glossary ·

Airdrop

Tokens distributed for free (or near-free) to wallets — tax treatment depends on whether and when they are income.

Airdrop — crypto tax glossary (EN)

An airdrop is a distribution of tokens to wallets, often as a marketing, governance, or ecosystem incentive.

Tax treatment varies widely: some countries tax airdrops as income when received (and controllable), others defer until sale, and spam/unsolicited tokens may be ignored or valued at nil until disposition.

Why it matters: airdrops are a frequent source of mismatched software imports and unexpected tax bills.

Educational definition — not tax advice. Rules vary by country.

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