Last updated: October 9, 2026
Staking airdrops are token rewards that projects pay to users who stake, restake or delegate crypto with them. You earn the normal staking yield first. Then the airdrop lands on top.
That double payout made staking the most popular passive farm of the last cycle. EigenLayer, Ethena and ether.fi all paid stakers serious money. However, the same era also gave us a dead chain and a $292 million hack.
So this guide covers both sides. First, the basics. Next, the history with real numbers. Then we cover strategies and our list of staking airdrops open today. We update that list every few months.
New to all of this? Start with the full picture of crypto airdrops and come back.
Here’s our staking airdrops hub for every staking opportunity out there.
What Are Staking Airdrops?
Staking means locking coins to secure a network or a protocol. In return, you earn yield. For example, staked ETH pays a few percent per year.
A staking airdrop adds a second reward. The project tracks who staked, how much and for how long. Later, it pays those users in its own token. Most projects track this with points.
Why do projects pay twice? Because they need deposits. Total value locked attracts users, partners and exchange listings. Therefore, they reward the people who show up early.
Liquid staking made this easier. You stake, and you get a receipt token back. That token stays usable across DeFi. Our liquid staking beginner guide explains the mechanics.
What Is Restaking?
Restaking reuses coins that are already staked. Your staked ETH secures Ethereum first. Then it also secures extra services on top. As a result, you earn extra rewards.
EigenLayer started this model. Liquid restaking protocols such as ether.fi and KelpDAO built on it. They handed users a liquid restaking token, or LRT.
One deposit could farm three or four airdrops at once. For example, a single ETH deposit earned EigenLayer points, LRT points and Zircuit points. That stacking created the restaking airdrops boom of 2024.
However, every extra layer adds risk. More contracts, more bridges and more slashing rules sit under your coins. We come back to that below.
Restaking Airdrops and Staking Airdrops That Paid
History shows the size of this category. These are the big ones.
EigenLayer. Deposits peaked near $20 billion in June 2024. Season one distributed about 113 million EIGEN. Then season two added another 86 million.
Ethena. The first season ran only six weeks. On April 2, 2024, Ethena airdropped 750 million ENA, or 5% of supply. At launch prices, that was close to half a billion dollars. I farmed all six seasons, and every one paid.
ether.fi. Season one paid 60 million ETHFI, or 6% of supply, in March 2024. Later, season three added 25 million more. Meanwhile, new seasons kept coming.
Zircuit. Stakers parked over $2 billion there before mainnet. In return, 7% of the ZRC supply went to 262,200 season one wallets.
KelpDAO. Season one paid 10% of the KERNEL supply to more than 100,000 wallets.
Blast. Over $2 billion flowed in before mainnet. In June 2024, Blast airdropped 17 billion BLAST, or 17% of supply.
When Staking Farms Go Wrong
Not every story ended well. Two of those names carry a warning.
Blast paid a good airdrop, and I enjoyed farming it. Still, the token fell roughly 98% from its peak. The chain is shutting down in October 2026. We covered the deadline in our Blast shutdown post.
KelpDAO went worse. In April 2026, an attacker minted 116,500 fake rsETH through its bridge. Then the attacker borrowed real ETH against it. Total damage: $292 million. I had presale money in Kelp myself, so this one hurt. Read the KelpDAO exploit breakdown for the full story.
The lesson is simple. Farm the airdrop, but respect the exit. Above all, never park more than you can lose.
Neutral Farming: Stake Without the Price Risk
Many farmers want the yield and the airdrop, but not the price swings. Delta neutral farming solves that.
The setup has three steps:
- Buy the coin on spot.
- Stake it with the protocol you farm.
- Short the same amount on a perp exchange.
Now the two positions cancel out. If the price drops, the short pays. When it pumps, the stake gains. Either way, you pocket the staking yield and the points.
Funding is the extra variable. Usually, shorts get paid funding in bullish markets. However, funding can flip against you. Also, keep enough margin on the short to survive a sharp pump.
This strategy is my bread and butter. It is not flashy, and it can take a year. Still, the eventual airdrop sometimes pays for the whole grind. Our delta neutral airdrop farming guide walks through every step.
Looping Strategies for Staking Airdrops
Looping multiplies your position. The idea is easy to follow.
First, stake your ETH and receive a staking token. Next, deposit that token as collateral on a lending market. Then borrow ETH against it. Finally, stake the borrowed ETH again.
As a result, the protocol sees a bigger deposit. You earn more yield and more points from the same capital.
However, leverage cuts both ways. A small depeg can liquidate a deep loop. Borrow rates can also rise above your yield.
Personally, I only ever run one loop. I know farmers who went six or seven levels deep. That needs constant monitoring, and my risk tolerance is lower. The looping strategies guide covers the math and the liquidation risks. To stretch one bankroll further, also study capital efficient airdrop farming.
List of Staking Airdrops Open Right Now
Here are the staking farms we currently rate. Each one links to a step-by-step guide. More platforms sit on our staking and restaking resource page.
- Pendle Finance. Pendle splits yield-bearing assets into a fixed part and a yield part. Therefore, you can lock a fixed return or go for the yield and partner points. Stakers of PENDLE also earn a share of trading fees. Start with the Pendle Finance guide.
- Meria Finance. Meria is the best pick for EU users. The French platform received its MiCA approval in June 2026. It offers staking, lending and stablecoin yield from €25. Note that Meria is a yield play, not a points campaign. See the Meria Finance guide.
- ether.fi. The restaking veteran launches a new season every few months. So, consistent stakers keep getting paid. Track every season on our ether.fi project page.
- ZKsync. Here you stake ZK and delegate to an active voter. There is no lockup, and rewards arrive in seasons. The ZKsync staking guide has the details.
- Ankr. Ankr covers many chains in one place. For example, you can stake ETH, BNB, AVAX, POL and SUI. You receive a liquid token for DeFi in return. The Ankr staking guide shows how.
Staking Airdrops for Coins You Already Hold
Some farms only make sense for a specific bag. These four fit that description.
- Bitflow Finance. This one is for Bitcoin holders. Bitflow runs on Stacks and pays points for staking, swapping and liquidity. Those points count toward the BFF token. Follow the Bitflow Finance guide.
- Quant Network. QNT staking is confirmed, but it is not live yet. Testnet staking comes first. Therefore, holders can prepare now. Our Quant Network staking guide tracks the rollout.
- World Liberty Financial. Stakers lock WLFI for 180 days and earn USD1. You must also vote once every 90 days. If you already hold WLFI, you might as well stake. However, I would not buy WLFI only for this. Check the WLFI staking guide.
- Hyperliquid Season 3. Staking HYPE counts as Season 3 activity. Still, nobody knows how much weight it carries, so rewards are not guaranteed. Meanwhile, trading volume there is absolutely nuts. Small traders struggle to compete on volume alone. Staking and providing liquidity may be the route for farmers who trade less. Read the Hyperliquid Season 3 guide.
The Risks of Staking Airdrops
Staking feels safe. It is not risk free.
Protocol risk. Smart contracts, bridges and admin keys can all fail. In fact, April 2026 became the worst month for DeFi hacks on record. Our DeFi hacks guide lists what went wrong and how to protect yourself.
Wallet risk. Fake staking sites and wallet drainers target farmers every day. So, bookmark official links and simulate transactions. Use a hardware wallet for size. Our guide on how to claim crypto airdrops safely covers the basics.
Lockup risk. Some programs lock your coins for months. Meanwhile, the market moves without you.
Reward risk. Points are not promises. Sometimes the airdrop disappoints. Therefore, spread your capital over several protocols.
It Is Passive, but Not Hands-Off
Staking is the laziest farm in crypto. Still, lazy does not mean absent.
Even a neutral setup needs attention. Log in a few times per week. Check your short, your margin and the funding rate. Then claim your rewards and compound them.
That routine takes minutes. However, it catches problems early. During the Kelp hack, I withdrew my Aave funds the moment I saw the news.
In my view, every farmer should keep one or two staking positions running. That is a good habit. It also keeps your wallets active between the bigger farms. Those bigger farms sit in our best DEX airdrops list.
Why Now Is the Time to Stake
Timing matters for this strategy. Right now, it looks good.
I believe a new bull market may be starting. If that is right, coins can climb while you stake them. So, this is one of those periods to consider going naked instead of neutral. In other words, you stake without the short.
That choice gives you three things. First, you keep full price exposure. Second, bigger airdrops usually arrive when attention returns. Third, you still collect the yield.
Of course, naked means real downside too. Therefore, only stake coins you want to hold anyway. Keep the neutral setup for everything else.
Keep This Content Free
We refresh this list of staking airdrops for free. Want to support that work? Buy the coins you plan to stake through our links on OKX or Bybit.
Final Words
Staking airdrops reward patience. You deposit, you earn yield, and sometimes a big token drop follows. EigenLayer, Ethena and ether.fi proved it. Blast and KelpDAO proved the risks.
So, pick one or two protocols from the list. Decide between neutral and naked. Then check in every week and compound. For the complete playbook, read our airdrop farming guide. After that, browse the latest airdrops for your next farm.
FAQ
What are staking airdrops?
Staking airdrops are token rewards paid to users who stake or delegate crypto with a project. They come on top of the normal staking yield.
What is the difference between staking and restaking?
Staking secures one network. Restaking reuses those staked coins to secure extra services, which adds rewards and also adds risk.
Are staking airdrops guaranteed?
No. Points are not promises, and some projects never confirm a token. Therefore, treat the yield as your base return and the airdrop as a bonus.
Can I farm staking airdrops without price risk?
Yes, with a delta neutral setup. You stake the coin on spot and short the same amount on a perp exchange.
How much money do I need for staking airdrops?
Most protocols have no real minimum. However, gas fees and small allocations make very small deposits less worthwhile.
What is the biggest risk of staking airdrops?
Protocol risk comes first. Hacks, bridge failures and shutdowns can hit even large, audited projects, so spread your funds.
