zkSync Airdrop Guide: 4x Times Bigger Than Arbitrum?

Highlights

What Is zkSync?

ZkSync is a Layer 2 scaling solution. It uses zk-rollup technology to increase Ethereum's throughput while maintaining high security and privacy for users. It already has a large ecosystem, with hundreds of dapps and over $100M in total value locked.

This airdrop is interesting because Matter Labs, the company behind zkSync, has raised a massive $458 million from investors like Blockchain Capital and Andreessen Horowitz. For perspective, Arbitrum raised $143 million and airdropped users $1k-$20k worth of ARB tokens.

The zkSync Airdrop ($ZKS)

An airdrop has not been confirmed; however, the team has hinted at dropping a token, which will likely have the ticker symbol $ZKS. Given the success of other Layer 2 airdrops like Arbitrum ($1k-$20k) and Optimism ($1k-$30k), I believe a $ZKS airdrop is extremely likely.

How to Receive the zkSync Airdrop

To increase your odds of being eligible, you should bridge funds to zkSync Era Mainnet and interact with projects in the zkSync ecosystem. There are many DEXs, NFT platforms, and protocols you can start using right away. Here are the tasks I've completed:

1. Setup a MetaMask wallet and fund it with some ETH
2. Add the zkSync Era Mainnet network to MetaMask
3. Bridge ETH mainnet funds using the zkSync bridge
4. Bridge funds using Across Protocol
5. Swap tokens on SyncSwap
6. Swap tokens on the ZigZag DEX
7. Mint, buy and sell an NFT on MintSquare
8. Swap tokens and add liquidity on Mute.io 
9. Do a small bridge on Rhino.fi
10. Add a tiny amount of liquidity to Era Land
11. Interact with other zkSync Era projects
12. Bridge funds back using Orbiter.Finance or zkSync Portal
13. Bridge funds to zkSync Lite (the old version)
14. Swap tokens on ZigZag exchange

1. Setup a MetaMask Wallet and Fund It With ETH

First, you will need a MetaMask wallet with some Ethereum to use in the later steps. After you have a MetaMask wallet with funds, you need to add the zkSync Era network to MetaMask. Click "Add Network" on MetaMask and input the following:

• Network Name: zkSync Era Mainnet
• New RPC URL: https://mainnet.era.zksync.io
• Chain ID: 324
• Currency Symbol: ETH
• Block Explorer URL: https://explorer.zksync.io/

While we're on the topic, you should also check out the potential LayerZero airdrop, MetaMask airdrop and ZetaChain airdrop which I wrote guides on as well.

URL: https://metamask.io

2. Bridge Funds to zkSync Era Mainnet

The official zkSync bridge lets you easily transfer funds between Ethereum Mainnet and the zkSync Era network. Interacting with the official bridge could help you qualify for the airdrop, which is what we are looking for. Note, Ethereum is the only chain available right now so the gas fees can be high.

First, connect your MetaMask wallet on the website and then send some Ethereum to the zkSync Era Mainnet. According to the website, it should take about 5 minutes to arrive.

URL: https://portal.txsync.io/bridge/

3. Bridge Funds Using Across Protocol

Another option is to use any third-party bridge such as Across Protocol, a growing cross-chain bridge with $66M total value locked (TVL) and $3B in transaction volume so far. It lets you bridge in and out of zkSync using multiple networks like Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, and more. Bridging is extremely fast, typically under 60 seconds, and you'll save significantly on fees. 

The fee can be as low as a few cents depending which network you choose, plus you can grab an additional 10% off if you find a referral URL.

URL: https://rankfi.com/go/across-protocol/ (referral link includes 10% off).

4. Use The SyncSwap DEX

SyncSwap is a DEX that is live on zkSync Era Mainnet. To interact with the protocol, you can swap some tokens. You can also add and remove liquidity from one of the pools.

And just like Orbiter Finance, there might a SyncSwap airdrop which I've also created a guide on. It's very easy to enter and the team has confirmed a native token called $SYNC is on the way.

URL: https://syncswap.xyz

5. Use Other Top Applications

There are a variety of DEXs, NFT marketplaces, and protocols where you can make transactions in the zkSync ecosystem. If we look to past airdrops like Arbitrum, then interacting with popular Era projects will be a good eligibility criteria.

Here are some protocols that we picked, but you can also find others to interact with:

6. Bridge Ether to zkSync Lite

All of the steps above were using zkSync Era (version 2.0). However, zkSync Lite (previously named zkSync 1.0) is the older version that has been running since 2020. Interacting with the old version could also qualify you as an early adopter for the airdrop, which is what we're looking for.

You can visit lite.zksync.io, connect your wallet and transfer some Ether from Ethereum mainnet to zkSync Lite. On the same website, you can also mint an NFT. Alternatively, if you want to use the funds you bridged earlier, you can visit Orbiter.Finance again, and transfer from zkSync Era to ZkSync Lite and vice versa.

URLs: https://lite.zksync.io/ or https://www.orbiter.finance/

7. Swap Tokens on ZigZag

After bridging funds to zkSync Lite, you can use the ZigZag exchange to make some transactions.

Make sure your wallet is connected to the zkSync 1.0 network and not Arbitrum (look in the top right corner). Then make 1 or 2 transactions which can be any small amount. 

Once you're done, you can bridge your funds back to Ethereum Mainnet using the ZigZag bridge or one of the bridges from step 6. 

URL: https://zigzag.exchange/

Track Your zkSync Stats

Here are 3 free zkSync airdrop tracking tools. You can paste your wallet address to see useful stats like transaction volume, number of active days, and more.

• https://byfishh.github.io/zk-flow/
• https://trustalabs.ai/ 
• https://www.10kdrop.com/ (Get 11% off paid plans here)

Other Tips to Maximize Your Airdrop