Yeliz Akmaca 
The crypto world in 2025 has reignited one of the most critical questions for investors: Is it more profitable to simply receive airdrop tokens and hold them long-term, or sell immediately after launch?
Data shows that most airdropped tokens suffer significant value loss post-launch. Cryptocurrency trader Didi’s analysis indicates that nearly all airdrops received over the past year traded below their TGE value. Examples are striking: M3M3 dropped 99.64%, Elixir fell 99.50%, and USUAL declined 97.67%. Even major projects were hit: Magic Eden -96.6%, Jupiter -75.9%, and Monad -39.13%. Only Avantis saw a 30.4% gain above its TGE price.
Didi summarizes the situation:
“Out of 30 airdrops I’ve received since Dec 2024, only one trades slightly above TGE price. Let’s be honest: we’re all here to make money.”
Glassnode, Dune Analytics, and private market reports indicate:
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Over 84% of tokens lost value in the first week after TGE.
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Average loss in the first 30 days ranged between 30–55%.
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Even major projects faced limited liquidity due to early selling pressure.
Trends and Insights
Some airdrops in 2025 delivered notable gains for investors. The most prominent example was Pudgy Penguins ($PENGU), which attracted significant attention and short-term value increase. However, such cases were rare; most tokens lost value post-launch.
Memento Research’s 2025 study supports these findings. Among 118 token launches, 84.7% traded below TGE value. About 65% lost half their value, and more than half dropped 70% or more. Projects with high initial FDV performed particularly poorly; none of the 28 launches with FDV above $1 billion remain profitable.
The report highlights that lower FDV tokens had better performance:
“The cheapest launches had a meaningful survival rate (40% green) with median losses around -26%. Mid and high-tier launches were almost entirely repriced to the floor, with losses around -70% to -83%.”
Airdrop Complexity and Waning Interest
Investor interest in airdrops fell in 2025 not only due to price pressure but also increasingly complex distribution mechanics. Previously, claiming an airdrop might have required connecting a wallet, but now projects impose longer engagement, technical requirements, registration windows, and vesting schedules.
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Which Strategy Makes Sense?
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Short-Term Selling: Safer for small investors seeking to avoid post-TGE price drops.
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Long-Term Holding: Risky but potentially rewarding for those confident in the project’s ecosystem and future gains.
Conclusion
Data from 2025 shows most airdropped tokens lose value after launch, and distribution mechanics have grown increasingly complex. Investors should prioritize short-term liquidity and capital preservation.
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