LayerZero Foundation Launches Airdrop Eligibility Checker and Key Crypto Updates

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The LayerZero Foundation has officially unveiled its dedicated website for users to check their eligibility for the upcoming ZRO token airdrop. This marks a significant step in one of the most anticipated token distributions in the crypto space this year.

LayerZero Airdrop Eligibility and Distribution Details

The highly anticipated LayerZero airdrop is set to become available for claiming on June 20. The Foundation has implemented a multi-faceted criteria system to determine eligibility and allocation amounts. The assessment considers factors such as the number of distinct blockchains used, the volume of interactions with the LayerZero protocol, participation in Stargate governance votes, liquidity provision, and usage of ONFT and OFT standards.

According to LayerZero CEO Bryan Pellegrino, approximately 1.28 million unique wallet addresses have qualified for the airdrop. In a notable effort to combat Sybil attacks—where users create multiple wallets to unfairly claim more tokens—the system has successfully reallocated nearly 10 million ZRO tokens that would have otherwise gone to such actors. These tokens are now distributed to the genuine user base.

A separate Request for Proposal (RFP) program allocated an additional 30 million ZRO tokens to various ecosystem projects. Major allocations from this pool include 10 million ZRO to Stargate and 1 million ZRO each to Pudgy Penguins and Kanpai Pandas. These recipient projects are responsible for distributing their allotted tokens to their respective communities based on their own predetermined criteria.

👉 Check your airdrop eligibility status now

Major Exchanges Take a Stance on Political Meme Tokens

The listing of politically-themed meme tokens like BODEN and TREMP has created a divisive topic among leading cryptocurrency exchanges. While Kraken has proceeded with listing these assets, other major platforms have adopted a more cautious approach.

Bybit and OKX have publicly declined to list tokens associated with political figures and movements. Industry reports suggest this decision is driven by a desire to avoid the potential political risks and regulatory scrutiny that such assets could attract for centralized exchanges. Among the largest trading platforms, HTX is currently the only other exchange, besides Kraken, to list the TREMP token and has not ruled out listing other similar assets in the future.

This contrasting approach highlights the ongoing challenge exchanges face in balancing market demand with risk management in an evolving regulatory landscape.

SEC Concludes Ethereum 2.0 Investigation, Affirming ETH's Status

In a major development for the second-largest cryptocurrency, Consensys has announced that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially closed its investigation into "Ethereum 2.0". This decision effectively means the regulator will not be bringing charges alleging that sales of ETH constitute securities transactions.

This closure follows a letter sent by Consensys to the SEC on June 7, which urged the agency to confirm that its approval of Spot Ethereum ETFs in May—a decision that implicitly treated ETH as a commodity—meant the investigation would be terminated. The SEC's notification provides that confirmation.

Despite this victory, Consensys has indicated that its legal efforts are not over. The company remains engaged in a broader lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment that its key software offerings, including the MetaMask Swaps and Staking features, do not violate securities laws.

Montenegro Prime Minister Revealed as Early Terra Investor

Court documents released by the SEC have unveiled that Montenegro's Prime Minister, Milojko Spajic, was among the earliest investors in Terraform Labs. The filing shows that Spajic invested $75,000 to acquire 750,000 LUNA tokens in April 2018—coinciding with the founding of Terraform Labs that same month.

At the peak of LUNA's value, this investment would have been worth over $90 million. This revelation appears to contradict previous statements from Spajic, who had claimed that a Singapore-based company he worked for, Das Capital SG, was the investor. The SEC's list of early investors places him individually at the 16th position.

North American Bitcoin Miners Brace for Summer Heatwave

Bitcoin's hash rate growth is anticipated to slow in the coming months as North American miners confront the operational challenges of the summer heat. The primary issue is the immense heat generated by mining equipment, which requires significant energy for cooling.

Analysts from Blockware Intelligence note that during periods of extreme heat, miners face a difficult choice: divert more power to cooling systems or temporarily shutter operations. This is especially true when high demand from consumers for air conditioning puts a strain on the energy grid. This seasonal pattern has led to measurable declines in the global Bitcoin hash rate during the past two summers.

Data from Hashrate Index shows that the 7-day average hash rate has already fallen by approximately 10% to 589 EH/s as of June 17, signaling the potential start of this seasonal trend.

Mobile Security Best Practices for Crypto Users

In light of increasing mobile security threats, cybersecurity firm Dilation Effect has issued practical guidance for users, particularly those managing crypto assets.

A key recommendation is to restart your smartphone completely at least once per week. The reasoning behind this is that many modern mobile exploits require persistence—meaning the malware must remain active in the device's memory. A full reboot can clear out such malicious code unless the attacker possesses a highly sophisticated exploit that compromises the device's secure boot process.

Furthermore, the firm strongly advises iPhone users to disable iMessage entirely. This service has been repeatedly targeted by hackers as a primary vector for initiating attacks via malicious text messages. Disabling it removes a major potential attack surface.

For anyone involved in cryptocurrency, maintaining rigorous device security is paramount to protecting your digital assets from theft.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the LayerZero airdrop?
The LayerZero airdrop is a distribution of the project's native ZRO tokens to users who have previously interacted with its omnichain interoperability protocol. The goal is to reward early adopters and decentralize governance.

How do I know if I'm eligible for the ZRO airdrop?
You can check your eligibility by visiting the official LayerZero Foundation airdrop checker website. Connect your wallet to see if your address qualifies and view your allocation.

Why are some exchanges avoiding political tokens?
Centralized exchanges like OKX and Bybit are likely avoiding political meme tokens to mitigate potential regulatory and reputational risks. These assets can be seen as higher risk due to their speculative nature and potential connections to real-world politics.

What does the SEC closing its Ethereum investigation mean?
The SEC's decision to end its investigation into Ethereum 2.0 without charges is a strong signal that the agency currently views ETH as a commodity, not a security. This provides greater regulatory clarity for the entire Ethereum ecosystem.

How does hot weather affect Bitcoin mining?
Extreme heat forces mining operations to use more energy for cooling their equipment. Sometimes, the cost of cooling or strain on the local power grid becomes so high that it is more economical for miners to temporarily shut down, leading to a drop in the global hash rate.

Why should I restart my phone for security?
Restarting your phone weekly can help clear out any potential malware that is residing in your device's active memory. It is a simple but effective habit that disrupts many common types of persistent attacks.