Crypto trading platform with CZ as advisor sees sudden $2 billion volume surge on 'airdrop' hype

Genius Terminal, a crypto trading platform backed by YZi Labs (formerly known as Binance Labs) and advised by Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, is seeing exponential growth ahead of an expected "airdrop."

The relatively under-the-radar platform just saw its highest single-day trading volume to date this Saturday, hitting $787 million, according to Dune analytics data. A large portion of that volume, about $728 million, came from Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible networks. EVM refers to a virtual, decentralized computer that runs smart contracts for apps.

The platform has now surpassed $2 billion in weekly volume, according to the data, compared to just about $85 million a week before. The average user appears highly active, clocking in at around $82,400 in trading volume per wallet, a figure that was almost nonexistent before.

Early access

This sudden growth is likely not just based on organic interest.

Traders are piling into this platform amid growing expectations of a potential airdrop — a mechanism in which crypto projects give users early token allocations as a reward for trying out their new app.

This has gotten users hyped about trading on the Genius Terminal for the potential for earning new tokens based on how much they trade — a tactic often used by crypto traders called "airdrop farming."

Airdrop farming has been a popular trend among crypto users, enabling them to participate in early-stage projects and get tokens before they trade on exchanges. Traders then sell those early tokens on open exchanges if their prices rise, profiting from their airdrop-farming efforts. However, it's not always guaranteed that token prices will rise.

This is almost the same as what electric-vehicle maker Rivian did during its IPO. If a user pre-ordered their car, they were allocated shares at the IPO price, allowing them to make quick potential profits when the shares started trading in the open market.

Airdrop teaser

However, Genius Terminal still haven't confirmed an airdrop date.

What the platform has done is tease the possibility of such a reward for its users through posts on social media, referencing "parachutes," “airdrops in 2026,” and the possibility of something “big” coming connected to its points system, Genius Points (GP).

The platform’s points program, which doesn't yet include tokens, is currently in its first “season” and rewards users based on trading activity, transactions, and referrals.

The idea is that the more a user trades on the platform, the more points they earn, with tiered bonuses that escalate from “Smart” to “God” status. The team has said GP could make users eligible for future perks, including possible token airdrops.

Genius has also launched an airdrop page and suggested the token will be airdropped this year. The project is being built on the back of a reported “multi-8-figure” investment from YZi Labs, which brought CZ on as an advisor.

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