The Eigen Foundation, in a surprising move, announced on Thursday an additional $280 million airdrop of its native EIGEN token to over 280,000 users. This comes just three days after the initial tokenomics plan sparked controversy within the EigenLayer community.

Criticism of Initial EigenLayer Airdrop Plan

EigenLayer’s initial airdrop plan, revealed on May 2nd, faced criticism for several reasons:

• Linear Distribution: The plan favored large depositors (“whales”) with a linear distribution model.
• Limited Rewards: Many felt the initial 5% airdrop allocation for the community was insufficient.
• Non-Transferable Tokens: The initial plan restricted the transferability of airdropped tokens, frustrating users who desired immediate liquidity.

Addressing Community Feedback

The Eigen Foundation acknowledged these concerns and responded with the following actions:

• $280 Million Additional Allocation: An extra 100 EIGEN tokens (worth roughly $1,000 each) will be distributed to existing depositors.
• Focus on Broader Distribution: The Foundation prioritized wider token distribution by allocating tokens directly to user wallets.
• Investor Lockup: Eigen team members and investors will have their EIGEN allocations locked for one year after becoming transferable (around September 30th).

Transparency Efforts

The Foundation also addressed confusion regarding transferability. They clarified that EIGEN’s initial non-transferability aims to empower users by allowing for participation in future “seasons” before tokens unlock for trading.

Testnet Operators Included

The announcement also mentioned that testnet operators, previously excluded from the airdrop, will be included in Phase 2 with additional allocations.

Remaining Concerns

While the increased allocation is a positive step, some concerns remain:

• US User Exclusion: Residents of the US and several other countries are still excluded from the airdrop.
• Geo-Fencing and Regulatory Uncertainty: The decision to exclude US users highlights the ongoing challenges posed by unclear cryptocurrency regulations.