Sonic Airdrop Season 2: Everything You Need to Know
Season 2 of the S token airdrop on Sonic is coming on June 18, and it’s bigger, smarter, and more rewarding than ever.
The new system introduces a more dynamic structure for both users and apps, rewarding real, sustained engagement across the Sonic ecosystem.
Whether you’re a DeFi power user or a developer building the next generation of on-chain apps, season 2 gives you more ways to earn and more reasons to stay active.
— Users: Points Season 2
— Apps: Gems Season 2
— Season 1 Overview
— Conclusion
Users: Points Season 2
Season 1 offered passive rewards to bootstrap adoption, with ~100k daily active users and a thriving DeFi ecosystem.
Now, we shift the focus to fundamentals and sustainability. What’s new?
❌ No More Passive Points
Holding whitelisted assets is no longer enough. Passive points (initially introduced to help new users onboard) have been retired. Now, only activity matters.
⚡ Activity Points Only
Earn points by actively deploying whitelisted assets on apps across the Sonic ecosystem. This includes LPing in DEXs, lending, and many other qualifying DeFi actions.
Following the launch of season 2, activity points will be referred to simply as ‘points’ as passive points don’t exist anymore.
📈 Loyalty Multiplier
To encourage consistency and prevent farming/drop-off cycles, we’re introducing a loyalty multiplier. Your season 1 performance sets your initial multiplier (from 1.0–2.0x), and your ongoing activity in season 2 can increase or decrease that value, up to a maximum of 3.0x and a minimum of 1.0x.
The multiplier applies to EOAs only (for now) and updates automatically based on your activity. It will be visible in MySonic once available (not immediately at launch). This loyalty program will carry forward into future seasons.
💥 Whitelisted Assets
All existing whitelisted assets remain eligible in season 2, with additional assets likely to be introduced as the season progresses.
📋 Season 2 Distribution
The distribution method for season 2 may differ from season 1's structure. Three months into season 2, we will announce the specific distribution format regarding liquid versus vested allocations.
This approach allows us to monitor the impact of season 1's distribution model and optimize the reward structure accordingly.
Apps: Gems Season 2
Apps are no longer just competing for TVL. Season 2 shifts the emphasis toward sustainability, real revenue, and fairness.
So, what’s new?
No Tokenizing Gems
Apps are no longer allowed to tokenize Gems. Doing so results in instant disqualification from the entire season.
Instead, apps can:
- Run their own internal points programs
- Claim Gems and distribute S to users in season 3
Incentive Weight
The incentive weight metric (outlined publicly during season 1) measures how much of the S apps claimed from Gems in season 1 was actually distributed to users.
For example, if an app distributed 100% of its claimed S from season 1 to users, it will receive a 1x multiplier on the Gems earned in season 2. If it only distributed 80%, the multiplier will be 0.8x, and so on.
Distribution of Gems from season 1 must be completed by the end of season 2.
Revenue Score
In season 1, Gems distribution heavily favored TVL to bootstrap TVL (even if that liquidity wasn’t generating meaningful fees). Season 2 corrects that by introducing revenue score, rewarding apps that drive real, sustainable usage.
Only fees from whitelisted assets count toward the revenue score. Revenue-generating apps are beneficial to the network as they:
- Contribute directly to network fees and long-term value for S holders
- Signal stronger product-market fit and user demand
- Encourage more efficient use of incentives across the ecosystem
If your app creates real volume and generates real fees, you’ll earn more Gems.
New Category Weights
We’ve adjusted the category multipliers to better reflect impact and sustainability.
Season 2 Gems Formula
The full formula for calculating each app’s Gems allocation in season 2 is shown below.
Game Gems will remain unchanged and continue following the same structure as season 1.
Season 1 Overview
Season 1 launched alongside the Sonic mainnet on December 18, 2024, and focused on driving early adoption. Users could earn points passively by holding whitelisted assets or actively by deploying them in DeFi apps. Apps competed for Gems based largely on TVL, helping bootstrap initial liquidity across the ecosystem.
Over the course of the season, Sonic onboarded hundreds of thousands of users, grew to ~100k daily active users, and laid the foundation for a more sustainable, engagement-driven rewards model in season 2. The first season is set to end on June 18, 2025, with season 2 kicking off immediately after.
🗓️ Claim Timeline
The claim portal will go live a few weeks after June 18, following a review period to filter bots and sybils, ensuring rewards go to real users.
💧 User Claim Mechanics
25% of your airdrop is claimable immediately as S. The remaining 75% is vested over 270 days as a tradable NFT.
This NFT can be traded on an upcoming secondary marketplace by Paintswap. Users can also choose to claim their remaining allocation from the NFT early, but this will trigger a burn penalty based on when they claim.
Users have 6 months to claim their NFT, after which they will be burned.
💎 App Claim Mechanics
Apps that earned S through Gems can claim 50% immediately, with the remaining 50% vesting over 3 months.
For tokenized Gems, Sonic will provide a centralized frontend for users to claim their rewards. Users will have 3 months to claim, after which any unclaimed S will be burned.
🎮 Shards and Arcade Users
Users who participated on Sonic Arcade and holders of Shards will receive their full allocation in season 1, subject to the same 25% liquid and 75% vested structure.
Conclusion
Season 2 is about evolving from growth to sustainability.
Users are rewarded for long-term commitment, not short-term speculation. Apps are rewarded for real economic impact, not just inflated TVL. And now, with the loyalty multiplier, consistency and on-chain activity matter more than ever.
It’s a smarter, more aligned system, built for those who are here to stay.
See you June 18.
