zkSync Airdrop Guide: 4x Times Bigger Than Arbitrum?
Having raised $458M, zkSync is speculated to be one of the largest crypto airdrops for 2023 or 2024. Here is everything you need to know about this potential airdrop.
What Is zkSync?
ZkSync is a Layer 2 scaling solution. It uses zk-rollup technology to increase Ethereum's throughput while maintaining high security and privacy for users. It already has a large ecosystem, with hundreds of dapps and over $100M in total value locked.
This airdrop is interesting because Matter Labs, the company behind zkSync, has raised a massive $458 million from investors like Blockchain Capital and Andreessen Horowitz. For perspective, Arbitrum raised $143 million and airdropped users $1k-$20k worth of ARB tokens.
The zkSync Airdrop ($ZKS)
An airdrop has not been confirmed; however, the team has hinted at dropping a token, which will likely have the ticker symbol $ZKS. Given the success of other Layer 2 airdrops like Arbitrum ($1k-$20k) and Optimism ($1k-$30k), I believe a $ZKS airdrop is extremely likely.
How to Receive the zkSync Airdrop
To increase your odds of being eligible, you should bridge funds to zkSync Era Mainnet and interact with projects in the zkSync ecosystem. There are many DEXs, NFT platforms, and protocols you can start using right away. Here are the tasks I've completed:
- Setup a MetaMask wallet and fund it with some ETH
- Add the zkSync Era Mainnet network to MetaMask
- Bridge ETH mainnet funds using the zkSync bridge
- Bridge funds using Across Protocol
- Swap tokens on SyncSwap
- Swap tokens on the ZigZag DEX
- Mint, buy and sell an NFT on MintSquare
- Swap tokens and add liquidity on Mute.io
- Do a small bridge on Rhino.fi
- Add a tiny amount of liquidity to Era Land
- Interact with other zkSync Era projects
- Bridge funds back using Orbiter.Finance or zkSync Portal
- Bridge funds to zkSync Lite (the old version)
- Swap tokens on ZigZag exchange
1. Setup a MetaMask Wallet and Fund It With ETH
First, you will need a MetaMask wallet with some Ethereum to use in the later steps. After you have a MetaMask wallet with funds, you need to add the zkSync Era network to MetaMask. Click "Add Network" on MetaMask and input the following:
- Network Name: zkSync Era Mainnet
- New RPC URL: https://mainnet.era.zksync.io
- Chain ID: 324
- Currency Symbol: ETH
- Block Explorer URL: https://explorer.zksync.io/
2. Bridge Funds to zkSync Era Mainnet
The official zkSync bridge lets you easily transfer funds between Ethereum Mainnet and the zkSync Era network. Interacting with the official bridge could help you qualify for the airdrop, which is what we are looking for. Note, Ethereum is the only chain available right now so the gas fees can be high.
First, connect your MetaMask wallet on the website and then send some Ethereum to the zkSync Era Mainnet. According to the website, it should take about 5 minutes to arrive.
URL: https://portal.txsync.io/bridge/
3. Bridge Funds Using Across Protocol
Another option is to use any third-party bridge such as Across Protocol, a growing cross-chain bridge with $66M total value locked (TVL) and $3B in transaction volume so far. It lets you bridge in and out of zkSync using multiple networks like Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, and more. Bridging is extremely fast, typically under 60 seconds, and you'll save significantly on fees.
URL: https://across.to/
4. Use The SyncSwap DEX
SyncSwap is a DEX that is live on zkSync Era Mainnet. To interact with the protocol, you can swap some tokens. You can also add and remove liquidity from one of the pools.
And just like Orbiter Finance, there might a SyncSwap airdrop which I've also created a guide on. It's very easy to enter and the team has confirmed a native token called $SYNC is on the way.
URL: https://syncswap.xyz
5. Use Other Top Applications
There are a variety of DEXs, NFT marketplaces, and protocols where you can make transactions in the zkSync ecosystem. If we look to past airdrops like Arbitrum, then interacting with popular Era projects will be a good eligibility criteria.
Here are some protocols that we picked, but you can also find others to interact with:
- Rhino.Fi: Rhino.Fi is a bridge with low fees and fast transactions. You can also swap tokens and explore other features to increase your transaction count.
- Mintsquare.io: Mintsquare is an NFT platform where you buy an NFT, list an NFT for sale, and try minting an NFT. When you visit the site, make sure you connect to zkSync Era in the top right corner (not the testnet or Starknet). Any of the cheapest NFTs should be enough.
- Mute.io: Mute offers a DEX, farming platform, bonds, and more. Some possible transactions you can make are swapping tokens, adding liquidity, locking up your LP tokens on the Amplifier platform, and trying any new features that they happen to release.
- Onchain.Trade: Another DEX where you can swap tokens, go long or short, and increase your total number of transactions in the zkSync ecosystem.
- EraLend.com (previously Nexon Finance): Lend and borrow crypto assets. Here you can supply a small amount of liquidity using ETH or USDC.
- Portal.zksync.io: Another zkSync Era bridge. You can use this to bridge your funds back to Ethereum Mainnet or send more funds in to the zkSync Era ecosystem.
- Find all of the zkSync Dapps here: If you want to interact with more protocols, you can browse the entire ecosystem here. The more transactions and volume you do, the more likely you are to receive a zkSync airdrop.
6. Bridge Ether to zkSync Lite
All of the steps above were using zkSync Era (version 2.0). However, zkSync Lite (previously named zkSync 1.0) is the older version that has been running since 2020. Interacting with the old version could also qualify you as an early adopter for the airdrop, which is what we're looking for.
You can visit lite.zksync.io, connect your wallet and transfer some Ether from Ethereum mainnet to zkSync Lite. On the same website, you can also mint an NFT. Alternatively, if you want to use the funds you bridged earlier, you can visit Orbiter.Finance again, and transfer from zkSync Era to ZkSync Lite and vice versa.
URLs: https://lite.zksync.io/ or https://www.orbiter.finance/
7. Swap Tokens on ZigZag
After bridging funds to zkSync Lite, you can use the ZigZag exchange to make some transactions.
Make sure your wallet is connected to the zkSync 1.0 network and not Arbitrum (look in the top right corner). Then make 1 or 2 transactions which can be any small amount.
Once you're done, you can bridge your funds back to Ethereum Mainnet using the ZigZag bridge or one of the bridges from step 6.
URL: https://zigzag.exchange/
Track Your zkSync Stats
Here are 3 free zkSync airdrop tracking tools. You can paste your wallet address to see useful stats like transaction volume, number of active days, and more.
Other Tips to Maximize Your Airdrop
- Build A High-Quality Wallet: Your total number of transactions and volume usually multiplies your airdrop rewards. A transaction can be any interaction with a smart contract like swapping tokens on a DEX, bridging funds, minting an NFT, and adding liquidity to a pool.
- Make Transactions Consistently: Past projects have also rewarded users with transactions in different months. For example, Arbitrum users who transacted in 6 different months received a much larger airdrop. This makes sense as projects want to reward their most loyal user base.
- Stay Safe When Visiting Websites: Create a burner wallet dedicated for airdrops and always double check that you're on the official URL. You should never use your primary wallet when hunting for airdrops.
