Berachain Finally Launches With a $632M Airdrop

TLDR

• Berachain is finally live.
• The airdrop has over $600 million in tokens being allocated to OG believers and diehards.
• There is a link to check eligibility.

After years of anticipation — and plenty of memes — Berachain is officially here. The proof-of-liquidity layer-1 blockchain launched its mainnet on February 6, bringing with it an airdrop worth approximately $632 million in its native token, $BERA. 

If you’ve been part of this ecosystem’s lively pre-launch phase, the long wait might just pay off. Here’s what you need to know about the airdrop, eligibility, and the different programs within Berachain’s ecosystem.

What is Berachain?

Berachain aims to redefine decentralized finance (DeFi) with its unique proof-of-liquidity consensus mechanism. Think of it as a blockchain designed to reward liquidity providers while optimizing network efficiency. 

Built as an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible Layer-1 blockchain, it hopes to attract developers and users through its ecosystem of decentralized applications (dApps) while maintaining its irreverent, signature bear-themed culture.

The launch of Berachain’s mainnet has solidified its status as more than just “the chain with a bear on it.” With a robust set of initial dApps and a passionate community, the chain is positioning itself as a serious contender in the DeFi space — albeit with a tongue-in-cheek twist.

Now, it’s time to go hunting for your $BERA.

Highlights of the $BERA Airdrop

The foundation recently dropped a lengthy blog post. But, it’s a bit technical so we’re going to break it down a bit further.

Berachain is airdropping around 80 million $BERA tokens to various groups as a recognition of their contributions to the ecosystem, with allocations spanning testnet users, community projects, and even holders of specific NFTs. If you’ve interacted with Berachain’s ecosystem in the past, here’s a breakdown of what you might be eligible for.

Testnet Users – 8,250,000 $BERA

If you tinkered with Berachain’s public testnets — Artio and bArtio — you’re in luck. By interacting with Berachain’s dApps or participating in ecosystem activities like minting $HONEY or delegating tokens, you’ve likely earned yourself a slice of the $BERA pie. Frequent users of Binance’s Web3 Wallet got a little bonus, too.

Request For Brobosal (RFB) – 11,730,000 $BERA

Through its RFB program, Berachain rewarded dApps and groups supportive of its testnet development. Tokens were allocated based on activities ranging from deploying novel applications to fostering vibrant community hubs. 

Whether you were designing a DeFi protocol or just creating Berachain tutorials, there’s a chance you’ve nabbed some $BERA.

Boyco Program – 10,000,000 $BERA

Berachain’s Boyco platform helped applications secure liquidity from Ethereum’s ecosystem ahead of the mainnet launch. 

Participants received $BERA incentives for depositing capital into various liquidity pools. With 150,000 participants and $3 billion locked in, the Boyco program essentially eliminated the cold-start problem for dozens of new dApps.

Social Airdrop – 1,250,000 $BERA

Staying active on Berachain’s social channels and participating in the community has earned rewards, too. 

The social airdrop acknowledges those who helped keep the excitement alive during the early years of Berachain’s “fake chain” era. And um…that era lasted a long time… so kudos to all of the die-hards out there.

Engagement was scored on platforms like X and Discord, with bonus points for those using Kaito Yaps profiles.

Ecosystem NFTs – 1,250,000 $BERA

The Berachain Foundation also rewarded NFT holders from collections tied to the ecosystem. Snapshotted on January 14, 2025, these NFT enthusiasts contributed to Berachain’s community hype, even minting collections on other chains like Ethereum and Arbitrum.

Binance HODLers – 10,000,000 $BERA

Adding yet another layer of cross-ecosystem collaboration, $BERA tokens are also being distributed to Binance HODLers. This allocation highlights Berachain’s ongoing work with Binance and its efforts to expand its user base via partnerships.

Strategic Partners and Ecosystem Enablers – 2,000,000 $BERA

Strategic partners responsible for powering Berachain’s key applications — like BeraSwap and lending platforms — also earned allocations. These partners’ infrastructure played a vital role in ensuring a smooth launch and early functionality.

Bong Bears and Rebases – The Remaining 34,500,000 $BERA

The fun doesn’t stop there. Berachain also allocated tokens to its Foundation for ongoing development, ensuring the longevity of the platform. This includes future plans for network upgrades and expanding the application layer.

Claiming $BERA

The team has made it easy for you to find out. Simply head to the airdrop checker to verify your eligibility. 

Whether you’ve interacted with testnets, held ecosystem NFTs, or contributed via social engagement, you might have $BERA waiting for you. Be prepared to associate your wallet address for the claim process.

Claim periods for specific airdrop categories vary. For example:

• Testnet and RFB allocations can be claimed shortly after the launch.
• Boyco rewards depend on the market type and lock-up period chosen (30 or 90 days).
• Social Airdrop claims will also be live by February 10th.

What’s Next for Berachain?

With the mainnet live and over $632 million in airdrops distributed, Berachain is entering a pivotal phase. The rich ecosystem of decentralized applications and deep liquidity are expected to attract developers, investors, and users looking for unique opportunities in the DeFi space.

For now, it’s a waiting game to see how the community engages with the chain — and how the foundation plans to grow its ecosystem further. If its pre-launch hype is anything to go by, Berachain’s future might be just as lively as its past.