Zora is an Ethereum-based NFT platform that radically empowers creators. In addition, it will release its native $ZORA token on April 23, 2025. Their token is intended to improve the platform’s functionalities for creators to collaborate, share content, and earn cryptocurrencies. This collaboration is a powerful step forward for Zora’s mission. Its mission is to make it quick, cheap, and easy to get media on-chain and is launching on Base, Coinbase’s new Layer 2 solution. The launch features a retroactive airdrop to thank early adopters and active members of the community.
$ZORA Tokenomics: Supply and Distribution
The $ZORA token has a total supply of 10 billion tokens. These tokens will be allocated across multiple stakeholders to further fuel the platform’s growth and future sustainability. A meaningful 10% is set aside for a retroactive airdrop to reward early contributors and active users. To date, their team has allocated 26.1% of tokens to strategic partners and investors. This team consists of our earliest investors and advisors who have been instrumental in Zora’s progress.
To provide for liquidity and allow trading, Zora has allocated 5% of the tokens for liquidity provision. The Zora treasury will receive 20% of the tokens. These tokens will be released gradually over the course of four years, beginning six months after the conclusion of the sale. This new approach is intended to provide infrastructure to help advance long-term development plans and community-driven efforts. Team members will vest 18.9% of the tokens monthly over three years, with a six-month delay, aligning their interests with the platform's sustained success.
Strategic Launch on Base Network
Zora took a smart move to release the $ZORA token on Base, Coinbase’s Layer 2 solution. This decision is intended to leverage its scalability to increase reach and impact and it’s cost-effective. Instead, Zora is using something like that infrastructure, in other ways, to enhance user experience. This move broadly works to reduce transaction costs, in addition to deploying on its own Layer 2 network. This unique approach gives Zora more flexibility to focus on its core mission of empowering creators and fostering a vibrant ecosystem.
This decision speaks to Zora’s mission to build a beautiful, seamless experience for its users enriched by the speed and scalability of Base. Zora has used Base to help increase transaction speeds. This innovative approach reduces fees across the board, welcoming more creators and collectors to the experience. This strategic move further highlights Zora’s commitment towards pioneering innovation and fostering user-centric development.
Retroactive Airdrop and Community Recognition
The distribution of tokens will be based on two snapshots of user activity used to identify users eligible for the retroactive airdrop. The inaugural snapshot, tracking from January 1, 2020 to March 3, 2025, features early contributions. The second snapshot, taken later in the spring of 2023, records activity through April 20, 2025. These snapshots are important for recognizing and rewarding those who have gone above and beyond to support and participate in the Zora ecosystem.
The retroactive airdrop is part of Zora's broader initiative to recognise and reward longtime creators, collectors, developers, and active members on the platform. This pilot program is intended to create a feeling of belonging and provide motivation to keep participants coming back. Zora's commitment to its community is evident in its efforts to ensure fair and inclusive distribution of the $ZORA token. Zora alone reached more than 2.4 million collectors and has received interest from more than 618,000 creators. Together, they’ve created an amazing $376 million in secondary trading volume.
