In the fast-paced world of crypto, airdrops have become a staple for token distribution, but they're often criticized for attracting short-term farmers who dump tokens right after launch. A recent thread on X by Kenton Prescott (@KentonPrescott), building on insights from Haseeb Qureshi (@hosseeb) and Claire Kart (@clairekart), dives deep into why airdrops aren't living up to their potential and how we can fix them. This is especially relevant for meme tokens, where community hype and holding power can make or break a project.

The Dual Purpose of Airdrops Explained

Kenton, with his experience working with over 15 app teams and hundreds of incentive farmers through Rumpel Labs, breaks down airdrops into two main goals: boosting key performance indicators (KPIs) like total value locked (TVL) or trading volume, and distributing tokens to align long-term holders with the protocol.

For KPI-driven "incentive" airdrops, teams essentially pay users for actions that grow the project—think depositing liquidity or generating volume. These are straightforward and effective, as they reward measurable contributions. On the flip side, "amorphous" airdrops aim to get tokens into the hands of potential stewards without clear metrics, often based on broader factors like community involvement.

The catch? Teams expect selling from incentive recipients (farmers need to cash out), but they try hard to prevent dumps from amorphous ones, who are seen as the "chosen" long-term supporters. Yet, as Claire pointed out, these amorphous drops often fall short, leading to artificial activity that vanishes post-token generation event (TGE).

Moving Beyond Amorphous Airdrops

Kenton argues it's time to ditch amorphous airdrops altogether, especially with regulatory clarity on the horizon. Instead, shift token distribution to crowdsales or initial coin offerings (ICOs), where users buy in at preferential prices based on their proven track record.

This is where "holder scores" come in—think of them as a crypto credit score for user behavior. Platforms like Legion, Echo, or BuidlPad could help calculate these scores from past actions, such as token retention over time, governance participation, or fee spending. High-scoring users get better deals in pre-sales, rewarding true holders over mercenaries.

For meme tokens, this could be a game-changer. Meme coins thrive on viral communities, but dumps from farmers can kill the vibe. By tying distributions to holder scores, projects ensure tokens go to folks who'll stick around, fostering stronger, more engaged holders akin to institutional investors in traditional IPOs.

Tackling Sell Pressure in Incentive Airdrops

Even with incentive airdrops sticking around for their pay-for-performance appeal, Kenton highlights a lingering issue: the post-TGE sell pressure that tanks token prices. He teases ideas for mitigating this proactively before launch, inviting collaboration from those working on solutions.

In a reply, Ebisu Ethan (@EbisuEthan) suggests using option tokenomics, where users claim airdrops at discounted prices that improve with longer holding periods. The protocol could then use proceeds for buybacks or treasury growth. Kenton counters that options might be too complex, limiting participation and not fully deterring profit-driven farmers. Plus, they could create inequalities between savvy users and newcomers.

Why This Matters for Meme Token Enthusiasts

Meme tokens often rely on airdrops to bootstrap communities, but the current model invites sybils (fake accounts gaming the system) and quick flips. By adopting score-based crowdsales, meme projects can filter for genuine supporters, leading to more sustainable price action and real utility.

Haseeb's quoted thread echoes this, proposing meta-incentives where projects share holder data to reward consistent behavior across ecosystems. It's like building a reputation system for crypto users, turning anonymous wallets into trackable profiles without sacrificing privacy.

As we head into 2025, with tools like these emerging, meme token creators have a chance to evolve. No more rewarding snapshot gamers—instead, prioritize staying power and real engagement. For blockchain practitioners, this means sharper signals on product-market fit and token holders who actually care about the project's success.

Check out the original thread for the full discussion, and let's see how these ideas play out in the next wave of meme launches. If you're farming points or building in this space, adapting to these shifts could be key to thriving.