5 DeFi Apps with Potential Retroactive Airdrops

For instance, the decentralized platform dYdX has generously rewarded early users for token swaps, and the NFT marketplace Blur has also made its mark.

Today, we'll explore five compelling DeFi projects focused on liquid asset staking and passive income. Engaging with these platforms could yield not only profit from farming rewards but also potential retroactive airdrops should the project launch its own token.

EigenLayer is an Ethereum re-staking protocol where users can deposit their ETH with the potential to receive rewards from the platform. This system operates similarly to other liquid staking platforms, such as Lido and Rocket Pool. 

When users deposit ETH, they are given a wrapped token known as WETH, which can then be utilized in various DeFi engagements. As per Crunchbase, notable crypto funds like Blockchain Capital, Coinbase Ventures, and cFund have contributed to EigenLayer's fundraising efforts, amassing a total of $64.4 million. 

Currently, EigenLayer has a total value locked (TVL) of $230 million. The inflow of assets to the platform shows a cascading pattern, indicating that EigenLayer intermittently allows for the staking of new ETH before shutting down the access. Those interested can try out the platform's testnet based on our guide or await the next window to deposit funds.

Brahma offers a decentralized solution for crafting and automating trade strategies via asset farming. Through Brahma's platform, users can engage with various assets, including ETH, USDC, FRAX, and MATIC, on both the Ethereum and Polygon networks. 

The project has managed to attract nearly $7 million in investments. To maximize the platform's offerings, users are first encouraged to enhance their karma, which involves linking and being active on their social media accounts. A karma score of 420 is needed to unlock the ability to deposit funds and claim rewards from farming. 

At present, the Brahma TVL stands at nearly $1.5 million. 

Swell is a DeFi protocol focused on enhancing individual returns. The initiative has successfully secured nearly $4 million from notable investors including Framework Ventures, Apollo Capital Management, and Maven 11 Capital, among others. The protocol boasted a Total Value Locked (TVL) surpassing $80 million at press time.

Within the Swell platform, users can stake their ETH and receive an annual yield of 4.5%. Additionally, they are awarded swETH, a wrapped version of their staked ETH, which can be leveraged for various activities within the DeFi space. By staking ETH, participants also accumulate unique points termed “pearls” in the “Voyage” section. Theoretically, any interaction within the platform elevates a user's overall ranking, thereby increasing their odds for a retroactive airdrop.

Arrakis operates as a protocol with an integrated Automatic Market Maker (AMM) functionality, designed specifically to augment liquidity on the renowned decentralized exchange, Uniswap. Currently, the protocol's TVL exceeds $180 million. Impressively, during the DeFi boom in summer 2022, this figure shot up to $1 billion.

Arrakis attracted significant backing from high-profile entities such as Polygon Ventures, Uniswap Labs Ventures, Accel, and Robot Ventures, aggregating their investment to over $4 million. On this platform, users can engage in staking and farming activities with a plethora of cryptocurrencies like ETH, DAI, USDC, OP, USDT, and MATIC. The yield varies, contingent on the liquidity and demand of the trading pair, occasionally peaking at 25%.

In its earlier stages, Arrakis was affiliated with the decentralized Gelato protocol. This suggests that holding the GEL token might be a qualifying factor for receiving a retroactive airdrop in the future.

Morpho is a P2P lending platform built on the Ethereum blockchain. The initiative garnered $18 million in funding from prominent firms like a16z, Variant, and Mechanizm Capital. With its total value locked (TVL) nearing a substantial $800 million, Morpho presents an avenue for users to engage with liquidity and borrow funds, using their digital assets as collateral. 

Every user activity on the platform earns them MORPHO tokens, which, as of now, are not available for trading on exchanges. Although users can periodically claim these tokens on the project's website, transferring them between wallets remains a limitation. 

The Morpho platform facilitates transactions with a range of cryptocurrencies and tokens, including UNI, ETH, USDT, USDC, WBTC, and COMP, among others.

Engaging with liquidity and lending platforms inherently carries risks. One should exercise caution and never risk more than they can afford to lose. However, platforms that haven't launched their native tokens offer a dual opportunity: the chance to earn through annual percentage yields and the potential to secure a retroactive airdrop.