PAWS Airdrop And Token Listing Leads To Community Outrage 

The PAWS airdrop was a highly anticipated event for April, but today, it caused community outrage and disappointment. The Solana-based meme coin originating from a Telegram mini-app, has encountered significant issues during its distribution phase, particularly on the Bybit exchange.

The airdrop aimed to reward early community engagement, with 62.5% of the total token supply allocated to users. However, most users claim to have received small amounts, even less than $1.

PAWS airdrop distribution errors and user complaints

On 15 April 2025, Bybit initiated the distribution of PAWS tokens. However, users reported discrepancies: some received their expected allocation multiple times, while others, despite meeting eligibility criteria, received none. These inconsistencies led to widespread confusion and dissatisfaction among participants.

Even the community’s official X (formerly Twitter) channel confirmed that the majority of the users did not get more than $5 worth of airdrop.

Some users who were eligible for a large volume of tokens received tiny amounts. PAWS was subsequently listed on Bitget and KuCoin, at a launch price of around $0.00034.

Bybit’s response and token redistribution

In response to the distribution errors, Bybit announced the reversal of all PAWS token allocations made on 15 April. The exchange stated that a new round of airdrops would be conducted based on a revised eligibility list provided by the PAWS team. This decision meant that users temporarily saw their token balances removed, further fueling frustration.

Complicating matters, Bybit reiterated that users based in the European Economic Area (EEA) were ineligible for the airdrop due to compliance with the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulations. This exclusion led to additional confusion, as some users in restricted jurisdictions initially received tokens that were later recalled.

The mishandling of the airdrop has drawn criticism from the crypto community. Users have expressed their dissatisfaction on various platforms, highlighting the lack of transparency and the inconvenience caused by the redistribution process. Bybit has apologized for the issues but has not provided details regarding potential compensation for affected users.

Current status and next steps

As of 16 April 2025, Bybit is in the process of redistributing the PAWS tokens based on the updated eligibility criteria. The exchange has assured users that the redistribution will be completed before the official listing of the PAWS/USDT trading pair. Users are advised to monitor official channels for updates and to verify their token allocations accordingly.