New crypto projects use creative airdrop criteria to target genuine users and deter sybil attacks. Common tactics include:  

1. **Activity Snapshots** – Rewarding early protocol interactions (swaps, stakes, governance votes).  
2. **NFT/Gaming Engagement** – Holding specific NFTs or completing in-game tasks.  
3. **Social Proof** – Requiring Twitter/Discord engagement or referral codes.  
4. **Layer-2 Focus** – Incentivizing transactions on Arbitrum, zkSync, etc.  
5. **Anti-Sybil Checks** – Filtering out bot-like behavior via wallet clustering or CAPTCHAs.  

Some projects use **retroactive airdrops** (Uniswap-style) or tiered rewards for long-term holders. Memecoins may favor viral social campaigns. The goal? Balance fairness, decentralization, and hype—while avoiding regulatory pitfalls. (140 words)