1inch’s airdrops solidified its position in the DEX aggregator market. Rewarding active traders increased engagement and loyalty. Competitors had to enhance features (e.g., multi-hop swaps) to compete. It emphasized data-driven routing as a competitive advantage. The practice highlighted the importance of low slippage in user retention. Airdrops also attracted new users, boosting aggregator adoption. However, reward inflation raised sustainability questions. Overall, 1inch’s strategy reinforced its leadership while pushing industry innovation. The market now expects more sophisticated aggregator incentives.