Zora, an Ethereum-native platform celebrated for empowering creators with NFT tools and onchain content, is set to introduce its anticipated Zora crypto token (ZORA) on April 23, 2025.
The platform confirmed the launch date recently, outlining a distribution plan centered around rewarding its user base. Eligibility for a significant retroactive airdrop will be determined by two activity snapshots.
The first snapshot captures user engagement from January 1, 2020, through March 3, 2025. A second snapshot extends this period, including activity up to April 20, 2025. This strategy aims to recognize and reward the diverse participants—creators, collectors, and developers—who have contributed to the Zora ecosystem’s growth, aligning with common practices seen in crypto airdrop distributions.
Details emerged via social media channels regarding the upcoming launch:
[$ZORA will be live on April 23, 2025. pic.twitter.com/yZdjlnDohH]
Interestingly, Zora previously characterized the ZORA token, revealed initially in March, as a “memecoin for the Zora community.” The token will debut not on Zora’s proprietary Layer-2 network, but on Base, the L2 solution developed by Coinbase. This strategic decision likely targets broader accessibility, leveraging Base’s position as an increasingly popular hub for onchain social applications and DeFi activity.
A total of 10 billion ZORA tokens will constitute the entire supply. The allocation includes 10% designated for the retroactive airdrop, rewarding past engagement. Future community growth initiatives, such as grants and hackathons, are earmarked for 20% of the supply, with 5% allocated to ensure market liquidity.
The Zora treasury is set to receive 20%, unlocking over four years following a six-month cliff. Team members are allocated 18.9%, vesting monthly over three years after a similar delay. The remaining 26.1% is reserved for strategic contributors, encompassing early investors and advisors.
While designed for community interaction, the ZORA token explicitly holds no governance rights or equity stakes in the platform. Its introduction nonetheless marks a pivotal moment for Zora, signifying its transformation from an experimental NFT marketplace into a more comprehensive onchain social network.
Zora has consistently rolled out innovative features like Open Editions and auction houses, facilitating substantial creator earnings and hosting notable NFT sales. Its recent focus includes the “Coins” feature, effectively turning user posts into tradable digital assets on the Base network.
The platform boasts significant traction, attracting over 2.4 million collectors and 618,000 creators, generating more than $376 million in secondary market volume according to its March update. The ZORA token represents a new avenue for enhancing user interaction and exploring novel value distribution models. Further information regarding the claim process is anticipated shortly.