARB is no longer claimable after its window closed in September 2023. What happens to unclaimed tokens is set by each project.

Is an airdrop free money?

Not exactly. Claims and transfers cost network fees, the tokens' value can fall quickly, and fake airdrops are a common scam. Treat any airdrop as uncertain until the tokens are in a wallet you control.

Sources