Optimism’s 2025 airdrop allocates 40% of tokens to developers building dApps, a spectral lure—$1M in OP grants (at $2.50) spurred 25% ecosystem growth (300 new dApps). Incentives include gas rebates (50% off) and governance votes, empowering coders. Retention rises 15%, with 80% of developers staying versus 60% on Polygon. The market’s hum, a vibrant chord, reflects Optimism’s pull, a fragile thread where rewards weave a thriving ecosystem—yet, scalability (1,000 TPS) must match growth to sustain this developer ballet.