Back in 2021, AdEx Network ran one of the cleanest, most straightforward airdrops in the blockchain space. No complicated staking, no locked tokens, no endless KYC forms. Just 30,000 ADX tokens split evenly among 300 winners - that’s 100 ADX each - for doing three simple things: joining their Telegram group, following two Twitter accounts, and adding ADX to your CoinMarketCap watchlist. The campaign ended on August 6, 2021, and winners got their tokens by August 10. No delays. No drama. Just execution.
That airdrop wasn’t just a marketing stunt. It was a signal. AdEx wasn’t trying to pump a token. They were building a community of people who understood decentralized advertising. And today, that community has grown into something far bigger: ADX is now the fuel behind AURA, a personal AI agent that doesn’t just tell you about airdrops - it helps you hunt them, optimize them, and profit from them.
What Is AdEx Network Really Doing Today?
AdEx Network started in 2017 as a decentralized ad exchange. Think of it like Google Ads, but without the middleman. Advertisers pay publishers directly using smart contracts. No tracking cookies. No data harvesting. No ad fraud. They built this on Ethereum using something called OUTPACE channels - off-chain payment streams that handle real-time ad payments without clogging up the blockchain. It’s efficient, private, and scalable.
But here’s the twist: AdEx didn’t stop at ads. By 2025, they launched AURA - an AI agent built to navigate the chaos of Web3. AURA doesn’t just list upcoming airdrops. It looks at your wallet history, your on-chain behavior, your risk tolerance, and then tells you exactly which opportunities are worth your time. Want to earn yield while positioning yourself for the next big airdrop? AURA spots those double-dip opportunities. It even checks if you’ve missed claiming past airdrops you were eligible for.
It’s powered by the Bankless API and supports BNB Smart Chain, Mantle, and Ethereum. In August 2025, they launched a demo where users could paste their wallet address and get a personalized report. Within four days, all 420 Early-Tester NFTs were claimed. These NFTs aren’t just collectibles - they unlock advanced AURA features, early access to new airdrops, and future rewards.
How AURA Changed the Airdrop Game
Before AURA, airdrop hunting was a full-time job. You had to track dozens of Twitter accounts, Discord servers, and blogs. You’d miss things. You’d claim the wrong ones. You’d waste gas fees on low-value drops.
AURA fixes that. It doesn’t just notify you. It prioritizes. It tells you:
- Which airdrops you’re already eligible for
- Which ones require minimal action (like a single transaction)
- Which ones have high yield potential alongside the token reward
- Which projects are likely to fail based on team history and community engagement
And here’s the smart part: projects can’t just pay to appear in AURA. They have to stake ADX tokens. That means only projects with skin in the game get promoted. No spam. No scams. No rug pulls sneaking into your recommendations.
AdEx made sure AURA isn’t just a tool - it’s a filter. And that filter is powered by ADX, the same token they gave away in 2021.
The ADX Token: Supply, Use, and Value
As of February 2025, there are 144.04 million ADX tokens in circulation out of a total supply of 150 million. That’s over 96% already out in the wild. No big future unlocks. No inflation surprises.
ADX isn’t just a governance token. It’s the backbone of the ecosystem:
- Used to stake and boost visibility in AURA’s recommendation engine
- Paid to publishers in the decentralized ad network
- Required to participate in private Market instances for advertisers
- Used to pay for premium AURA features and NFT unlocks
That’s why the 2021 airdrop wasn’t a giveaway - it was an investment in early adopters. People who held ADX after that airdrop became part of the foundation for everything that came after.
What Happened After the Airdrop? The Hackathon and Beyond
In September 2025, AdEx ran a month-long hackathon with $12,000 in prizes. Four winning teams built tools that integrate AURA into real apps - from wallet dashboards to automated claim bots. One team built an SDK that lets developers plug AURA into their own DeFi platforms. Another created a governance module that lets ADX holders vote on which airdrops get prioritized.
These aren’t theoretical projects. They’re live tools being used by real users. And they all rely on ADX as the native token. The hackathon wasn’t just about code - it was about proving that AURA could become a standard in Web3.
Is There a New ADX Airdrop Coming?
No official airdrop has been announced since 2021. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be one.
AdEx has a pattern: they reward early community members before launching major upgrades. The 2021 airdrop came before the OUTPACE upgrade. The 420 AURA NFTs came before the public demo. The hackathon winners got early access to new features.
If you’re wondering whether you can still get ADX for free, here’s what to do:
- Check your wallet history from 2021. If you participated in the CoinMarketCap airdrop, you already got your 100 ADX.
- Use AURA’s demo tool (available on the AdEx website) and connect your wallet. It will tell you if you’re eligible for any unclaimed rewards tied to past campaigns.
- Follow @adex_network on Twitter and join t.me/AdExNetworkOfficial. Any future airdrop will be announced there first.
- Stake ADX in the AURA system. Even if there’s no new airdrop, staking gives you priority access to new features and exclusive NFT drops.
The days of random airdrops are over. The new model is value-based participation. You don’t just join a Telegram group - you use the tool. You don’t just follow Twitter - you interact with the ecosystem.
Why This Matters for Web3 Users
Most blockchain projects chase hype. AdEx built a system that rewards real engagement. The 2021 airdrop was small, but it attracted the right people - not speculators, but builders and users who cared about decentralized advertising.
Now, with AURA, they’ve created the first AI agent that doesn’t just sell you crypto. It helps you make smarter decisions with your on-chain identity. That’s not just useful - it’s necessary.
If you’re still chasing airdrops the old way, you’re wasting time. The future belongs to those who use tools like AURA to turn small actions into long-term value. And ADX? It’s no longer just a token. It’s your key to the next phase of Web3.
Did the AdEx Network airdrop in 2021 still give out ADX tokens?
Yes, the 2021 airdrop distributed 100 ADX tokens each to 300 winners, totaling 30,000 ADX. The campaign ended on August 6, 2021, and all tokens were distributed by August 10, 2021. No further distributions from that campaign are possible.
Can I still get free ADX tokens today?
There is no active free ADX airdrop as of January 2026. However, you can earn ADX by using the AURA platform - for example, by completing tasks, participating in hackathons, or receiving rewards from the ecosystem. You can also check if you’re eligible for any unclaimed rewards tied to past campaigns using AURA’s wallet analysis tool.
What is AURA and how does it relate to ADX?
AURA is a personal AI agent built by AdEx Network to help users find, track, and optimize airdrops and DeFi opportunities. ADX is the native token that powers AURA - you need ADX to stake and boost your visibility in its recommendations, unlock premium features, and access exclusive NFTs. AURA doesn’t work without ADX.
Do I need to hold ADX to use AURA?
You can use AURA’s basic demo tool without holding ADX - just connect your wallet and get a report. But to unlock advanced features like automated airdrop hunting, yield optimization, or private campaign alerts, you need to stake ADX. It’s a security and quality control mechanism - only serious users get full access.
Is ADX a good investment?
ADX isn’t a speculative asset - it’s a utility token. Its value comes from its use in the AdEx ecosystem: advertising payments, AURA staking, governance, and NFT access. If you actively participate in Web3 and want to maximize your airdrop and yield opportunities, holding ADX gives you real advantages. But if you’re looking for quick flips, there are better options.
Where can I check if I won the 2021 AdEx airdrop?
Check your Ethereum wallet address from August 2021. If you completed all the required tasks (Telegram, Twitter, CoinMarketCap watchlist), you were eligible. Winners were randomly selected and received 100 ADX. You can verify past transactions on Etherscan by searching for transfers from the AdEx airdrop contract address. If you don’t see any ADX, you didn’t win that round - but you can still join the ecosystem now.
Katrina Recto
January 11, 2026 AT 21:09