About Shade Network
Shade Network is a privacy-focused Layer-2 blockchain built on Ethereum that provides encrypted transaction execution and an encrypted mempool. The platform protects users from MEV exploitation and front-running by making all transactions, contracts, and on-chain actions private by default. Unlike public blockchains where transaction details are visible to everyone, Shade Network encrypts transaction data before execution. This privacy-by-default approach addresses surveillance concerns while maintaining compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). The project operates without venture capital backing, with all value directed to token holders. The testnet launched on January 19, 2026, allowing users to test private transaction features before mainnet deployment. Users can deploy private contracts, interact with the encrypted mempool, and execute fully-private transactions on the test network.
Worth a look
Airdrop officially confirmed
How to Farm
- 1. Connect your Ethereum-compatible wallet
- 2. Enter referral code zxxrfl64 for 100 bonus points
- 3. Complete available social tasks on your dashboard
- 4. Share your unique invite link to earn 50 points per referral
- 5. Participate in testnet activities to earn Shadow Points
- 6. Track your Shadow Points accumulation on the dashboard
This is a referral link
Why Farm Shade Network?
Shade Network is one of the few privacy-focused L2s that actually launched a working testnet instead of just talking about it. The encrypted mempool solves a real problem — MEV bots extracted over $1.3B from Ethereum users in 2023 alone. Every time you swap on a DEX, sandwich bots are watching. Shade makes all that invisible by default.
The no-VC backing model is rare and worth paying attention to. Most projects dump tokens on retail to pay back investors. Shade claims all value goes to token holders, which means less supply overhang if they actually follow through. The testnet went live in January 2026, so you're still early. Privacy coins had their moment with Monero and Zcash, but neither could do smart contracts properly. An EVM-compatible privacy chain that works with existing Ethereum tooling could pull real volume from DeFi degens tired of getting front-run.
The airdrop is confirmed and they're tracking Shadow Points. That's a clear farming target. Most privacy projects struggle with adoption because UX is trash. If Shade can make encrypted transactions as easy as normal ones, the airdrop could be substantial. The referral system is aggressive (50 points per invite), which means they want user growth fast.
Earning Strategies
Grind Testnet Transaction Volume
Deploy multiple smart contracts on the testnet and execute private transactions daily. The dashboard tracks Shadow Points, and transaction activity likely weighs heavy in the formula. Don't just do one test transaction — deploy a simple token contract, create a liquidity pool, execute swaps, and interact with different contract types.
The encrypted mempool is the core feature, so demonstrate that you actually tested it thoroughly. Most farmers will do minimal tasks and leave. Volume matters in airdrops. If you're running 20-30 testnet transactions per week across different contract interactions, you're probably in the top 10% of users. Use multiple wallet addresses if you can manage it, but keep one main account with the bulk of activity to avoid looking like a Sybil.
Max Out Referral Points Early
The 50 points per referral is significant compared to the 100-point signup bonus. If you refer 10 people, that's 500 points versus your base 100. The math is obvious. Share your referral link in crypto Discord servers, Twitter, and Telegram groups where people actually farm airdrops.
Don't spam it randomly — target communities that care about privacy or MEV protection. DeFi traders who use Flashbots or private RPCs already understand the problem Shade solves. Those users are more likely to stay active, which probably matters for referral credit. Dead referrals might not count toward your final allocation. Focus on quality over quantity, but realistically you want at least 20-30 referrals to compete with serious farmers.
Complete Social Tasks Immediately
Social tasks are free points that take 10 minutes total. Follow their Twitter, join Discord, retweet announcements — standard Web3 growth hacking. These tasks usually have a deadline or get more competitive over time as point multipliers decrease.
Knock these out on day one. Some projects weight early adopters higher in the final distribution formula. Even if Shade doesn't explicitly say it, being user #1,000 looks better than user #100,000. Set a calendar reminder to check the dashboard weekly for new social tasks. Projects often drop surprise tasks during major announcements or partnership reveals.
Ecosystem & Related Protocols
Shade Network is an Ethereum Layer-2, which puts it in competition with privacy-focused chains like Aztec Network and projects like Railgun that offer privacy on existing chains. The difference is Shade makes privacy default instead of opt-in. Most Ethereum L2s (Arbitrum, Optimism, Base) focus on scaling and cheap fees but ignore MEV protection entirely.
The EVM compatibility means any Ethereum dApp can theoretically deploy on Shade without rewriting contracts. That's the same pitch as Polygon or Avalanche C-Chain, but with encrypted execution. If Shade can get a few major DeFi protocols to deploy (think Uniswap fork, Aave fork, GMX-style perps), it becomes a full DeFi ecosystem with built-in MEV protection. The testnet proves the tech works. Now it's about whether they can attract liquidity and developers away from transparent chains where everything is easier to debug and audit.
Risk Assessment
The biggest risk is that privacy features break composability in ways that kill DeFi functionality. Cross-contract calls get messy when state is encrypted. Liquidation bots can't see positions to liquidate. Arbitrage bots can't find price discrepancies. All the automated market efficiency that makes DeFi work depends on transparency. Shade needs to solve these problems or the chain stays empty.
Smart contract risk is high because encrypted execution is complex and relatively untested at scale. One exploit could destroy the project before it launches. The no-VC backing sounds good but also means less funding for audits and security. Team is pseudonymous or low-profile (not clear from the data), which is common in privacy projects but adds rug risk. Token distribution is unknown — if founders hold 40%+ with no vesting, that's a massive dump risk at TGE. Regulatory pressure on privacy coins is real. Tornado Cash got sanctioned. If Shade enables money laundering at scale, expect legal issues that could freeze development or exchange listings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Shade Network airdrop?▼
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This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research (DYOR) before participating in any airdrop or DeFi protocol.
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