Ink is an Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain built by Kraken on the OP Stack, designed as a low-fee home for DeFi within the Optimism Superchain.
The US-based crypto exchange has confirmed a future INK token airdrop through its Kraken Drops program, with Kraken Pro trading activity currently the only confirmed way to earn points toward it.
Status: Active, points accruing ahead of an unconfirmed TGE
Token confirmed: Airdrop confirmed, exact allocation percentage not yet announced
TGE Date: No official date has been announced. An Ink Chain and Nado advisor gave an informal estimate of July to September 2026 in an interview, but this is not a confirmed date from Ink Chain or Kraken directly
Reward: Ink points, currently earned only through Kraken Pro trading activity, with onchain dApp activity not yet confirmed to count
Chain: Ink, an OP Stack Layer 2 within the Optimism Superchain
Ink connects Kraken’s CEX user base with onchain DeFi opportunities, and apps including SuperSwap, Velodrome, and the Aave-powered Tydro lending protocol are already active on the chain.
Nado, a perpetual DEX on Ink, and Tydro’s liquidity providers have both been confirmed as separate eligibility paths for the INK airdrop alongside Kraken Pro activity.
Am I Eligible for the Ink Chain Airdrop?
Right now, Kraken Pro trading activity is the only confirmed source of Ink points, calculated and added weekly based on the prior week’s activity.
Points began accruing for existing users starting April 6, 2026, with the first calculated distribution landing April 13, 2026.
Nado trading activity and Tydro liquidity provision have also been confirmed as eligibility criteria, though how these different activity types will ultimately be weighted against each other hasn’t been announced. Whether broader onchain activity across other Ink dApps earns points has not been confirmed.
If you are tracking other campaigns other than Ink Chain, our airdrops page covers the active campaigns worth watching right now.
How to Participate in the Ink Chain Airdrop
- Sign up at Kraken and complete identity verification. An active, verified Kraken account is the most confirmed path to eligibility right now, since Kraken Pro activity directly counts toward Ink points.
- Trade on Kraken Pro regularly. Points are calculated weekly based on the prior week’s activity, and boosts exist for specific actions, including a deposit bonus, a reactivation bonus for returning users, and a bonus for setting price alerts.
- Purchase ETH through Kraken Pro and withdraw it to a wallet, then bridge it to the Ink mainnet through the official Ink Dashboard’s supported bridges if you’re moving funds from another chain.
- Use the Nado perpetual DEX with your bridged funds. Nado trading activity is confirmed to count toward Nado’s own points system and toward INK airdrop eligibility.
- Supply assets to Tydro to earn yield or borrow against collateral. Tydro activity is confirmed as a separate eligibility path for the INK airdrop.
- Explore other apps on the Ink ecosystem, including Velodrome and InkyPump. Spreading activity across multiple apps is generally considered more valuable for retroactive distributions than heavy use of a single app.
- Consider registering a .ink domain through ZNS, sending a GM transaction to another user, or deploying a simple smart contract through OnChainGM. Each is a low-cost way to add on-chain history to your wallet, though none are confirmed to directly count toward points.
- Check the Ink Guild for role requirements, which have served as eligibility checkpoints for other airdrops.
- If interested, mint an Ink Pass NFT, currently available through public minting, which offers ecosystem benefits and potential additional airdrop eligibility.
Potential Risks in Participating in the Ink Chain Airdrop
The primary confirmed path to Ink points requires real trading activity on a centralized exchange, a materially different risk profile than free social-task airdrops.
Kraken Pro Trading Requires Real Capital
Since Kraken Pro trading is currently the only confirmed source of Ink points, earning a meaningful position requires depositing and trading real funds on a centralized exchange rather than completing free tasks. Treat this as real trading activity with real financial risk, not a cost-free way to farm points.
No TGE Date or Allocation Percentage Is Confirmed
Ink Chain has confirmed an airdrop will happen and that allocation is planned, but no exact percentage or official launch date has been announced. An advisor’s informal July-to-September 2026 estimate, given in an interview, is not the same as an official, confirmed timeline, and readers should treat it as speculative until Ink Chain or Kraken state a date directly.
It’s Unclear How Points Convert to Tokens
How Ink points will convert into an actual token allocation and whether onchain dApp activity will eventually earn points alongside Kraken Pro trading have not been announced. Current point totals are a measure of activity, not a confirmed guarantee of a specific token amount.
InkScore Might Be a Separate Program
InkScore, including its phased snapshots and a planned 888-supply PFP collection, is not clearly identified as an official Kraken or Ink Chain program in the source reviewed for this guide. Treat InkScore as a related but distinct community initiative rather than assuming it’s directly tied to the official Ink Points system Kraken has confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Need a refresher? Here are the questions most readers ask about the Ink Chain airdrop before getting started.
When will the INK token launch?
No official TGE date has been announced. An Ink Chain and Nado advisor gave an informal estimate of July to September 2026 in an interview, but Kraken has not confirmed this timeline directly, and the actual date depends on milestones the team hasn’t yet disclosed.
How are Ink points currently earned?
Kraken Pro trading activity is the only confirmed method right now, calculated and added weekly based on the prior week’s activity. Nado trading and Tydro liquidity provision have also been confirmed as separate eligibility paths, though whether broader onchain activity earns points remains unconfirmed.
Is the Ink Chain airdrop free to participate in?
Not entirely. Kraken Pro activity requires trading with real funds, so it carries real financial risk. Onchain activity on Ink mainnet requires bridged ETH for gas, though amounts tend to be minimal given the chain’s low fees.
Do I need a Kraken account to qualify for the INK airdrop?
Kraken Pro activity is currently the only confirmed eligibility criterion, so a verified Kraken account is the clearest confirmed path. Onchain wallet activity on the Ink mainnet, specifically through Nado and Tydro, has also been confirmed to be a factor.
Are Nado and Tydro users eligible for the INK airdrop separately from Kraken Pro traders?
Yes. Ink Chain has confirmed that Nado perpetual DEX users and Tydro liquidity providers are eligible for the INK airdrop alongside Kraken Pro traders, though the exact weightings across these activity types haven’t been announced.
