As the year turns, crypto timelines are once again flooded with airdrop “watchlists.” Some argue that the airdrop era is over—but every market cycle still produces new projects that deliver very real rewards to users who participate early and consistently.
I’ve reviewed a broad range of active ecosystems and curated this watchlist based on product maturity, team background, and community momentum. To be clear, none of the projects below can guarantee an airdrop. However, most of them are at a critical stage of development, making them well worth understanding—and in some cases, actively engaging with.
My Evaluation Framework: A Three-Dimension Scorecard
I evaluate projects through three core lenses:
· Necessity – Does the project genuinely need a token?
· Sustainability – Can the product survive across market cycles?
· Fairness – Does the distribution model reward real participation?
Below is the sector-by-sector breakdown, along with practical participation guidance.
1. Prediction Markets
This sector is well-positioned for a breakout in 2026. Real demand combined with high user stickiness creates a powerful flywheel.
Polymarket
Website: polymarket.com
How to participate: Trade in prediction markets
Notes: An airdrop has already been confirmed. With over one million users and a highly mature product, this is one of the strongest candidates. Recommendation: place 3–5 predictions per week to maintain consistent activity.
Kalshi
Website: kalshi.com
How to participate: Prediction market trading
Notes: A regulated platform with a strong compliance advantage. Best suited for steady, small-sized participation to build a long-term activity record.
Myriad Markets
Website: myriad.markets
How to participate: Prediction market trading
Notes: Clean UI and excellent mobile experience. Participation in trending topics tends to generate higher engagement.
Melee Markets
Website: alpha.melee.markets
Notes: The alpha version already showcases unique mechanics. Early users may benefit from asymmetric upside.
2. DEXs and Trading Infrastructure
Trading is a permanent demand in crypto. The challenge is identifying projects with real innovation rather than short-lived incentives.
Titan Exchange
Website: app.titan.exchange
How to participate: Solana DEX aggregation trading
Notes: Aggregates nearly all major Solana protocols. Daily trades combined with badge collection appear to be key engagement signals.
Backpack
Website: backpack.exchange
How to participate: Perpetual trading + badge system
Notes: TGE appears to be approaching. The team has deep ecosystem roots. Consider participating in perps with a moderate capital allocation.
Jupiter Exchange
Website: jup.ag
How to participate: Swaps, lending
Notes: A major traffic gateway for the Solana ecosystem. Continuous interaction is likely valuable. Suggestion: at least three swaps per week.
Paradex
Website: app.paradex.trade
How to participate: Trade perps to earn points
Notes: A key trading venue in the StarkNet ecosystem, especially relevant for users focused on Layer 2 growth.
3. AI x Crypto
By 2026, AI agents may become default infrastructure. Early exposure here could be highly leveraged.
Abstract Chain
Website: abstractchain.org
How to participate: Complete tasks to earn XP and badges
Notes: A Layer 1 focused on becoming an execution layer for AI agents. Testnet tasks are updated regularly.
RitualNet
Website: ritual.net
How to participate: Discord participation + task system
Notes: AI compute infrastructure with strong technical credibility. Active contribution to technical discussions may matter.
Inference Labs
Website: inferencelabs.com
How to participate: Points system + community contributions
Notes: Focused on decentralized AI inference. Weekly community Q&A participation is recommended.
OpenMind AGI
Website: openmind.org
How to participate: Use the app to earn points and badges
Notes: Positioned at the intersection of AI and robotics, with rapid iteration cycles.
4. Deeper Opportunities in the Solana Ecosystem
Solana has clearly regained momentum, but selective participation remains essential.
Hylo
Website: hylo.so/stablecoin
How to participate: Hold hyUSD, xSOL, hyloSOL
Notes: A competitive space, but the value proposition is clear. Suggested strategy: hyUSD ONE pool combined with YT-xSOL.
Loopscale
Website: app.loopscale.com
How to participate: Lending and looping strategies
Notes: TVL is stable, but yield farming is crowded. Smaller capital allocations may see limited returns.
Exponent Finance
Website: exponent.finance/income
How to participate: Provide liquidity
Notes: A yield marketplace on Solana. Short-term participation in high-APY pools may be optimal.
DeFi Tuna
Website: defituna.com
How to participate: Trade, provide liquidity, stake $TUNA
Notes: Combines AMM design with advanced LP tooling. Best suited for experienced DeFi users.
5. Privacy and Infrastructure
Privacy-focused infrastructure is likely to gain renewed attention in 2026.
Fairblock Network
Website: fairblock.network
How to participate: Discord community engagement
Notes: High technical barriers, but potentially strong long-term defensibility.
0xMiden
Website: miden.xyz
How to participate: Community contribution
Notes: A ZK-rollup Layer 2. Monitor upcoming testnet releases.
Umi Network
Website: uminetwork.com
How to participate: Discord + testnet
Notes: Very early-stage ZK-rollup infrastructure.
6. RWA and Payments
Tokenized real-world assets remain one of the most structurally certain trends.
KAST Card
Website: kast.xyz
How to participate: Spend using the card
Notes: A global payment card. Real usage history may carry meaningful weight.
Phygitals
Website: phygitals.com
How to participate: Trade and hold RWAs
Notes: Tokenized physical assets. Prefer RWAs linked to well-known brands.
MultipliFi
Website: multipli.fi
How to participate: Trade and hold RWAs
Notes: An RWA trading platform—closely track regulatory progress.
7. Professional Perpetual Trading Track
Bulk Trade
Website: bulk.trade
How to participate: Solana perpetual trading
Notes: Testnet launch is approaching. Early users may benefit disproportionately.
Variational
Website: variational.io
How to participate: Perpetual trading
Notes: Innovative product design, likely best suited for professional traders.
Extended
Website: extended.exchange
How to participate: Perpetual trading
Notes: An aggregator exchange with clear fee advantages.
8. Social and Information Protocols
Kaito AI
Website: yaps.kaito.ai
How to participate: Contribute to discussions
Notes: A leading project in the InfoFi space. Content quality matters more than volume.
Base
Website: join.base.app
How to participate: Interact with the Base app
Notes: An emerging SocialFi platform. Daily check-ins and content posting form the core loop.
Xeet AI
Website: xeet.ai
How to participate: Join the partner program and build influence
Notes: An InfoFi platform potentially favorable to long-term builders.
My Personal Execution Routine
Daily
· Use core trading and DeFi products for real needs
· Stay active in selected high-quality communities
Weekly
· Test the core features of 1–2 new products·
· Publish or contribute valuable content where it matters
Monthly Review
· Reassess project progress
· Prune slow-moving or stagnating projects
Closing Thoughts
Pursuing airdrops is ultimately a process of discovering strong early-stage projects. When the focus shifts from “How many tokens can I get?” to “Is this project genuinely valuable?”, the entire experience changes.
Opportunities in 2026 are unlikely to be fewer—but the ways to earn them will be more diverse. Beyond trading and liquidity provision, content creation, community building, and product testing may become equally important contribution paths.
The key is finding a rhythm that fits you. You don’t need to chase every opportunity or narrative. Understand your strengths, choose aligned projects, and remain patient and consistent.
In an era of information overload, focus and depth may be the rarest competitive advantages. Rather than following every trending project, it’s often better to commit deeply to a few domains you truly believe in.
Disclaimer: This article reflects personal opinions only and does not constitute investment advice. Crypto markets are highly risky. Always conduct your own research and exercise caution before participating in any airdrop or investment activity.