When the ADX airdrop 2021, a token distribution event for the AdEx blockchain advertising network. Also known as AdEx Network airdrop, it was one of the few crypto giveaways that actually targeted real users—people who tested decentralized ad platforms before they were mainstream. Unlike most airdrops that just handed out tokens to wallet addresses with no real engagement, ADX rewarded users who actually used the AdEx platform to run or view ads on the blockchain. This wasn’t just free money—it was a test of whether decentralized advertising could work.
The AdEx, a decentralized advertising network built on Ethereum that cuts out middlemen like Google and Facebook. It enables publishers and advertisers to connect directly using smart contracts. was trying to solve a real problem: online ads are broken. Big platforms take 50% or more of ad spend, track you everywhere, and still show irrelevant ads. AdEx let users earn ADX tokens just for watching ads, and advertisers paid less because there was no corporate middleman. The 2021 airdrop was a way to bootstrap adoption—give tokens to early adopters, get them to use the platform, and build a real user base.
It also connected to the broader DeFi airdrop, a trend where blockchain projects distribute tokens to users to incentivize participation and decentralize ownership. movement. Projects like Uniswap, Compound, and Curve had already shown that giving tokens away could spark growth. But ADX was different—it didn’t just give tokens to anyone who held ETH. You had to interact with the platform. That made the airdrop more meaningful and harder to game. People who earned ADX were users, not speculators.
Today, most of those 2021 ADX holders either sold their tokens or forgot about them. But the experiment didn’t fail. It proved that blockchain-based advertising could attract real users. Some of the same teams behind AdEx are now working on new decentralized ad tools, and the lessons from that airdrop still shape how projects design their token incentives. You’ll find posts here that dig into what happened after the airdrop, which wallets actually benefited, and how AdEx compares to newer projects trying to do the same thing. Some are cautionary tales. Others show how small, thoughtful distributions can outlast flash-in-the-pan hype.
7 May
AdEx Network's 2021 ADX airdrop gave 100 tokens to 300 winners. Now, with AURA, it's helping users find and claim future airdrops using AI. Here's how it works and what's next.
