What is Yap-to-Earn? Why is this model changing the way projects distribute airdrops

In recent months, the crypto community has become aware of a new trend: projects are no longer distributing tokens solely based on testnet activities or on-chain farming, but are shifting to a different approach - Yap-to-Earn. This model surprises many, especially when some individuals receive large airdrops without participating in any testnet activities. So what drives this change, and why has Yap-to-Earn become a top strategy for leading projects?

What is Yap-to-Earn? Concept and essence

Yap-to-Earn is a form of incentivizing users to create educational content, analysis, or discussions about a specific project (usually on the X/Twitter platform) to receive rewards in the form of tokens, airdrops, or revenue sharing. This model is not entirely new, but only recently has it been widely adopted as an official airdrop criterion.

The first project to consider “yapping” (sharing information/analysis) as a main standard for its airdrop program is Sanctum, with $CLOUD (current price $0.08, down 1.75% in 24h). They allocate 5% of the total tokens for high-quality social contributions, including: genuine educational content, in-depth analysis, and teaching others (not just simple airdrop farmers).

Why are projects shifting to this model?

The issue projects face is simple but important: the number of participants farming airdrops is very large, but most of them contribute little to the project. They are just “airdrop farmers” — people seeking free tokens without any commitment or understanding of the project.

Yap-to-Earn addresses this problem by acting as an effective filter:

Preventing Sybil attacks: Creating high-quality content makes it difficult for malicious actors to use multiple fake accounts. It requires time, skills, and genuine understanding of the project.

Identifying genuine contributors: Those who write in-depth about the project, provide accurate data, and educate the community will naturally stand out.

Compared to other methods of detecting Sybil:

• On-chain detection: technically complex and costly
• Discord role systems: effective but with low participation rates
• Requiring real capital in games: too few users

That’s why Yap-to-Earn has emerged as a leading solution.

Leading projects adopting this model

Berachain ($BERA): This project has clearly adopted the Yap-to-Earn strategy in its airdrop program. The current price is $0.58 (down 7.73% in 24h), with a market cap of $62.04M. Those yappering about Berachain and its technical aspects receive significant rewards.

EigenLayer ($EIGEN): Although primarily known as a restaking protocol, EigenLayer also applies Yap-to-Earn in its token distribution strategy. The current price is $0.40 $EIGEN up 1.15% in 24h( with a market cap of $199.01M. Content creators who produce in-depth educational material on restaking receive larger airdrops.

Limitations of relying solely on Yap-to-Earn

While Yap-to-Earn offers great benefits, it should not be the sole criterion for an airdrop program because:

Not everyone has the skills: Not everyone has the research ability and skills needed to create high-quality educational content.

High opportunity cost: Yapping requires significant effort )while airdrops are uncertain(, which can waste time if the project does not truly distribute tokens as promised.

Quality content alone is not enough: A well-written post or a great tweet thread does not capture the full value of a project. On-chain participation, constructive feedback, and long-term support remain important.

Practical guide: How to start Yap-to-Earn

If you want to participate in Yap-to-Earn and maximize your chances of receiving airdrops, follow these steps:

Step 1 - Choose strategic projects Randomly yapping about every project will not yield rewards. Focus on top projects in each field. If you’re interested in restaking, EigenLayer is a clear choice. If you follow layer 1 and layer 2, select top L1/L2 projects with large and diverse user bases.

Step 2 - Create educational content Quality always beats quantity. A complete piece of content should include:

• Clear definition of the concept
• Current industry situation
• Comparison with other projects/solutions
• Real data or specific examples

Never copy-paste content from other sources. Develop your own perspective.

Step 3 - Maintain regular activity A single post will definitely not be effective. Keep yourself updated on your favorite projects and continuously mention them. For example, each time you write about restaking, mention EigenLayer. Becoming part of the core yapper group is the only way to turn your efforts into real rewards.

Step 4 - Maintain a constructive attitude Although every project has limitations, spreading FUD )fear, uncertainty, doubt( rarely yields rewards. Instead, provide constructive feedback, suggest improvements, and stay positive. Do you want to be right or make money? Sometimes, you can’t have both.

Step 5 - Use Yapper ranking tools Tools like Kaito Yapper leaderboard help you easily track who is yappering the most about a specific project. Dominating this leaderboard is also a useful way to improve your skills. Just:

• Access the leaderboard
• Find top yapppers
• Analyze their post structure: keywords used, posting times, images included
• Study top comments on their posts

Conclusion: The future of airdrops

Yap-to-Earn represents a major shift in how projects distribute tokens. Instead of rewarding those merely seeking free tokens, it encourages real contributions to the community. With Berachain )$BERA(, EigenLayer )$EIGEN(, and other projects adopting this model, it’s clear that the future of airdrops lies not in the quantity of participants, but in the quality of their contributions.

If you’re ready to dive into Yap-to-Earn, remember that it’s not a quick way to make money. It requires time, skills, passion for the project, and persistence. But if you can produce high-quality educational content, top projects will recognize your efforts.