Crypto exchange MEXC has revealed that airdrop campaigns are becoming a powerful tool for user acquisition, contributing to as much as 35% of new signups during peak periods, according to its latest research report.
The findings highlight the evolving role of airdrops—not just as promotional strategies, but as effective entry points for financial inclusion in underserved regions. As mobile penetration deepens, gamified airdrops, particularly through Telegram-based platforms, are reshaping the way newcomers interact with digital assets, often without prior exposure to crypto.
Moreover, the report shows that a significant 76% of users who sign up via airdrops remain on the platform. Of these, 18% transition into active traders, generating average daily trading volumes exceeding $58,000, with top users reaching as high as $31 million. An additional 58% engage in occasional trading, while 24% withdraw their assets after initial participation.
Regionally, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) leads in airdrop-driven participation, accounting for 67% of new users, followed by Southeast Asia at 51% and South Asia at 32%. This regional trend corresponds with limited banking access and a growing reliance on alternative financial tools. The findings also align with broader global crypto adoption data, particularly in countries such as India, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Adding to this trend, MEXC notes that tap-to-earn games like Hamster Kombat, Notcoin, and Yescoin have become central to user onboarding. These mobile-first, gamified experiences are now widely used in countries like Pakistan and the Philippines to introduce crypto assets to financially marginalized communities.
In addition to the airdrop surge, MEXC continues to strengthen its market position. The exchange recorded net monthly inflows of $1.79 billion in March—a 12.4% increase from the previous month—securing its spot among the world’s top three centralized exchanges (CEXs). To bridge the gap between decentralized and centralized finance, MEXC has also partnered with Solana-based token issuance platform pump.fun. Through this collaboration, the exchange recently launched DEX+, a hybrid trading platform that allows users to access over 15,000 decentralized tokens from the Solana and BNB Chain ecosystems directly through the MEXC app or website.
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