Perp DEX Airdrop Farming: Best Tier List Picks to Join Now
@louisdives shared a tier list ranking the best perpetual DEXs to farm right now, split into Tier S, A and B. You get potential future airdrop points and, on some platforms, USDC-denominated fee rebates — but no project on this list has announced a token distribution date or conversion rate. There's no deadline stated either. Lighter and N1Chain 'just started' their points programs, while Variational and Extended are described as 'already late.' If you're starting today, Lighter, N1Chain and TxFlow_L1 are the priority picks.
What You Need
- A wallet compatible with each perp DEX (supported chains vary by project — check the official site)
- USDC or similar collateral to open positions and build Open Interest
- Time to trade consistently, since points are usually tied to trading volume/OI
- For Arcus specifically, a waitlist signup before you can trade
Steps
- Pick a project from the tier list based on your capital size and risk tolerance.
- Find the official website via the project's X (Twitter) handle (@variational_io, @Lighter_xyz, @TxFlow_L1, @N1Chain, @arcus_xyz, @OndoPerps, @extendedapp, @perpltrade, @get_truenorth, @PhoenixTrade, @pear_protocol, @risextrade, @pacifica_fi).
- Connect your wallet on the official site.
- Deposit USDC or the required collateral.
- Open perp positions to build Open Interest — Variational and Extended in particular reward high OI.
- For Arcus only, join the waitlist before trading.
- Check each project's announcements or points dashboard regularly to track progress.
Note: exact screens and input fields vary by project and weren't detailed in the source — always confirm with the official site.
How to Farm More Efficiently
Only conditions confirmed in the source are listed below.
| Tier | Project | Confirmed Note |
|---|---|---|
| S | Variational | Focus on Open Interest; program already in a late stage |
| S | Lighter | Points program for the airdrop just started |
| A | TxFlow_L1 | Founder Matt is highly responsive; very early stage |
| A | N1Chain | Airdrop points just started |
| A | Arcus | Waitlist-only |
| A | OndoPerps | Points + USDC rewards |
| A | Extended | Late, but high opportunity — focus on OI |
| B | Perpltrade | Monad ecosystem |
| B | TrueNorth | AI-focused trading |
| B | PhoenixTrade | Not for airdrop, but USDC rewards currently at 2x |
| B | Pear Protocol | Called underrated; rewards currently live |
| B | RiseTrade | Still worth trying, per the source |
| B | Pacifica | Called very underrated; poster hints it may move to Tier A next |
Costs & Risks
- Building Open Interest means opening real positions, so price moves can cause trading losses.
- Most projects on this list haven't announced an airdrop timeline or distribution method — points aren't guaranteed to convert into tokens.
- This list reflects one trader's (@louisdives) personal opinion, not an official announcement from any of these projects.
- The poster mentions sharing a referral link for 'point boosters and fee rebates,' but that link isn't included in the source used for this article, so it isn't reproduced here. Registering through an unverified referral link carries phishing risk — always verify the official URL yourself.
- Spreading funds and wallet approvals across multiple perp DEXs means you should regularly review your approvals and key management.
Bottom Line
The shortest route is to start with Lighter (Tier S), N1Chain and TxFlow_L1 (Tier A) since their points programs just began. If you have extra capital and time, add OI-focused Variational and Extended, and consider signing up for Arcus's waitlist since it doesn't lock up funds. None of this is a confirmed airdrop — treat it as early positioning based on one trader's tier list.