Optimism Network, a layer-2 blockchain platform, is taking steps to broaden its adoption and increase its competitiveness in the market.
The platform recently conducted a surprise token airdrop, distributing 11.7 million governance tokens to over 300,000 wallets. This move is a part of the blockchain’s effort to expand its user base by giving away 19% of its initial governance token supply.
The airdrop was aimed at users who spent gas executing transactions on the Optimism Network or delegated their voting powers to others.
By recognizing the sharing of voting powers as a way to strengthen its governance system, Optimism is encouraging more users to participate in the platform’s decision-making process.
Despite the token’s price dropping 13% following the airdrop announcement, Optimism has seen a 200% rally over the past few weeks, showcasing the platform’s resilience and growing popularity.
The airdrop process was also smoother than the first airdrop in July 2022, which required manual claiming by users. This time, the distribution was automatic, making it more user-friendly and efficient.
Optimism’s airdrop comes as the platform seeks to gain an edge over its largest competitor, Arbitrum. Arbitrum currently has more than double the number of transacting wallets compared to Optimism and has been widening the gap between the two platforms over the past month.
