What Is Snapshot?

A snapshot captures the exact state of a blockchain (wallet balances, token holdings, contract interactions) at a predetermined block height or timestamp. Protocols use snapshots to create an immutable record of who qualifies for an airdrop and how many tokens each address receives.

For airdrop farming, snapshots are critical because they define the rules of the game. When a protocol announces "we're taking a snapshot on block 18,500,000," farmers know the exact deadline for positioning themselves. Uniswap's 2020 airdrop snapshot included anyone who'd used the DEX by a specific block—no participation after that point counted. Arbitrum's snapshot for their $ARB airdrop similarly locked in eligibility based on L1 contract interactions before their announcement, rewarding early adopters and TVL contributors.

Snapshots prevent gaming the system and establish clear eligibility criteria. Without them, protocols couldn't fairly distribute tokens—people could claim multiple times, or the distribution could be manipulated by whale transfers right before token release. A snapshot freezes the data so the team can calculate distributions offline and execute them trustlessly. Hyperliquid took snapshots of testnet activity to determine who qualified for mainnet token allocations.

The timing of snapshots is everything for farmers. Protocols often announce snapshots retroactively (or with minimal notice) to catch genuine users rather than mercenaries farming airdrops purely for the announcement. This is why tracking protocol activity and maintaining testnet participation is essential—you never know when a snapshot will occur. Some projects use multiple snapshots (one for eligibility, one for weighting) to capture activity across different time periods.

When evaluating an airdrop opportunity, always ask: Has a snapshot been taken? If not, when? What activities qualify? Snapshot data is usually publicly verifiable on-chain, so you can confirm your own eligibility by checking block explorers or the protocol's official tools.