Bybit’s extremely anticipated PAWS airdrop took a chaotic flip proper when the Solana-based meme coin was on the cusp of its official launch on April 16, 2025.
Initially meant to reward early group engagement from customers of the viral Telegram mini-app, the airdrop has as a substitute stirred confusion throughout crypto boards and social platforms, with customers reporting wildly inconsistent allocations.
Bybit’s Controversial PAWS Airdrop: All the pieces You Want To Know
On Tuesday, April 15, studies surfaced that some Bybit customers had acquired PAWS tokens of their Unified Buying and selling Account (UTA) or Spot Account forward of the itemizing. Nevertheless, many famous important irregularities.
A number of customers claimed to have acquired two to 5 occasions their anticipated allocation. In the meantime, others discovered no tokens of their accounts regardless of assembly all eligibility standards.
At this time, Wednesday, April 16, Bybit responded. The change introduced the reversal of all PAWS airdrop allocations as a consequence of errors within the distribution course of.
“All previous $PAWS token distributions conducted on April 15 will be reversed in accordance with the updated list,” Bybit mentioned in a weblog.
The change assured customers that the tokens had not been misplaced however had been being reallocated by way of a revised, fairer course of.
“A new round of airdrops is currently carried out based on the final eligibility data provided by the PAWS team,” the change added.
This reversal, nevertheless, meant that many customers quickly noticed their balances disappear, prompting recent issues.
“This PAWS airdrop is now looking funny. I heard they removed some Bybit’s users allocation from their wallets overnight, meanwhile I’ve still not received my own allocation in Bitget and Bybit. Let’s see how it goes today,” one person remarked.
A part of the confusion seems tied to eligibility restrictions imposed by European laws. Bybit reiterated that European Financial Space (EEA) customers had been excluded from the airdrop. The change cited compliance with the regulation of MiCA, the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Belongings.
“Users based in the European Economic Area (EEA) remain ineligible for this campaign due to MiCA regulatory requirements…We recommend checking directly with the $PAWS community for any airdrop alternatives,” Bybit articulated on X (Twitter).
This will likely have contributed to the inconsistencies, as tokens despatched to restricted jurisdictions had been reportedly recalled.
“If you got your PAWS airdrop on Bybit earlier today, it’s currently getting auto deducted (removed) so as to redistribute it again to everyone fairly. I think there was an issue whereby some got x2 to x5 of their initial allocation,” one other person commented.
However, the Bybit change requested customers to stay calm and promised to revive the proper allocations earlier than the PAWS/USDT buying and selling pair went reside.
PAWS Airdrop Mechanics and Allocation
The PAWS airdrop was one of the vital in depth group distributions to this point. About 62.5 billion tokens, constituting 62.5% of the overall provide, had been reserved for customers.
Eligibility included early adopters of the Telegram mini-app. Holders of widespread Solana belongings like Mad Lads NFTs and meme cash reminiscent of BONK and WIF had been additionally featured. Members in campaigns involving referrals and social duties had been additionally eligible.
To say tokens, customers needed to submit their Bybit UID and Solana pockets tackle through the official PAWS declare website. Extra importantly, they needed to full KYC by mid-March.
Deposits through the Solana community started on March 13. Nevertheless, many customers reported seeing no token worth of their wallets till after the official itemizing.
Frustrations mounted as customers took to X (previously Twitter) to air grievances. Some joked concerning the scenario turning right into a meme itself. In the meantime, others accused Bybit of mishandling the drop.
“This is so amateurish, even the worst telegram airdrops did not screw up like this,” lamented one person.
The venture’s reputation has additionally made it a chief goal for scammers, prompting safety warnings from each Bybit and the PAWS workforce.
Amid this uncertainty, Bybit reminded customers to confirm their standing by way of official channels and warned towards phishing makes an attempt.
In a current growth, PAWS Labs introduced that claims on centralized exchanges are actually correct, directing customers to verify their spot balances.
“All is on track for the upcoming PAWS listing, thanks to the CEXs that ensured a smooth airdrop distribution and supported the listing process,” PAWS Labs introduced.
Customers now anticipate the token’s itemizing and the related implications for the PAWS value.
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