By Farheen Jameel 
In 2025, earning free crypto from airdrops and testnets has become one of the most overlooked but highly rewarding methods for anyone wanting to enter the crypto space without risking their money. Over the last year, I’ve earned thousands of dollars worth of tokens from blockchain projects simply by participating in testnets, completing social tasks, and submitting basic feedback — all with zero investment.
In this article, I’ll break down exactly how I got started, which platforms paid off, and how you too can earn free crypto from airdrops and testnets with nothing but time and a bit of curiosity.
Before diving into how I earned free crypto from airdrops and testnets, it’s important to understand what they are.
Airdrops are free distributions of cryptocurrency tokens by blockchain projects, usually to create awareness or reward early users. These tokens are often distributed in exchange for simple actions like:
- Following the project on Twitter
- Joining Telegram or Discord communities
- Signing up for a newsletter
- Completing Gleam campaigns
A testnet is a replica of a blockchain’s main network, created to test new features before going live. Testnet tasks typically include:
- Setting up wallets
- Making fake transactions
- Reporting bugs
- Providing feedback
Many crypto projects now reward testnet participants with real tokens once they launch their mainnet — making it a great way to earn free crypto from airdrops and testnets.
Back in 2024, I stumbled upon a post on Twitter about a testnet that later rewarded users with $2,000 worth of tokens. That moment changed everything. I realized that there were dozens of projects out there looking for testers and early adopters.
Here’s the strategy I followed:
- Created separate email & Twitter accounts for airdrops
- Joined major airdrop communities like:
- Signed up for testnets on:
Most of these platforms don’t require any investment — just time and attention to detail.
Let’s go over the top platforms that helped me earn free crypto from airdrops and testnets over the past year.
Galxe is a Web3 credential platform that hosts many airdrop campaigns. Users complete tasks like verifying wallets, following socials, and interacting with smart contracts to earn points or NFTs, which later convert into real tokens.
- Reputable partners (Binance, Arbitrum, Optimism)
- Easy-to-complete tasks
- Frequent airdrops across various chains
I earned over $300 in tokens from Galxe campaigns alone.
Zealy is a task-based platform where crypto startups reward users for completing community tasks, including Discord activity, tutorial creation, bug reporting, and more.
- Gamified experience
- Leaderboards for top earners
- Great for early-stage projects
Several testnet tokens I received from Zealy later turned into $100–$500 once they launched.
Earnifi scans the blockchain for unclaimed airdrops and notifies you via email. It’s a one-stop dashboard to discover what you might’ve missed.
- Instant discovery of unclaimed drops
- Clean user interface
- Free and premium plans
I recovered $75 worth of airdrops just by pasting in my wallet address.
DeFiLlama’s tracker is a goldmine for active airdrops and projects likely to reward users. It includes estimated value, steps to qualify, and status updates.
- Top picks before they trend
- Helpful community notes
- Historical data on payouts
Using DeFiLlama, I participated in 7 campaigns — 3 of which paid me real tokens.
LayerZero is building cross-chain infrastructure, and they’ve run multiple testnet campaigns through Stargate, Aptos, and others.
- Huge potential payout
- Realistic tasks like token swaps
- Low barrier to entry (testnet tokens are free)
Some users earned over $1,000 in their latest reward drop.
One common misconception is that testnets require programming. That’s not true.
Here’s what I did without writing a single line of code:
- Installed test wallets like MetaMask or Keplr
- Claimed free test tokens from faucets (e.g., https://faucet.quicknode.com)
- Followed step-by-step guides from YouTube or Discord
- Participated in governance votes, swaps, and staking
Most testnets are built for user-friendliness because devs want feedback from beginners too.
Let’s look at a few real examples of how much I earned:
I used Arbitrum frequently in 2023. When they launched their airdrop, I got 1,250 ARB tokens.
I interacted with test dApps for 2 months. When their mainnet dropped, I received 900 STRK.
Just for signing up and verifying my GitHub, I earned TIA tokens on launch.
Small tasks like tweeting or connecting my wallet added up over time.
To keep track of dozens of campaigns and platforms, I used:
- Notion: To log tasks, dates, and wallet addresses
- Google Sheets: For estimating token values
- Trust Wallet / MetaMask: For storing earned tokens
Consistency is key when earning free crypto from airdrops and testnets. Missing deadlines = missing money.
- Use separate wallets for testing and storing.
- Follow Twitter accounts like @AirdropKing, @AirdropInspect.
- Stay active in project Discords — early users often get surprise drops.
- Use testnets on multiple chains: Aptos, Sui, Starknet, etc.
- Be patient — many rewards drop months after tasks.
Earning free crypto from airdrops and testnets isn’t just real — it’s profitable. With no upfront costs, no need for coding, and minimal risk, this is the perfect strategy for anyone looking to break into the crypto world.
While not every campaign will make you rich, even $50 here and $100 there can add up fast. And who knows? The next airdrop you qualify for might be worth thousands.
If you’re ready to take action, start by signing up on Galxe, joining a few Zealy campaigns, and checking your wallet on Earnifi. It only takes a few minutes a day, and you’ll be surprised how quickly your crypto stack starts growing — all from free crypto from airdrops and testnets.