Airdrops are making a major comeback, but this time, they are doing far more than just handing out free tokens. A new survey from crypto exchange MEXC shows that airdrops, supercharged by the rise of tap-to-earn apps, are becoming one of the primary entry points into the crypto world especially in the CIS region and across Asia.
According to the April report shared with crypto.news, airdrops now account for 35% of all new registrations on MEXC, outperforming traditional referral programs and organic signups. Some months, this number is even higher. Despite a 24% post-airdrop inactivity rate, MEXC’s Chief Operating Officer Tracy Jin emphasized that this is natural given the incentive-driven nature of airdrops, and improvements continue as projects refine their tokenomics and community-building strategies.
“The 24% figure represents users primarily driven by easy gains. But projects with strong ecosystems can still turn many of these users into active participants,” Jin said.
Tap-to-Earn Apps Redefining Engagement
One of the key drivers behind this boom is the surge in tap-to-earn apps on platforms like Telegram. Games such as Hamster Kombat and Notcoin have introduced millions to crypto through simple one-tap mechanics, making crypto adoption feel more like playing a mobile game than investing. Hamster Kombat alone has surpassed 70 million users, while Notcoin gained over 5 million followers within just a month.
The MEXC survey highlighted that gamified mobile experiences and Telegram’s massive adoption in CIS regions make it an ideal hub for such innovations. In Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and neighboring countries, a staggering 67% of new crypto users are entering through airdrops.
“Mobile-first tools and gamified experiences are now major behavioral drivers, not just financial need,” MEXC noted in the report.
Why Emerging Markets Are Leading the Trend
In Southeast Asia and South Asia, airdrops remain crucial due to limited banking access. Countries like the Philippines and Pakistan see crypto giveaways not only as opportunities for investment but also as a practical means for remittances and cross-border transactions.
Interestingly, while Africa and Latin America were once expected to dominate airdrop participation, the report shows lower involvement rates 12% and 16%, respectively challenging earlier assumptions about these regions’ engagement with crypto giveaways.
Airdrop Users Are Sticking Around
Despite concerns about users chasing quick rewards, MEXC’s data shows encouraging signs of retention. About 76% of airdrop participants stay active on the platform after their initial signup. Of those, 18% become regular traders and 58% trade occasionally. Active users also demonstrate significant financial engagement, with average daily trading volumes exceeding $58,000, and some participants reaching as high as $31 million in trading volume.
Additionally, MEXC has distributed over $13.5 million to nearly 470,000 users through airdrop events as of April 20, further underscoring the growing scale of the trend.
“Airdrops provide beginners with a low-risk way to get their first tokens, explore exchanges, and start trading,” Jin explained.
Looking Ahead
With Telegram strengthening its ecosystem by encouraging mini-apps to operate on the TON blockchain, tap-to-earn games are likely to remain a dominant force in emerging markets. While cross-chain flexibility may be limited, developers are expected to innovate within TON, ensuring that the tap-to-earn wave continues to evolve.
As airdrops shift from being simple promotional tools to critical on-ramps for new users, their role in building the next wave of crypto adoption especially in mobile-first, emerging economies is only set to grow.
