Airdropping tokens on Ethereum mainnet, Arbitrum or Optimism involves differences in transaction costs, speed and user experience.
Airdropping on Layer-2 solutions like Arbitrum and Optimism can be faster and more cost-effective, but you need to make sure the airdrop recipients have wallets on those networks.
- When you create an airdrop campaign, the Status app uses the network the token is available on. If the asset (virtual coin) exists on multiple networks, you can choose which network to use for the airdrop.
- Ethereum is the most established network with the largest user base, but it can be slow and expensive when the network is busy. If your airdrop is time-sensitive, Ethereum might not be the best choice.
- Layer-2 solutions are generally better for airdrops involving many recipients due to their scalability and lower fees.
- If you run an airdrop campaign on the Arbitrum or Optimism networks, the airdrop recipients must have a crypto wallet that supports these networks.
Before running an airdrop, consider how easy it is to receive the tokens and make transactions with them. During the airdrop, you distribute the tokens on the same network they're available on. For example, if the tokens are on Arbitrum, the airdrop participants and you need a wallet that supports Arbitrum to receive or send them.
Users who receive assets or collectibles on Layer-2 networks like Arbitrum or Optimism can hold them on these networks. If they want to transfer these tokens to Ethereum for different reasons, they need to bridge their tokens.
It takes more time to withdraw tokens on Arbitrum and Optimism compared to Ethereum. It doesn't matter whether you're moving them to a different platform or converting them into fiat, such as USD, EUR or JPY.
To choose a network to airdrop tokens, consider the trade-offs between cost, speed and user experience. This table summarizes the main differences between the different networks supported by Status:
| Feature | Ethereum | Arbitrum | Optimism |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transaction cost | High | Low | Low |
| Speed | Variable | Fast | Fast |
| Network congestion | High | Low | Low |
| User experience | Easier | Complex | Complex |
| Withdrawal times | Immediate | Delayed | Delayed |